Workforce

Donald Trump wants to reinstate a spoils system in federal government by hiring political loyalists regardless of competence

COMMENTARY | The potential reemergence of Schedule F is not the first time a president has sought to install political loyalists in the federal civil service, but its impact could prove disastrous.

Workforce

Biden trashes Trump’s civil service plans in press conference

The president described Project 2025 and Schedule F threats to the United States’ democratic system during a press conference Thursday.

News

Schedule F looms over trust in government summit

New survey data from the Partnership for Public Service shows there is strong bipartisan support among the public for a nonpartisan civil service.

Workforce

Bush-era national security officials warn against Schedule F

In a letter to congressional committee staff directors, a cadre of former Republican appointees urged lawmakers to pursue a “middle ground” of federal employee accountability that preserves merit systems principles.

Workforce

AG vows prosecution amid ‘unprecedented’ spike in threats against career civil servants

The Justice Department has set up a task force to investigate "heinous threats of violence" against federal workers.

Management

OPM reminds agencies of burrowing rules ahead of election season

All proposed appointments to career competitive service or Senior Executive Service positions must be reviewed by the federal government’s dedicated HR agency.

Workforce

Governance experts launch a group to oppose Schedule F

The new organization hopes to offer a consensus way forward on civil service reform issues in addition to opposing efforts to politicize the federal workforce.

Workforce

The Biden administration’s path to a green economy runs through Gen Z

COMMENTARY | The winning strategy? Engaging with young people where they are and paying them what they’re worth.

Management

Agencies need to consider alternative personnel systems

A new model for government is still to be developed, but history and the current problems make it clear the GS system is not the answer.

Workforce

Honesty is always the best policy, but it isn’t a silver bullet for security clearances

COMMENTARY | Candor isn’t helping the growing number of security clearance holders and applicants with drug use issues.

Workforce

How transforming federal workforce culture can enhance safety and productivity

COMMENTARY | It takes more than annual check-the-box training and motivational posters to bring about change.

Oversight

MSPB political firing case raises new questions on Schedule F

The Housing and Urban Development Department’s 2017 firing of a probationary employee over alleged leaks was politically motivated, the agency tasked with enforcing civil service laws said last week.

Workforce

Politicians may rail against the ‘deep state,’ but research shows federal workers are effective and committed, not subversive

COMMENTARY | "Our years of research about the people who work in the federal government finds that they care deeply about their work, aiding the public and pursuing the stability and integrity of government," write two scholars.

Workforce

D.C. lawmaker wants to restore due process to feds in ‘sensitive’ posts

A new bill would overrule a 2013 federal appellate court decision that denied roughly 200,000 federal employees access to the Merit Systems Protection Board.

Workforce

One agency’s Trump-era plan included stripping protections from 68% of its workforce

The Office of Management and Budget appeared to have taken a maximalist approach to the controversial job category, proposing to strip the civil service protections from IT workers, recruiters and even executive assistants.

Workforce

The jobs boom is hitting the federal sector, too

Federal agencies added 11,000 jobs in January and hit a 20-year high for non-census years.

Management

Want to modernize the federal workforce? Here's how

A new nonprofit study examines how the federal government could update the civil service to both capture new talent and capitalize on its available talent. 

Management

OPM encourages federal supervisors to make better use of probationary periods

The federal government’s HR agency urged agency managers to remove poor performers before most removal protections kick in, as well work more closely with new employees early in their tenure to help them succeed.