Pay & Benefits
TSP investments begin 2026 in the black
Each of the portfolios in the federal government’s 401(k)-style retirement savings program gained value in January.
Workforce
Employees begin furloughs as lawmakers hope to end shutdown Tuesday
The unusual nature of the funding lapse has led to some confusion for impacted federal workers.
Oversight
Education Department spent up to $38M paying employees not to work before reinstating them, watchdog reports
The Government Accountability Office also reported that the caseload for the department’s Office for Civil Rights increased by an average of 98 cases per week during part of the time that these staffers were on paid leave.
News
2 CBP agents identified in Alex Pretti shooting
The two federal immigration agents who fired on Minneapolis protester Alex Pretti are identified in government records as Border Patrol agent Jesus Ochoa and Customs and Border Protection officer Raymundo Gutierrez.
Management
OPM’s challenge of creating a high-performance culture
COMMENTARY | To help federal agencies operate like modern high-performance organizations requires an understanding of their current barriers and an importance placed on the workforce's value.
Workforce
Schedule F won’t fix government’s performance management problems, report finds
The Partnership for Public Service warned that, contrary to proponents’ claims, there is “no evidence” that at-will employment improves employee or agency performance.
Updated
Management
White House initiates shutdown process as Congress hopes to keep duration minimal
Impacted employees will soon receive furlough notices, though they could still avoid missing any time.
Oversight
As Trump administration cries ‘fraud,’ experts worry it does more harm than good
“It’s dismaying,” one longtime anti-fraud expert told Nextgov/FCW of how the administration is using fraud as rationale but firing the watchdogs that are tasked with finding it.
Management
Court orders OMB to publish more info about how federal funding is distributed
Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington had asserted that officials violated an earlier mandate regarding the disclosure of spending data.
Defense
JAGs are becoming federal prosecutors in Minneapolis. Experts warn it’s new territory
Military lawyers have served as special assistant U.S. attorneys before, but never like this.
Oversight
Ethics organization calls for investigation into jewelry ad that features assistant secretary
The Energy Department said that Audrey Robertson’s appearance was unpaid, occurred prior to her confirmation and that her government title was added by the business.
Pay & Benefits
Federal retirees face new COLAs, premiums and earnings limits in 2026
Annual adjustments to retirement benefits, FEHB costs, Social Security rules and TSP limits are now taking effect.
Updated
Management
Shutdown deal struck after failed Senate vote
Senate Democrats and the White House reached an agreement late Thursday to fund most departments and agencies through Sept. 30 after a previous funding bill was blocked.
Workforce
Agencies internally pan OPM’s bid to overhaul federal performance management
At the White House’s request, the federal government’s dedicated HR agency has updated its proposal limiting how many employees agencies can rate as above average to narrow the methods by which federal workers can challenge a perceived unfair rating.
Management
Senate Dems demand immigration agents unmask, wear body cameras and carry IDs as shutdown looms
The lawmakers say the measures are needed to increase transparency and accountability within Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection.
Workforce
VA’s reorganization, staffing caps a result of previous overhiring, officials say
The new restrictions on hiring reflect the needs in the field, VA leaders tell lawmakers.
Management
When trust breaks down at the VA, veterans pay the price
COMMENTARY | A VA employee writes about staffing cuts, labor changes and their impact on morale and care.
Management
Lawsuit seeks to stop FEMA from cutting its workforce in half
Staff reductions at the disaster agency were put on hold last week, as it faced the recent winter storm.
Management
Broken policy breaks budgeting even more
COMMENTARY | The latest funding standoff underscores why budget experts are calling for a radical overhaul of a process that no longer reliably funds the government.
Updated
Pay & Benefits