Exclusive
Transition
‘Robbery in progress': Small group protests at OPM over Musk allies’ access to federal employee personal data
Several associates of Elon Musk have been put in leadership positions at the Office of Personnel Management as well as the General Services Administration.
Transition
Senior Democrat wants to know who in the Trump White House got Top Secret clearance without a complete background check
Trump issued a memo providing temporary security clearances for certain personnel, arguing delays in their vetting were "unacceptable."
Transition
Democrats worry RFK Jr. could purge ‘thousands’ of federal health employees
Trump’s nominee for Health and Human Services secretary said that NIH, FDA and CDC would be integral in his objective to prevent chronic disease.
Oversight
Congressional response to watchdog firings hindered by GOP control, Connolly says
A good government group fears that Trump will ignore rules about who can serve as an acting inspector general.
Transition
2 Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Democrats fired
Their removals by President Donald Trump leave the EEOC without a quorum.
Updated
Transition
Inspectors general’s role as independent government watchdogs in question after Trump firings
Many inspector general offices will be headed by acting leaders in the interim, which could weaken the effectiveness of their oversight.
Oversight
Trump fires multiple agency inspectors general
Sen. Grassley and a top watchdog said Trump did not adhere to congressional notification requirements about such removals.
Management
Trump suggests eliminating FEMA while touring disaster site
It’s unclear what actions the president could take to reorganize the agency without congressional approval.
Management
Congress passes migrant detention bill that DHS said it can’t enforce without more resources
The Laken Riley Act is set to be the first bill Trump signs into law after it passed the House and Senate with bipartisan support.
Workforce
FAA employees with disabilities targeted by Trump's anti-DEI push
Despite current policy, the FAA during Trump’s first administration actively sought to recruit workers with disabilities.
News
FBI releases new information about killing of a Border Patrol agent in Vermont
Border Patrol Union president said the agent was responding to intelligence.
Updated
Management
Coast Guard leader fired by new DHS officials
Commandant Linda Fagan had received bipartisan criticisms from members of Congress who accused the USCG of resisting oversight.
Management
Here's who is leading federal agencies as Trump nominees await confirmation
With one exception, the temporary leaders are career officials.
Management
What Trump’s inaugural address means for federal employees
Many of Trump’s expected Day 1 executive orders will impact government workers.
Management
Senior executive standards get first update in more than 15 years
OPM said technological advances necessitated the changes, but some stakeholders argued the modifications still don’t reflect current governmental needs.
Updated
Oversight
Inspectors general have a new bipartisan caucus in the Senate
The president-elect has a record of removing inspectors general.
Updated
Workforce
VA employees ordered to pay back bonuses over misconduct now have an appeal process
The rulemaking is the result of a 2017 law intended to make it easier to remove poor-performing VA employees, but the Biden administration previously decided not to use it after legal decisions blunted the law’s authorities.
Workforce
Trump’s proposed cuts to the federal workforce could increase dependency on contractors, experts say
Conversely, Trump’s advisory Department of Government Efficiency plans to push for decreasing spending on federal contracts.
Transition
Reported Trump ‘loyalty tests’ for national security officials spur criticism
If career employees are removed from the National Security Council, they would return to their home agencies, but the top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee has expressed concern.
Transition