Management
Cabinet leaders detail how the government shutdown is impacting their agencies
President Donald Trump on Thursday reiterated his threat that he would use the appropriations lapse to justify cutting “Democrat programs.”
Pay & Benefits
Trump says he can pick and choose which feds get back pay. Republicans in Congress mostly disagree
Asked if furloughed workers will get retroactively paid, Trump say “it depends.”
Workforce
Trump administration ‘co-opted the voices’ of Education employees in shutdown blame game, union lawsuit alleges
Furloughed Education Department employees reported that their out-of-office email messages were modified to emphasize that Senate Democrats voted against a GOP government funding measure.
Oversight
Does agency messaging blaming Democrats for government shutdown violate the Hatch Act?
Legal experts agree recent messages by the Trump administration about the shutdown at least pose ethical concerns about government impartiality.
Workforce
RIF threat sparks union lawsuit as shutdown continues
AFGE and AFSCME argued that an Office of Management and Budget memo instructing agencies to launch mass layoffs during the government shutdown violate the Antideficiency Act and most agencies’ own authorizing statutes.
Oversight
Hegseth, Vought actions heighten fears about continued inspector general independence
Lawmakers from both parties and good government groups have argued that recent moves by the Trump administration will chill whistleblowing and watchdog offices.
Workforce
White House: Shutdown layoffs are just days away
So far, just one agency has pursued RIFs while others have largely followed normal shutdown procedures.
Workforce
Judge blocks Trump’s anti-union executive order for IFPTE-represented workers
U.S. District Judge Paul Friedman said the president “clearly” exceeded his authority when issuing an edict stripping two-thirds of the federal workforce of its collective bargaining rights.
Management
Reductions in force could make bad situation worse for federal contractors during government shutdown
Some federal contractors have already reported problems connecting with their contracting officers.
Workforce
Layoff implementation work is exempted from shutdown, Trump admin says
Shutdown layoffs could be undone when funding is restored, according to new guidance.
Management
The ultra risks of a routine shutdown
COMMENTARY | If Democrats risk a government shutdown this week, they may unwittingly play into the most dramatic shift of power to the executive branch in recent history.
Workforce
Labor groups warn of ‘gaping hole’ in First Amendment if court OKs Trump’s anti-union orders
The full U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit will reexamine a prior decision allowing the White House’s effort to strip two-thirds of the federal workforce of their collective bargaining rights to go into effect.
Exclusive
Workforce
The Interior Department is taking steps to implement layoffs
After a series of delays, DOI is preparing RIF lists as it looks to implement significant personnel cuts in the coming weeks.
Management
Trump budget office is hiding federal spending information, ethics nonprofit alleges
Federal courts have ordered the Office of Management and Budget to publish information about how agency funding is disbursed, but Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington contends that officials are using footnotes to obfuscate disclosure.
Updated
Management
Census advisory committee meets despite Trump administration nixing it
A Trump executive order directed the cancellation of “unnecessary” councils that advise on agency operations.
Pay & Benefits
Lawmakers sound alarm on administration of USPS health care program
The Office of Personnel Management still has less than half of the IT staff needed to support postal workers’ employer-sponsored health insurance program as it prepares for its second-ever open season this fall.
Management
Rule limiting ‘outstanding’ performance ratings for agency senior executives finalized
The final rule also strikes promotion of diversity and inclusion as a criteria for appraising senior executives.
Workforce
Protestors denounce cuts to NASA’s staff, budget and union rights
Several speakers at the protest also urged Congress to pass a continuing resolution that prevents the Trump administration from impounding agency funding.
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.
Workforce