Management
New SSA chief praises DOGE for ‘making things better’
Frank Bisignano said he has no current plans to institute further reductions in force and hopes to use AI to make the historically sluggish Social Security disability determination processes move faster.
Workforce
More than 2,100 GSA employees have accepted deferred resignations
Combined with those employees that have been impacted by reductions in force, the losses amount to nearly a quarter of what the agency’s workforce totals were last fall.
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
NIH director bemoans RIFs, mocks ‘5 things’ email and says agency shoulders blame for COVID outbreak in first address
New agency head also says some laid off employees may be recalled, including to help address supply shortages at labs and medical centers.
Management
Legislative watchdog rebuffs DOGE efforts to install on-site team
“DOGE’s attempted intrusion into an independent, nonpartisan legislative branch agency is a direct assault on our nation’s sacred separation of powers,” said Rep. Gerry Connolly, D-Va., the ranking member on the House Oversight Committee.
Management
DOGE went looking for phone fraud at SSA — and found almost none
Since SSA installed new anti-fraud checks on claims made over the phone, only two claims out of over 110,000 were found to likely be fraudulent, according to internal documents obtained by Nextgov/FCW.
Oversight
Government watchdog reports that its unimplemented recommendations could save $100 billion
President Donald Trump has prioritized government efficiency, primarily through an effort led by Elon Musk.
Management
How William Howard Taft’s approach to government efficiency differed from Elon Musk’s slash-and-burn tactics
President Taft worked with Congress to launch his effort to streamline government, while Trump has taken a different route.
Workforce
Most major agencies must pause RIFs for at least two weeks, judge orders
Court finds the Trump administration has likely acted unlawfully in instituting widespread layoffs.
Defense
Trump’s Pentagon-personnel nominee wants to curb DOGE data access
But Anthony Tata, a retired Army general, couldn’t outrun past inflammatory and social media posts during his confirmation hearing.
Management
IRS reverses staffing gains made under Biden
The tax agency has shed over 20,000 employees through the deferred resignation program, and more significant cuts are still expected.
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
Trump administration releases first wave of acquisition regulation changes
This set of revisions would significantly shrink the Federal Acquisition Regulation, as well as empower contracting officers and acquisition teams to use their "business judgment" in pushing innovation.
Management
‘Biohazard’: Forest Service employees warn cuts having devastating, and disgusting, impacts
DOGE is holding up contracts across government and it's affecting everything from firefighting to toilet cleaning.
Workforce
Survey says…most Americans don’t like DOGE
New polling data from the Partnership for Public Service shows that nearly double the number of surveyed respondents thought Trump’s federal workforce overhauls would have negative impacts compared with those who supported the policies, but there were sharp divides between Republicans and Democrats.
Oversight
A DOGE aide involved in CFPB cuts owns stock prohibited by ethics laws
Gavin Kliger, a 25-year-old DOGE employee tasked with assisting in the recent rollout of more than 1,400 RIF notices at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau owns stock in several companies overseen by the agency.
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.”
Workforce
Ex-feds launch websites to help unemployed civil servants find new jobs
Many federal employees are looking for positions outside of government following reductions in force and the Trump administration’s push for workers to take separation incentives.
Workforce
Interior solicits employees' resumes in preparation for widespread layoffs
A reorganization and consolidation effort is expected to begin within two weeks and employees are already heading for the exits in droves.
Tech