Workforce
At some federal beaches, surf’s up but the lifeguard chair’s empty
Some of the nation’s most popular beaches managed by the National Park Service are now seeing lifeguard shortages due to a mix of budget cuts, DOGE layoffs and a federal hiring freeze.
Oversight
Lawmakers spar over DOGE as Republicans look to lock in cuts
Republicans again blocked an attempt to subpoena billionaire and former DOGE leader Elon Musk.
Management
Lawmakers demand review of VA’s AI-driven contract cuts
Sens. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., and Angus King, I-Maine, said the use of AI to identify agency contracts for termination “adds an entire new level of unease connected to the decision-making, security, governance, and quality control of the entire process.”
Exclusive
Management
DOGE holds meetings with White House, new postal leadership and Treasury to discuss reforming USPS
Internal documents reveal a series of meetings with far-reaching impacts for the future of the Postal Service.
Management
Trump quietly proposes shuttering the only federal agency that investigates industrial chemical explosions
Hazardous chemical accidents happen in the U.S. about every other day. Who will investigate them now?
Tech
Civic tech leaders worry DOGE is ‘tarnishing’ its tools to improve government
USDS, the White House team DOGE took over in January, was a flagship civic tech organization. Six months later, civic tech is figuring out what’s next.
Management
House GOP clears measure to claw back billions from foreign assistance and public media programs
The Senate will take up this initial effort to codify some Department of Government Efficiency cuts after it finishes work on the budget reconciliation package.
Management
AI-driven contract cuts at VA spark concern
Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., the ranking member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, said DOGE’s use of an AI tool resulted in the “wholesale slashing” of VA contracts.
Management
The DOGE 100: Musk is out, but more than 100 of his followers remain to implement Trump’s blueprint
The world’s richest man is leaving a network of acolytes embedded inside nearly every federal agency.
Defense
Hegseth wants to insource work—but doesn't understand why it was outsourced
COMMENTARY | The Defense Department’s recent contracting directives are sweeping, but will they be successful?
Management
Vought calls for more OMB staff after spearheading governmentwide cuts
Architect of Trump’s government overhaul says he does not want to "traumatize" feds and some agencies have staff "doing incredible work."
Pay & Benefits
Should you stay or should you go? 10 tips for navigating your federal retirement decision
What to consider—financially and emotionally—before leaving government service.
Workforce
Trump is planning to slash 107,000 federal jobs next year. See where
New details in the president's budget detail some of the proposed workforce reductions, though the final cuts will likely be steeper.
Management
White House budget request includes $45 million in additional DOGE funding
The request would support an estimated 150 full time employees, 80% of whom would be paid out of agency reimbursements, rather than DOGE-specific funds.
Defense
Pentagon won’t say how many civilians have left since February
The department has used a mix of layoffs and voluntary resignations to cut workforce.
Management
For DOGE, it was all in the name
COMMENTARY | Elon Musk made a mockery of government reform.
Workforce
Fired GSA 18F employees appeal to have jobs reinstated
The Trump administration has endeavored to streamline the agency’s contracting and procurement processes while putting in mechanisms to shed its workforce.
Management
VA-based DOGE associate gets ‘the boot’ after publicly discussing his work
Sahil Lavingia detailed in a personal blog how the reality of hunting inefficiencies at the Department of Veterans Affairs was not what he had expected.
Defense
Pentagon orders civilian employees to submit money-saving ideas
It’s the last step in the "5 bullet points" weekly email exercise.
Management