Workforce

Inside federal agencies' rush to reshape their workforces—and spare employees from layoffs

Trump has tasked agencies with developing aggressive reduction-in-force plans, but implementing staff are "still trying to save as many as we can."

Workforce

CIA is terminating some probationary employees

Recent U.S. intelligence has signaled that foreign adversaries are increasing efforts to recruit disgruntled federal employees in sensitive national security roles.

Management

Agency guidance on ‘five accomplishments’ email still inconsistent

Bureaus inside DHS are still reviewing past submissions from staff and have instructed their workers to hold off on sending more updates.

Exclusive Workforce

NIH faces renewed DOGE directive to cut staff, putting thousands in line for RIFs

The Elon Musk-backed group is calling the shots even after President Trump’s edict that they let individual agencies take the lead.

Defense

‘5 bullet points’ email now a weekly task for Pentagon civilians

A short explanation of recent achievements is due every Tuesday, SecDef says in additional guidance.

Exclusive Defense

Pentagon is placing probationary employees on leave in advance of mass firings

The terminations are expected within weeks under plans to fire nearly one-tenth of DOD’s 55,000 “probies.”

Workforce

GSA continues slow drip of RIFs, nearly wiping out entire offices

More cuts are coming. Staff in the Technology Transformation Services were told Thursday that their team will be halved.

Management

Trump administration moves to politicize top HR officials following firing at IRS

Guidance from the Office of Personnel Management justified the decision by citing chief human capital officers’ role in implementing Biden-era diversity policies.

Workforce

MSPB orders temporary reinstatement of nearly 6,000 probationary workers at USDA

These Agriculture Department employees must be allowed back to their jobs for 45 days, as the Office of Special Counsel continues to investigate the Trump administration’s purge of recently hired, promoted or transferred federal employees.

Transition

Supreme Court rejects Trump’s bid to freeze USAID payments

In a 5-4 ruling, the justices require the administration to honor existing aid and contracts obligations while the legal battle continues.

Defense

At least one Pentagon agency has begun firing probationary workers

The Defense Logistics Agency has begun dismissing its share of the Defense Department’s 5,400 targeted employees.

Pay & Benefits

A pair of House bills aim to give fired feds relief

Legislation from Reps. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, D-Fla., and Derek Tran, D-Calif., seeks to secure benefits for federal employees recently fired by the Trump administration and help get some of their jobs back. 

Transition

‘Reclaim power from unaccountable bureaucracy’: Trump touts early actions against federal workforce in address to Congress

The president praised Elon Musk’s cost-cutting initiatives during his speech to Congress, the first of his second term.

Exclusive Workforce

VA plans to lay off as many as 83,000 employees this year

A leaked memo released Tuesday called for VA to slash its workforce to 2019 levels that were in place before millions of veterans became newly eligible for care.

Management

GSA lease terminations hit GAO offices doing national security work

Some of the terminated leases include buildings with spaces designed to exchange classified information on defense programs.

Workforce

‘Prelude to privatization:’ Social Security confirms workforce reduction targets, continues to shutter offices

Despite most of the agency being exempt from deferred resignations and the government-wide hiring freeze, early retirement and Voluntary Separation Incentive Payments are now available to the entire agency workforce.

Updated Workforce

Many federal employees ordered to submit recent accomplishments for second Musk email

Government workers have been instructed not to include classified or sensitive information in their responses.

Updated Workforce

Some agencies are still firing probationers while others have recalled theirs, following court ruling

There appears to be confusion throughout the Trump administration as to the impacts of the court's decision, with some agencies pausing their personnel actions to assess the fallout.

Workforce

House Dems: Immediately reinstate fired feds

A group of 85 lawmakers called on the Office of Special Counsel to broaden its recommendation earlier this week to stay the firing of six employees on probationary periods to all probationary workers purged in recent days.