Oversight
Lawmakers call for probe of how firm tied to Kristi Noem got piece of $220M DHS ad contracts
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has come under fire after allegations that a Republican consulting firm with ties to her and department leadership had been awarded an ad campaign contract.
Tech
ICE — overwhelmed with applicants — leans on cyber talent program to speed tech hiring
ICE’s acting CIO, Dustin Goetz, said the agency will need more personnel as it seeks to meet sweeping deportation and detainment demands set by the White House.
Exclusive
Management
House Democrats want answers on CISA reassignments to border security, immigration roles
A letter led by Rep. James Walkinshaw, D-Va., argues DHS violated the Antideficiency Act when it conducted a reduction in force during the government shutdown.
Workforce
‘We got the people that we want paid’: FBI, military continue receiving paychecks during shutdown
Other federal law enforcement employees, including at Immigration and Customs Enforcement, have not been paid due to the funding lapse.
Workforce
Top cyber lawmaker wants answers on CISA workforce reductions
Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., penned a strongly-worded letter to CISA’s acting director asking for an update on the status of the cyberdefense agency’s staffing posture.
Management
Which agencies do Americans think are doing a good job?
Recent surveys have shown that how Republicans and Democrats view federal agencies has switched since Donald Trump became president again.
Workforce
Homeland Security intelligence office sent deferred resignation offers to shed staff in recent months
The DHS Office of Intelligence and Analysis is working to incrementally reduce the size of its workforce, following plans for mass cuts that faced severe pushback from stakeholders over the summer.
Tech
‘Widespread’ breach let hackers steal employee data from FEMA and CBP
A Citrix vulnerability — suspected to have led to firings of multiple FEMA technology staff — enabled the breach, which let hackers pilfer data from FEMA servers connected to states at the southern border.
Updated
News
Dallas ICE facility is the site of another shooting at a federal building
The FBI is investigating the shooting as an act of targeted violence.
Management
Federal agencies threaten, discipline employees for criticizing or mocking Charlie Kirk
The Trump administration is “tracking…very closely” social media posts suggesting Kirk should not be mourned, some agencies say.
Oversight
Oversight of contract security guards at federal buildings is the focus of a House-passed bill
The legislation also would require the Federal Protective Service to overhaul the digital system for recording when such personnel are on duty. The Government Accountability Office has warned that the system is not properly functioning.
Management
Report: Federal agencies have deployed nearly 33,000 employees to assist ICE
Only around 15% of employees working on immigration enforcement are full-time immigration enforcement staff.
Workforce
Secret Service is 73% short of the snipers it requires
Increasing needs have exacerbated "chronic understaffing," IG says.
Management
Will states take on more FEMA duties? Congress, Trump council debate agency’s fate
The future of the natural disaster response agency could depend on a 12-member board crafting recommendations for President Trump.
Special Report
Workforce
Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill funds an unprecedented surge in federal law enforcement. Is it even possible?
Administration officials express confidence they can transform federal agencies with record-level hiring, even as they remain realistic about the challenge ahead of them.
Management
Improved emergency communication in federal buildings focus of new bipartisan legislation
Federal building security has been a longstanding concern for lawmakers and government watchdogs.
Workforce
Trump administration cuts age limits for ICE agent recruits
The Homeland Security Department is using a recent funding infusion to hire more Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents with the goal of deporting more migrants.
Oversight
Agency layoffs do not constitute illegal impoundments, GAO rules
RIFs are not themselves violations of federal spending law, watchdog says, though the administration is violating the law in other ways.
Management
Secret Service commits to continued improvements one year after Trump assassination attempt
The protective agency also received $1.2 billion, in part for recruitment and retention, from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
Workforce