Management

Biden gives federal employees Christmas Eve off

Amid the potential of a government shutdown fueled by budget uncertainties on Capitol Hill, the president issued an executive order on Thursday giving federal employees Dec. 24 off. 

Trump seeks to spike stopgap funding bill, sending Congress into chaos days before shutdown

A short-term spending bill appeared dead less than 24 hours after its introduction and less than three days before agencies must shutter.

Bill enshrining skills-based hiring heads to Biden’s desk

The Senate last week passed the Chance to Compete Act by unanimous consent, and the House followed suit with a voice vote Monday.

Updated

Congress aims to punt agency funding to March, but hurdles remain ahead of shutdown deadline

White House has warned that such a plan, without additional funds, could lead to hiring freezes at agencies.

Will civil service protections hold up against RFK Jr.’s threats to the federal public health workforce?

Kennedy, Trump’s pick to lead HHS, has talked openly about removing swaths of civil servants at FDA and NIH.

USPS privatization again under consideration, Trump says

The president-elect suggested he could bring back an idea from his first term that proved unpopular with both parties in Congress.

What does the head of the Education Department do?

The secretary of education helps set national priorities in a system primarily funded and guided by local governments.

Could Biden’s recent strategy to streamline government hiring be scuttled under Trump?

One of the purposes of the administration’s federal hiring improvement plan is to make agencies aware of hiring tools they already have access to.

DHS’s plans to fix problems with its hiring and training for the acquisition workforce might not work

The department knows its acquisition staff are overwhelmed with work and slowed down by long hiring processes, but the Government Accountability Office says DHS hasn’t reviewed whether its solutions are actually helping.

House committee piles on criticism of DeJoy’s postal overhaul plans

USPS’ inspector general said there hasn’t yet been improvements to service timeliness and reliability.

Federal telework would be capped under a new House bill

Rep. Andy Ogles’ Show Up To Work Act would limit telework at federal agencies to 25% per pay period and require agency heads to certify performance gains for individual waivers.

Government efficiency vs. performance: How federal employees can drive change from within

COMMENTARY | An important constituency for better government performance is actually among civil servants themselves.

GOP senator to DeJoy: I will 'kill' your plan to reform USPS

Testy hearing shows significant, bipartisan divides remain between the postmaster general and Congress.

What does the NASA administrator do?

The agency’s leader reaches for the stars while navigating budgets and politics back on Earth.

How a director of national intelligence helps a president stay on top of threats from around the world

COMMENTARY | The creation of the director of national intelligence position was a direct result of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.