Pay & Benefits
Maryland Dems float unemployment insurance for federal workers during shutdown
Congressional Democrats aim to provide benefits to federal employees forced to work during the shutdown, and other pay and benefits news you may have missed this week.
Oversight
Dave Powner returns to GAO, this time to advocate for its bipartisan, cost-saving work
“We are the watchdog for the Congress, and it's really important that they collectively know our value,” congressional relations official Dave Powner told Nextgov/FCW.
Management
Government spirals into shutdown with Trump promising mass layoffs
A last-ditch effort to keep government funded failed Tuesday night. Agencies will begin furloughing staff on Wednesday.
Workforce
Just 23% of fed workers would be furloughed if the government shuts down, under the Trump administration’s plan
Several agencies plan to keep more employees working than usual, leading to fewer workers being sent home.
Defense
Hegseth uses unprecedented meeting to unveil 10 personnel, due-process reviews
After summoning senior officers from around the world, the Defense secretary invites them to resign if they don’t agree with him.
Workforce
Despite layoff threat, some feds see government shutdown as an opportunity to push back on Trump’s ‘lawlessness’
Federal employees and members of Congress who spoke at Monday’s press conference pointed out that agency reductions in force can proceed regardless of whether there’s a government shutdown.
Workforce
Judge blocks Trump’s anti-union executive order for IFPTE-represented workers
U.S. District Judge Paul Friedman said the president “clearly” exceeded his authority when issuing an edict stripping two-thirds of the federal workforce of its collective bargaining rights.
Tech
‘Widespread’ breach let hackers steal employee data from FEMA and CBP
A Citrix vulnerability — suspected to have led to firings of multiple FEMA technology staff — enabled the breach, which let hackers pilfer data from FEMA servers connected to states at the southern border.
Workforce
Trump administration is on track to cut 1 in 3 EPA staffers by the end of 2025
Critics say the staffing cuts hinder the agency’s ability to keep pollution out of air and water.
Management
Disparities emerge in FEMA disaster assistance after Hurricane Helene
An analysis of FEMA housing assistance following Hurricane Helene reveals that higher-income households in North Carolina's rural counties received more aid, raising concerns about equity in disaster relief distribution.
Management
Sides remain divided, White House predicts shutdown will occur on eve of funding lapse
Democratic leaders say “large differences” remain after meeting with President Trump.
Workforce
Bureau of Prisons the latest federal agency to cancel its union contracts
Labor leaders said the effort to bust their union is particularly ill-timed, given the prospect of a government shutdown that could begin as soon as Wednesday.
Management
Reductions in force could make bad situation worse for federal contractors during government shutdown
Some federal contractors have already reported problems connecting with their contracting officers.
Workforce
Layoff implementation work is exempted from shutdown, Trump admin says
Shutdown layoffs could be undone when funding is restored, according to new guidance.
Management
The ultra risks of a routine shutdown
COMMENTARY | If Democrats risk a government shutdown this week, they may unwittingly play into the most dramatic shift of power to the executive branch in recent history.
Management
A new ‘activist’ OPM is incrementally reforming the civil service, Part 2
COMMENTARY | OPM's new reforms show promise, but the agency should be wary of trying to apply a centralized, uniform standard to agencies varied in mission and expertise.
Oversight
A developing database of constituent complaints to Congress could help agencies find systemic issues in their public services
While Capitol Hill staffers help constituents when they have trouble getting assistance from an agency, there’s currently no way to track that information across congressional offices.
Workforce
Federal appellate decision restores union rights for Defense Department teachers
A three-judge panel on Thursday found that the Trump administration failed to meet its burden in requesting a stay of an injunction blocking the union-busting of the Pentagon’s corps of teachers on military bases.
Workforce
So far, many agency leaders are telling staff not to take shutdown layoff threat seriously
In at least one case, however, leadership has stressed that RIFs are a real possibility: “They want people to feel the impact of the shutdown."
Management