Oversight
Agencies spent nearly $10 billion for feds not to work in 2025
The use of paid administrative leave as part of the Trump administration’s deferred resignation program, an effort to entice federal workers to quit, across government in 2025 was 435% higher than two years prior, according to a new GAO report.
Management
Education Department shutdown plans face a new hurdle
House and Senate Democrats optimistic about the outcome of year's midterm elections outlined their plans on Tuesday to stop the Education Department from closing down.
Management
Patel won’t say whether FBI agents will be at the polls this fall
The FBI director faced senators’ questions about election activity, hiring standards and the bureau’s handling of AI crimes during a tense five-hour hearing on Tuesday.
Management
Supreme Court keeps USPS from carrying out mail-in voting changes in midterm elections
Postmaster General David Steiner previously told Government Executive that USPS would comply if the courts decided to block these changes.
Sponsor Content
Government Efficiency Depends on How Work Moves
Government efficiency isn’t just about automation. See where information bottlenecks are hiding—and how leading governments are removing them.
Tech
VA watchdog uses AI to help compile healthcare facility audits
The Office of Inspector General has been using Copilot Chat “to review inspection data such as interview transcripts, documents, questionnaire responses, and physical observations.”
Management
DHS secretary defends smaller FEMA workforce after judge challenges 50% staffing cut plans
Markwayne Mullins pointed to technology investments as a way for the disaster agency to operate with a smaller workforce, even as a federal judge in San Francisco ruled that DHS "unlawfully ordered” FEMA to cut its staffing by half.
Oversight
Hatch Act complaints against Trump officials continue to pile up as investigations go on for nearly a year
Attorney General Todd Blanche and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy are the latest administration officials to be accused of breaking the ethics law.
Sponsor Content
From Experimentation to Execution: The State of Agentic AI in the Federal Government
How ready is the federal government for agentic AI? Explore the latest adoption trends, barriers, and strategies in our new report.
Tech
‘Digital employees’ are coming to the Defense Logistics Agency
Nearly 200 agentic-AI bots are already running autonomously as the combat support agency pushes ahead with AI-powered tools, CIO says.
FEATURED INSIGHTS
Workforce
Judge halts ‘favorite EO’ question on federal job applications
U.S. District Judge George O’Toole issued a stay blocking federal agencies from asking an essay question civil service advocates call a “loyalty question,” but found he could not prevent consideration of answers already provided by job applicants.
Tech
25 years after 9/11, spy agencies face old lessons and new threats
Former intelligence officials describe a nation better equipped to disrupt terrorist plots, but still wrestling with the costs of its response and how to prevent the next crisis under escalating technology threats.
Updated
Management
Judge grants temporary pause in USDA relocations in new lawsuit
A federal judge in San Francisco said an administrative stay “doesn't say anything about the merits" of the case, but would give him more time to “adjudicate this properly.”
TSP TICKER
FUND
G
F
C
S
I
SEP 15 CLOSE
$20.2155
$20.5933
$122.3618
$113.4990
$64.7795
DAILY CHANGE
0.0027
-0.0155
-0.5321
-0.8588
-0.3957
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0.20
-1.22
-1.23
-2.64
-2.05
FUND
L 2070
L 2060
L 2050
L 2040
L 2030
L INCOME
SEP 15 CLOSE
$14.4267
$24.3457
$46.3321
$74.8841
$63.2041
$30.9724
DAILY CHANGE
-0.0769
-0.1297
-0.2050
-0.2895
-0.1818
-0.0447
THIS MONTH (%)
-1.69
-1.69
-1.45
-1.25
-0.90
-0.41
FUND
SEP 15
CLOSE
CLOSE
DAILY
CHANGE
CHANGE
THIS
MONTH
MONTH
G
$20.2155
0.0027
0.20
F
$20.5933
-0.0155
-1.22
C
$122.3618
-0.5321
-1.23
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$113.4990
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$64.7795
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$14.4267
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$24.3457
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L 2050
$46.3321
-0.2050
-1.45
L 2040
$74.8841
-0.2895
-1.25
L 2030
$63.2041
-0.1818
-0.90
L INCOME
$30.9724
-0.0447
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Tech
On 9/11’s 25th anniversary, modernizing government starts with remembering our past
COMMENTARY | Federal agencies still struggle to share information across organizational boundaries. The lessons of the post-9/11 reforms could help agency leaders build the data infrastructure needed for modern government and AI.
Workforce
How 'Star Trek' inspired generations of NASA scientists and astronauts
The show’s vision of a diverse future in space didn’t just stay on television. It influenced NASA’s workforce, recruitment and even the agency’s relationship with the public.
Workforce
What does 9/11 mean for young public servants who hardly remember it?
Although they may have limited memories of the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, some people say the events still shaped their career decisions.
Workforce
Bill would let federal whistleblowers sue if disciplined over violating NDAs
New legislation from Virginia Democrats seeks to beef up federal whistleblower protections as the Trump administration weighs drastically expanding agencies’ use of non-disclosure agreements.
Pay & Benefits
What 9/11 can teach federal families about benefits
The federal workers’ compensation program can provide critical support after a work-related injury, illness or death, but families need to know what to document and which benefits to claim.
Management
USPS workers most impacted by mail-in ballot EO haven’t been trained yet, union warns
If the Supreme Court clears the way for USPS to implement the Trump administration’s mail-in ballot executive order, the American Postal Workers Union says its members will have little time to prepare for these changes.
Workforce
Don’t let federal agencies judge their own discrimination cases
COMMENTARY | The current system would leave workers at the mercy of the agencies they accuse of discrimination, argues AFGE's civil rights leader.
Tech
Trump signs veterans benefits order calling for improved data sharing
The order instructs the departments of Veterans Affairs and Defense to conduct a broad review of information technology-related contracts to ensure greater interoperability.
Pay & Benefits
GSA announces per diem increases for feds this fall
Beginning in October, the amount federal agencies reimburse employees for daily lodging associated with official travel will increase by at least $3.
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.
Workforce
For federal executives, retirement means losing more than a job
COMMENTARY | Retirement planning often focuses on benefits and finances. For senior federal employees, leaving government can also mean giving up a title, mission and professional identity, while agencies face the loss of decades of expertise.
Pay & Benefits
Air traffic controllers are still waiting on 2.8% of their congressionally approved pay raise
Federal Aviation Administrator Bryan Bedford says the agency needs to improve how it uses its existing workforce before he will release the rest of the increase.
