Author Archive
Management
Trump is staffing up agencies with political appointees. They’re not sticking around, new analysis finds
The Partnership for Public Service previously reported on high turnover among Senate-confirmed political appointees during the president’s second term. In a new report, researchers from the nonprofit find a similar trend with non-Senate-confirmed ones.
Oversight
Musk should testify about overstated savings from DHS contract cancellations, Democrats argue
The Government Accountability Office reported that contract terminations pushed by the Department of Government Efficiency yielded a net of $92 million — much less than the Homeland Security Department’s public report of as much as $10.5 billion in potential savings.
Oversight
Inspectors general are facing an identity crisis. Here’s how some former IGs would preserve the watchdogs’ independence
A panel of former leaders of the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency made several recommendations for reforming the group, which has been targeted by the Trump administration.
Management
Inspector general fired by Trump talks leadership, OIG independence and his new memoir
Former Labor watchdog Larry Turner writes about confronting racism, working under “toxic” bosses and what he misses most about being in government.
Oversight
Federal disability employment program faced widespread compliance problems, whistleblower investigation finds
The AbilityOne Commission countered that “many of the compliance concerns cited by [the Office of Special Counsel] occurred during periods of operational disruption, including the pandemic.”
Oversight
DHS watchdog says Noem-era policy hampered probe into FEMA employees skipping homes with Trump signs
Auditors found that the Federal Emergency Management Agency also did not provide consistent Hatch Act training to employees.
Management
Pushed out by the Trump administration, these ex-feds want to make agency firings simpler and fairer
Across 12 cases that were analyzed for a new report on federal firing reform, it took an average 19 months for the underperforming employee to be removed or otherwise leave the position.
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Management
Agencies backfilled 20,600 employees who left government under the deferred resignation programs, analysis finds
The Office of Personnel Management disputed the findings and countered that the analysis also shows around 85% of the DRP separations were not replaced.
Oversight
Postal inspectors aren’t being pulled away from mail crime investigations for immigration enforcement, IG reports
The watchdog found that postal white collar crime investigations were not affected by “resource shifts.”
Oversight
‘Glaring violations’ of the Hatch Act by senior Trump officials have gone unpunished for months, good government group alleges
On Thursday, the Office of Special Counsel submitted disciplinary complaints against two federal employees over apparent Hatch Act violations.
Updated
Tech
OPM wants to woo young workers. Can internet memes overcome Trump’s cuts to the civil service?
An agency spokeswoman said that a four-person communications team — most younger than 30 — is spearheading the effort to make OPM’s social media more appealing to younger potential hires.
Oversight
The watchdog gets watched: GAO’s hiring process length faces scrutiny
In a new report by the inspector general for the Government Accountability Office, investigators also found that in fiscal 2024 the agency excluded certain data from time-to-hire calculations and was inconsistent about when the hiring process started.
Oversight
Attorney general violated Hatch Act ethics rules, nonprofit says
Good government groups have filed Hatch Act complaints against several Trump administration officials.
Management
USDA hasn’t looked at staff attrition ahead of relocations, but downplays its impact
Internal data shows the department is preparing for significant churn as it presses forward with office moves, raising questions about whether new staff can fill the gap left by seasoned experts.
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Oversight
State’s overseas housing rules haven’t kept up with the times, GAO says
The agency is still using standards tied to the D.C. housing market of 1991 to determine how much space employees stationed abroad can have.
Workforce
‘We’re still in hell’: A year later, CDC employees remain shaken by headquarters shooting — and angry at agency leaders’ response
The agency is also contending with deep workforce cuts and leadership changes as a new director prepares to take over.
Oversight
Project 2025 contributor nominated for government watchdog position
While the president recently nominated Dennis Kirk to serve as inspector general at the Interior Department, he’s reportedly already working in that office as a political appointee.
Oversight
Key oversight and federal workforce nominees confirmed by Senate
Several of the individuals will lead agencies that have been downsized or otherwise weakened by the Trump administration.
Oversight
Calls for IG probe of Reflecting Pool renovation come amid questions over watchdog's independence
The former inspector general at Interior and a senior House lawmaker criticized the apparent appointment of a Project 2025 co-author at the watchdog office.
Oversight
Watchdog puts new numbers on the size of DOGE, but many details remain unknown as agencies refuse to turn over information
In a new report, the Government Accountability Office said it was unable to verify if all Department of Government Efficiency employees completed mandatory activities intended to avoid conflicts of interest.
