Management
Cabinet leaders detail how the government shutdown is impacting their agencies
President Donald Trump on Thursday reiterated his threat that he would use the appropriations lapse to justify cutting “Democrat programs.”
Federal employee appeals board gets quorum after Senate confirms new member
Congressional Democrats also introduced legislation that would allow federal employees to file appeals in a civil court if the Merit Systems Protection Board is backlogged.
Senate again votes against ending shutdown, something White House said would trigger layoffs
There is still no path toward reopening government and Trump reiterates RIF threat.
Senate confirms Rhodes to lead White House procurement office
Kevin Rhodes has been a senior adviser to the Office of Management and Budget since February and focused his efforts on the Federal Acquisition Regulation overhaul.
Keep Senate confirmation for top intelligence lawyers, civil liberties groups urge
A provision in the 2026 annual intelligence community bill would lift Senate confirmation rules for the chief counsels of the CIA and ODNI. Advocates warn the change would weaken transparency and public oversight of the intelligence community.
Bisignano to lead IRS in addition to SSA duties, raising questions about the Senate confirmation process
Experts warned that the move could further facilitate the consolidation of Social Security and IRS databases for use in immigration enforcement.
Shutdown poised to drag into next week as layoff threat looms
Senate once again fails to approve spending bill and the two sides remain far divided.
Shutdown freezes earlier job-cut battles as Trump signals fresh layoffs
Employees involved in litigation are caught up in furloughs, though group says Trump is seeking to delay accountability.
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.
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.
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.
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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.
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.
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.
Even a brief government shutdown might hamper morale, raise costs and reduce long-term efficiency in the federal workforce
With the political parties currently wide apart over the terms of even a short-term budget resolution, the government is set to shut down on Oct. 1, 2025, barring an 11th-hour deal that appears far off.
The real cost of a shutdown: Disrupting the U.S. workforce, innovation and national security
COMMENTARY | A government shutdown hurts government operations, industry and the U.S. economy.
The end of the ‘Fork in the Road’
A new online retirement system, coupled with record summer claim volumes, has created delays and confusion for federal employees transitioning to annuitant status, even as OPM works to streamline processing and reduce errors.
Senate report accuses DOGE of risking Americans’ data by operating outside federal law
A report released by Sen. Gary Peters, D-Mich., said a lack of restrictions on DOGE employees’ collection of sensitive data can result “in serious cybersecurity vulnerabilities, privacy violations, and risk of corruption.”
Agencies should prep for mass layoffs if shutdown occurs, White House says
OMB is requesting updated reduction-in-force plans even if a shutdown is averted.
IRS announces the phased end of paper check refunds
The Trump White House set a Sept. 30 deadline for the Treasury Department to stop cutting paper checks, although the IRS said it will still be issuing a “limited number” of checks where there is no alternative option.
