Management
Trump picks Lori Chavez-DeRemer, a pro-union Republican, to lead the Labor Department
Chavez-DeRemer, who recently represented Oregon in Congress, has often been one of the lone Republican supporters of various pro-union bills and has advocated for improvements to the child care system.
Management
Senator previews what closing down the Education Department would actually look like
Many of the department’s core functions would transfer to other agencies.
Management
Agencies credit telework with recruiting, retention gains, GAO finds
A watchdog report examining telework use at four agencies found best practices still need implementation, but the presence, or absence, of telework as an option has affected their ability to attract talent.
Oversight
Marjorie Taylor Greene to head new government efficiency subcommittee
The panel will work closely with Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy’s advisory Department of Government Efficiency.
Management
Who is Pam Bondi? Trump picks longtime ally for attorney general
The former AG for Florida has publicly defended the former president during his criminal cases.
Oversight
Senators call for watchdog to investigate TSA’s use of facial recognition
In a letter to the Department of Homeland Security’s Inspector General, 12 senators warned that the deployment of facial biometrics at every U.S. airport could create “one of the largest federal surveillance databases overnight without authorization from Congress.”
Workforce
Schedule F 2.0...can it be that bad?
COMMENTARY | "Is it the 'end of democracy as we know it' bad?" asks one former federal official.
Workforce
Trump expected to tap Schedule F architect promising widespread federal layoffs to head OMB
Russ Vought previously held the job and now says he wants federal workers to be "viewed as the villains."
Management
GOP pollster says survey data shows Americans would not support Trump’s efforts to reinstitute Schedule F
The federal government has an image problem. Frank Luntz has thoughts on how to improve it.
Pay & Benefits
Look before you leap into a private sector job
It might not be the win you think it is when you do the math.
Management
New bill would require FBI recommendation on security clearances for White House appointees
The Security Clearance Review Act — cosponsored by Reps. Don Beyer, D-Va., and Ted Lieu, D-Calif., would require the president to provide Congress with written justification for overruling an FBI clearance denial of executive office appointees.
Workforce
Key lawmakers back Trump's plans to remove federal workers
GOP leaders say they will back the president-elect's efforts to strip civil-service protections.
Management
Immigration enforcement agents see Trump’s border czar as one of their own
Tom Homan spent more than 30 years as a federal law enforcement officer, ultimately becoming the leader of ICE.
Oversight
Intelligence IGs head for the exit before Trump’s return
Trump fired five inspectors general during his first administration.
Management
Good luck, Department of Government Efficiency
COMMENTARY | It sounds like a federal agency, but its job is to get rid of them.
Pay & Benefits
Medicare Part D may benefit most federal annuitants next year
COMMENTARY | Not only are there more options to choose from, but there are also benefit changes that may make Part D more convenient and a better value, according to Kevin Moss of Consumers’ Checkbook.
Oversight
Senator wants info on inspectors general office sexual harassment settlements
Grassley wrote that whistleblowers informed his office that the financial agreements required complainants to sign non-disclosure agreements.
Management
Agencies expect small fiscal 2025 funding increases — at best
The Professional Services Council’s federal budget forecast predicts that fiscal 2025 appropriations will edge up slightly at best or face potential stinging GOP-led cuts.
Oversight
FEMA chief calls passing over of Trump supporters isolated incident, requests wider probe
One FEMA supervisor has been fired for directing staff to skip Trump-supporting homes, but administrator says there is so far no evidence of a more widespread issue.
Management