Pay & Benefits
OPM touts ‘fully paperless’ retirement application, though concerns remain
Sources warn that the Trump administration has overstated both DOGE’s role in developing online retirement applications and its potential impact on the retirement process.
Management
Standard leadership advice tough to practice under Trump’s government overhaul
Government experts recently offered guidance to public sector leaders on how to successfully manage teams in an unpredictable environment.
Workforce
Policy that let federal employees use preferred bathroom formally overturned by Trump administration
A trans federal employee, backed by legal groups, this week sued over Trump’s order that limits which bathroom individuals can use in government buildings.
Workforce
Agencies with majority women and minority workforces are some of the hardest hit in Trump staff cuts, new report finds
The National Women’s Law Center argued that the administration’s widespread layoffs are weakening a pathway for women and people of color to achieve greater financial security.
Companies
GSA expands review of ‘consulting’ contracts to 9 more companies
Like with a first group of 10, the General Services Administration is asking for detailed breakdowns of contracts these firms hold as the government pushes for cost savings and efficiencies.
Management
Judge orders halt to the shuttering of three independent agencies
A federal judge found that the Trump administration violated the Constitution, the Administrative Procedure Act and federal spending laws when it ordered the stripping down of the Institute of Museum and Library Services, Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service and the Minority Business Development Agency to their “statutory minimums.”
Management
Limited number of agency senior executives could be rated as ‘outstanding’ under Trump proposal
The Trump administration has sought to exert more political influence over members of the senior executive service.
Contracts
OPM chooses Workday for no-bid contract to overhaul HR system
With White House deadlines and directives looming, the Office of Personnel Management goes with Workday to quickly implement a human capital platform with the intent to be a model for other agencies.
Workforce
Axed federal employees sit on Capitol steps urging lawmakers to protect public services they used to provide
A group of former government workers goes to Capitol Hill weekly to lobby members of Congress to fight Trump’s federal workforce and program cuts.
Workforce
Lawmakers raise bipartisan concerns over VA RIFs as secretary says he may alter plans
VA secretary says he could end up cutting fewer than the proposed 80,000 employees, but the final tally could be greater as well.
Workforce
19 states sue Trump administration over mass layoffs at HHS
States argue key programs on which they have relied are no longer operating and ask the court to reinstate workers.
Contracts
Trump administration releases first wave of acquisition regulation changes
This set of revisions would significantly shrink the Federal Acquisition Regulation, as well as empower contracting officers and acquisition teams to use their "business judgment" in pushing innovation.
Pay & Benefits
Proposed retirement cuts cast renewed pall over deferred resignations
Federal workers who accepted President Trump and Elon Musk’s so-called ‘fork in the road’ fear Republicans have “pulled the rug out from under” their retirement plans.
Exclusive
Workforce
Federal employees removed by Trump would have easier pathway back to government service under Democratic bill
A pair of bills would seek to give hiring preference to axed feds and to standardize the length of probationary periods for government workers, as the administration has sought to fire those individuals who have less civil service job protections.
Workforce
Selected federal hiring sprees included in House Republicans’ sweeping tax cut package
Several agencies across government would receive tens of billions of dollars to hire tens of thousands of employees.
Workforce
Survey says…most Americans don’t like DOGE
New polling data from the Partnership for Public Service shows that nearly double the number of surveyed respondents thought Trump’s federal workforce overhauls would have negative impacts compared with those who supported the policies, but there were sharp divides between Republicans and Democrats.
Transition
Trump Customs and Border Protection nominee probed on 2010 death in custody
Rodney Scott served as chief of Border Patrol during the first Trump administration and was dismissed in 2021 by President Biden.
Workforce
NASA preparing for steep workforce cuts but hopeful it can avoid more layoffs
The agency is still planning for lunar missions and to keep all of its centers open, though it will likely do so with fewer employees.
Workforce
Despite return-to-office deadline, some VA employees may still work remotely because there's not enough workspace
Veterans Health Administration employees who live within 50 miles of federal office space must begin working fully in person by May 5 if they’re not already, but agency officials said there’ll be leniency if there’s not enough workspace.
Workforce