Civil Service
All remaining DOGE staff are in political positions, despite concerns of ‘burrowing in’
No DOGE personnel have converted to permanent, career roles.
VA terminates most of its union contracts, appearing to disregard OPM guidance
The move runs against the Trump administration’s claims to federal jurists that agencies would wait until the conclusion of litigation challenging the president’s executive order seeking to outlaw collective bargaining at most federal agencies on national security grounds.
A second appeals court has allowed Trump’s anti-union EO to go into effect
A three-judge panel on the Ninth Circuit Court rejected claims that President Trump’s barring collective bargaining for two-thirds of the federal workforce was retaliatory in nature, finding that the administration would have done so regardless of labor groups’ various legal challenges.
At least 148,000 federal employees have left government under Trump, good government group reports
The Partnership for Public Service acknowledged that it’s difficult to track the number of civil servants who have departed because the Trump administration has not publicized much of the information.
Sharing services is essential for the federal government. Here’s how to make it work
COMMENTARY | Tackling the big problems facing federal agencies requires collaboration that goes beyond performance metrics to reach a solution.
New lawsuit scrutinizes Hegseth’s implementation of Trump’s anti-union EO
While previous lawsuits argued simply that President Trump’s citation of the 1978 Civil Service Reform Act’s so-called “national security exemption” en masse violated federal regulatory law, a new suit from IFPTE drills down on the Defense secretary’s implementation of the controversial edict.
Trump’s controversial OSC nominee pulled from confirmation hearing
The hearing for the White House’s pick to replace Federal Labor Relations Authority Chairwoman Susan Tsui Grundmann, who is still challenging her ouster, was similarly postponed.
Another judge has dismissed the Trump administration’s effort to pre-clear anti-union EO
Both of the White House’s efforts to secure declaratory judgments in advance of formally stripping more than 1 million federal workers of their collective bargaining rights have now failed.
Why a federal program paying employees not to work may violate spending laws
COMMENTARY | Legal scholar Madeline Materna explains why agency officials could be risking more than just bad press.
Unions, good government groups urge rejection of Trump’s OSC nominee
Paul Ingrassia, 28, has cavorted with neo-Nazis and publicly described the federal workers he would be tasked with protecting as “parasites” and “bugmen.”
Trump creates 'Schedule G' to add more political appointees to agencies top ranks
The new, non-career employees will serve in policy-making roles and add "horsepower" to carrying out the administration's agenda, White House says.
Trump admin. tells judge it can fire at least some career feds at any time for any reason
The administration is seeking to upend civil service protections long in place for federal employees.
Trump’s anti-union EO can remain in effect during challenge, appellate court says
The judge who dissented from an appellate court’s initial decision allowing the edict to be implemented issued a warning about the high standards that should accompany a judicial stay.
High case numbers could snarl federal employees who appeal their removals
The Merit Systems Protection Board reported that, so far this fiscal year, it has received 11,166 appeals, which is twice its typical workload. A backlog could emerge if a quorum is not restored to the agency to issue final decisions.
OPM deemphasizes ‘favorite EO’ essay following legal challenge
A quietly circulated memo from the federal government's HR agency warns hiring managers against using the essay responses as a "ideological litmus test" for job applicants.
US civil servants: Do we love them or hate them? Or just thank them?
COMMENTARY | Public servants have to constantly navigate and implement the federal government's balance of individual liberty and public safety. The recognition of that challenging work shouldn't reserved just for special occasions.
House Dems warn Trump’s special counsel pick is anathema to job’s duties
Paul Ingrassia, 28, has been nominated to lead the office that investigates politically motivated firings and Hatch Act violations, despite statements supporting a purge of workers and cavorting with neo-Nazis.
Trump’s anti-union executive order has been blocked, again
A federal judge in California tailored his decision around the administration’s violations against labor groups’ First Amendment rights, avoiding thornier questions about presidential power.
Most fed-targeting provisions in Senate reconciliation bill don’t pass Byrd muster
The Senate parliamentarian over the weekend found that many proposals targeting federal workers and their unions violate the Byrd rule and would require 60 votes to advance in the chamber.
OPM’s new performance management rules are (mostly) spot on
COMMENTARY | OPM’s new performance management rules aim to end inflated ratings and eliminate pass-fail systems—but do they go too far in prescribing a one-size-fits-all approach?
