Management

Trump’s plan to overhaul disaster agency once hurricane season is over prompts Democratic concerns

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has already experienced staffing cuts and leadership changes ahead of an “above-normal” hurricane season.

Workforce

Agencies ready to move quickly on RIFs if court block falls

Across government, behind-the-scenes preparations for layoffs have taken place or are ongoing.

Management

Small Business Administration would have to relocate field offices from ‘sanctuary jurisdictions’ under House-passed bill

The agency previously said it would move six of its regional offices from cities that have laws limiting their cooperation with federal immigration agents.

Management

Vought calls for more OMB staff after spearheading governmentwide cuts

Architect of Trump’s government overhaul says he does not want to "traumatize" feds and some agencies have staff "doing incredible work."

Oversight

Education Department is stonewalling inspector general investigation into staff cuts, Democrats allege

The department’s inspector general informed congressional leaders that officials weren’t turning over requested information and are putting conditions on interviews with staff.

Pay & Benefits

Oversight Dems: Commerce reneged on probationers’ health benefits

Some recently fired probationary workers have also been unable to access their personnel records to show to insurance companies and prospective employers.

Workforce

Feds on the job hunt are taking advantage of professional development opportunities tailored to them

Initiatives are focusing on topics ranging from wellness and career coaching to artificial intelligence.

Pay & Benefits

Senators fix their sights on OPM’s pay memo for political appointees 

Eight Democrats decried recent guidance encouraging agencies to pay Schedule C political appointees the maximum federal salary of $195,200 as an attempt to hire “underqualified and overpaid political elites.”

Workforce

OPM ‘merit’ hiring plan includes bipartisan reforms, politicized new test

The federal government’s HR agency on Thursday instructed agencies to cease collecting data on the demographic makeup of their workforces.

Management

Here's where the State Department is planning its layoffs and changes

Various national security offices, as well as units that cover Asia and the Middle East, will be consolidated or slashed. Thousands of employees across divisions are targeted for cuts.

Workforce

Democratic bills would rehire axed National Parks and Forest Service employees

Both agencies have already undergone workforce reductions with more layoffs still planned.

Management

Trump administration begins cracking down on federal employees' use of leave for voting

Agencies have begun notifying employees they can no longer take administrative leave for election-related activities.

Contracts

SBA declares tribal and Alaska Native programs not affected by Trump's DEI rollback

The Small Business Administration's general counsel responded to concerns raised by the Native American Contractors Association.

Workforce

Appeals board creates new path to renew reversals of probationary firings

At least some fired feds can pursue their case through a class action, administrative judge says.

Workforce

DHS says it won’t eliminate oversight offices but is still pursuing layoffs

Progressive legal organizations are suing to stop the Trump administration from winding down the Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties as well as two ombudsmen focused on immigration.

Breaking News Oversight

Supreme Court allows Trump to fire federal employee appeals board members at will

In dissenting opinion, justices say the decision will provide Trump the most subservient executive branch “maybe ever.”

Pay & Benefits

House passes reconciliation bill that cuts federal employee retirement benefits

Though Democrats were able to excise a plan to base federal retirees’ annuity payments on their highest five years of salary, rather than the current high-3, proposals to eliminate the FERS supplement and to charge employees for their civil service protections remain on the table.

Workforce

Judges issue promising rulings for groups fighting Trump’s anti-union order

A federal judge in Kentucky tossed the Trump administration’s bid to secure a court victory prior to formally rescinding union contracts under the guise of national security, while another jurist sought new avenues to potentially block the March executive order’s implementation.

Oversight

Government oversight employees detail fears of retaliation under Trump administration in new Senate report

President Donald Trump has, so far, fired 19 inspectors general, who are independent watchdogs that investigate waste, fraud and abuse in federal agencies.

Pay & Benefits

Retirement cuts tweaked in House reconciliation package

The latest draft of the GOP’s plan to cut federal spending to pay for tax cuts and increased immigration enforcement no longer un-grandfathers federal workers hired before 2014 from increased retirement contribution rules passed in the 2010s and delays implementation of the FERS supplement.