RIFs
The 5 biggest stories federal agencies and employees need to watch in 2026
Trump will look to finalize his government overhaul efforts next year.
GSA backs off planned layoffs within its technology team after court order
The Technology Transformation Services has lost 67% of its staff since Jan. 25.
Updated
Additional shutdown layoffs must be rolled back, judge rules
The order is set to impact around 700 workers at four agencies.
At least one agency is making a renewed, less generous ‘deferred resignation’ offer to staff
The Trump administration is continuing efforts to cut the federal workforce.
Some indoor federal gun ranges are operating under unsafe conditions due to lack of oversight, watchdog reports
General Services Administration employees interviewed for the investigation reported issues gathering necessary information, in part, due to workforce reductions at the agency.
Education Department civil rights staff returning to work to tackle complaint backlog
More than 200 Office for Civil Rights employees targeted as part of a larger RIF effort at the Education Department in March, they are now being brought back to the office.
Ex-feds axed in DEI purge file class action suit
A group of four former federal employees described the mass reduction in force of those in purportedly “diversity”-related jobs as a means for the Trump administration to “punish perceived political enemies” and disproportionally targeting protected-class employees for dismissal.
Updated
Judge temporarily blocks layoffs at State as unions seek to apply shutdown deal pause at 4 other agencies
The Trump administration had argued the blanket RIF moratorium does not apply at five agencies.
State becomes the latest agency to proceed with RIFs despite statutory pause
The deal to end the shutdown placed a moratorium on any action to implement layoffs, but some agency are moving forward anyway.
NSA has met 2,000-person workforce reduction goal, people familiar say
A broader Pentagon goal to shrink the nation’s defense budget over the coming five years could potentially subject the agency to further downsizing.
Agency layoff rules to get an overhaul under nearly finalized Trump administration proposal
OPM’s reduction in force revamp plan will put performance ratings over tenure and strip some employees of protections.
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Agency reassignments expected as Education takes further steps to eliminate itself
The department, which has already shed half its staff, is not expected to issue any immediate layoffs as part of the overhaul.
Federal employees face lingering uncertainty as some shutdown RIFs are reversed
COMMENTARY | The continuing resolution approved last week ordered agencies to reinstate some employees who had been laid off during the shutdown, but inconsistent follow-through is leaving civil servants in limbo as January’s deadline approaches.
Breaking News
Senate moves shutdown-ending deal that would ensure backpay and unwind some federal layoffs
A bipartisan agreement to end the longest-ever government shutdown, would fund some agencies through fiscal 2026 and the rest through January, and guarantee backpay for furloughed workers.
There is bipartisan interest in federal worker layoff protections in any deal to reopen government
Republicans have floated reversing RIFs and Democrats are noting promising progress in negotiations.
Breaking News
Shutdown layoffs indefinitely blocked following new court injunction
Trump administration attorney says guarantee of back pay justifies issuing widespread reductions in force, but judge finds the layoffs unlawful.
Lawmakers decry shutdown layoffs and the Trump administration’s lack of communication about them
The House Democrats pressed for the reversals of recent reductions in force at the Education and Health and Human Services departments.
Shutdown layoffs would boost energy costs, increase overdoses and slash oversight, Democrats say
If implemented, lawmakers suggest the RIFs would have far-reaching impacts on government capacity.
See where Interior is planning to lay off 2,000 employees
The newly revealed details lay out only a portion of the total expected RIFs.
Many federal employees bring 9 months of frustrations to ‘No Kings’ protest
Removals of government workers was one of a litany of issues brought up by attendees at the anti-Trump rally.
