Oversight
Lack of Staff and Resources Continue to Strain the Federal Bureau of Prisons
Epstein’s death this summer while in federal custody highlighted these long-term issues.
Workforce
Homeland Security Says It Will Dramatically Increase Asylum Workforce by Year's End
The Trump administration has struggled to handle a growing backlog of cases and declining workforce morale.
Management
Efforts to Reform Federal Hiring Already Showing Results
Administration officials said that performing pass-fail interviews earlier in the hiring process led to a faster turnaround, better candidates and more hires from public job announcements.
Management
Merit Board Suggests Ways Agencies Can Hire 'Better,' Not Just 'Faster and Cheaper'
The Merit Systems Protections Board is lending its support to the Office of Personnel Management's hiring reform efforts.
Pay & Benefits
Study: Shutdown Did Lasting Damage to Federal Recruitment, Retention and Morale
While recovering from the most recent lapse in appropriations, some are fearful there will be another.
Pay & Benefits
Higher Pay and Parental Leave Could Help VA Address Vacancies, Official Says
Administration officials at multiple agencies acknowledge shortfalls in medical staffing.
Management
Weichert: Agencies Should Include Experts in Hiring Process
Guidance from the Office of Personnel Management encourages a renewed focus on competencies, rather than “minimum qualifications.”
Management
Staff Shortages and Family Separations Created Long-Term Consequences for Migrant Children, IG Says
"Suicidal ideation" and "inconsolable crying" are among the fallout from Trump's immigration policies, watchdog finds.
Management
USDA Taps Retired Former Employees to Cope With Mass Exodus at Science Agencies
With the majority of employees at the Economic Research Service and National Institute for Food and Agriculture slated to leave rather than relocate to Kansas City, the department is offering jobs to retired employees—in Washington, D.C.
Management
Agencies With Acting Leaders Can Now Fill Top Career Ranks, OPM Says
Some worry the administration is normalizing its proclivity for circumventing the confirmation process.
Management
Agencies Need More Flexibility to Fill Vacancies
The crisis at the Bureau of Prisons, highlighted by the suicide of Jeffery Epstein, is only the latest example confirming the civil service system needs to be reformed.
Workforce
Passport Processing at State Slows as Staffing Levels Fall
Beleaguered workers with fewer resources are struggling to keep pace with a record number of passport applications.
Workforce
State's Hiring Freeze Crushed Morale and Impaired Key Trump Priorities, IG Says
The department is still reeling from the hiring pause and civil service staffing is still falling.
Management
Social Security Administrator Institutes Partial Hiring Freeze
Unions say they have not been briefed on the measure, which applies to all headquarters components and regional offices.
Workforce
Lawmakers Accuse Trump Administration of Circumventing Congress on Weather Service Staffing
Employees say they are working more overtime on account of vacancies than they are allowed to get paid for.
Management
Federal HR Officials: Get Rid of Most Hiring Authorities
Officials at the Homeland Security and Veterans Affairs departments said having too many avenues for hiring a federal employee causes paralysis at agencies.
Workforce
Homeland Security Has a Problem Hiring and Keeping Women
The department is failing to address known barriers to a number of ethnic and racial groups, a watchdog report finds.
Workforce
Census Eclipses 500K Applicants, Still Needs 2.3M More
The bureau is working to overcome fears instilled by the Trump administration's court fight to include a citizenship question, official says.
Workforce
Investigations Into Mistreatment of State Department Workforce are in ‘Final Stages,’ IG Says
The watchdog plans to unveil results of inquiries into political retaliation and the hiring freeze in coming weeks.
Workforce