News
Gerry Connolly remembered for his passion and bipartisanship
The long-time representative from Northern Virginia has died at 75 following a battle with cancer. He is being remembered for his advocacy of federal workers and the contractor community as well as championing initiatives to improve how the government buys goods and services.
Oversight
Government oversight employees detail fears of retaliation under Trump administration in new Senate report
President Donald Trump has, so far, fired 19 inspectors general, who are independent watchdogs that investigate waste, fraud and abuse in federal agencies.
Management
Staffing cuts will improve government services, agency leaders say
Trump administration officials defend their ongoing workforce reductions to lawmakers amid some bipartisan concerns.
Defense
Hegseth to Air Force: Figure out how to modify Qatari jet
Converting the luxury plane into Air Force One could cost more than $1 billion, one senator said.
Pay & Benefits
Retirement cuts tweaked in House reconciliation package
The latest draft of the GOP’s plan to cut federal spending to pay for tax cuts and increased immigration enforcement no longer un-grandfathers federal workers hired before 2014 from increased retirement contribution rules passed in the 2010s and delays implementation of the FERS supplement.
Pay & Benefits
House GOP’s law enforcement ‘exemption’ from retirement cuts is illusory, groups say
A pair of organizations representing federal law enforcement officers urged lawmakers to strengthen carveouts of an array of proposed cuts to federal workers’ retirement benefits but stopped short of calling for their withdrawal.
Oversight
End of pandemic inspector general's office could hurt ongoing efforts to enforce accountability
A former senior official for the Special Inspector General for Pandemic Recovery said there were about 40 unfinished cases when the office’s authority lapsed, some of which were referred to other agencies and others closed.
Workforce
Axed federal employees sit on Capitol steps urging lawmakers to protect public services they used to provide
A group of former government workers goes to Capitol Hill weekly to lobby members of Congress to fight Trump’s federal workforce and program cuts.
Management
Senate confirms Bisignano to lead Social Security
In a party line vote, Senate Republicans elected to disregard a whistleblower’s allegation that Frank Bisignano had improper contact with the agency to facilitate DOGE operatives’ onboarding.
Management
Push to revoke certain Biden-era rules intensifies as congressional Republicans race against deadline
EPA waivers are being targeted for removal, even though the Government Accountability Office as well as an official who advises on Senate rules said they are exempt from the Congressional Review Act.
Defense
‘Gimmicks’: GOP lawmakers slam Trump’s ‘trillion-dollar’ defense-spending proposal
White House claims of a 13% increase rest on unusual maneuvers, not a higher DOD budget line.
Pay & Benefits
Proposed retirement cuts cast renewed pall over deferred resignations
Federal workers who accepted President Trump and Elon Musk’s so-called ‘fork in the road’ fear Republicans have “pulled the rug out from under” their retirement plans.
Workforce
VA tech panel’s top Democrat worries layoffs will harm EHR rollout
Rep. Nikki Budzinski, D-Ill., is concerned that staffing vacancies, coupled with the department’s reduction in force plans, will put “more pressure onto the VA to execute on an expedited calendar for implementation” of its new EHR system.
Exclusive
Workforce
Federal employees removed by Trump would have easier pathway back to government service under Democratic bill
A pair of bills would seek to give hiring preference to axed feds and to standardize the length of probationary periods for government workers, as the administration has sought to fire those individuals who have less civil service job protections.
Pay & Benefits
House Republicans advance plan to cut federal worker benefits and undermine civil service protections
One Republican who voted against the measure said efforts to reduce existing federal workers’ pension benefits will fail if put to a vote before the full House.
Oversight
Connolly, top Democrat on oversight panel, will ‘soon’ leave post due to worsening cancer diagnosis
Rep. Gerry Connolly, D-Va., has led criticism of the Trump administration’s attempts to overhaul federal agencies.
Tech
Top intelligence lawmaker fears China may exploit DOGE’s changes to government
Rep. Jim Himes, D-Conn., also called out the Trump administration on the recent firing of NSA Director Timothy Haugh, a move he viewed as “puzzling.”
Defense
Putting SPACECOM HQ in Alabama would have saved Pentagon $426 million, DOD IG says
But then-SPACECOM commander Gen. Dickinson was worried the move would result in significant personnel losses.
Tech
Bipartisan bill calls for NOAA to use AI to forecast wildfires and extreme weather
The bill’s introduction comes amid Trump administration efforts to scale back the agency’s workforce and operations.
Workforce