Workforce

GSA continues slow drip of RIFs, nearly wiping out entire offices

More cuts are coming. Staff in the Technology Transformation Services were told Thursday that their team will be halved.

Management

Trump administration moves to politicize top HR officials following firing at IRS

Guidance from the Office of Personnel Management justified the decision by citing chief human capital officers’ role in implementing Biden-era diversity policies.

Workforce

MSPB orders temporary reinstatement of nearly 6,000 probationary workers at USDA

These Agriculture Department employees must be allowed back to their jobs for 45 days, as the Office of Special Counsel continues to investigate the Trump administration’s purge of recently hired, promoted or transferred federal employees.

Transition

Supreme Court rejects Trump’s bid to freeze USAID payments

In a 5-4 ruling, the justices require the administration to honor existing aid and contracts obligations while the legal battle continues.

Defense

At least one Pentagon agency has begun firing probationary workers

The Defense Logistics Agency has begun dismissing its share of the Defense Department’s 5,400 targeted employees.

Pay & Benefits

A pair of House bills aim to give fired feds relief

Legislation from Reps. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, D-Fla., and Derek Tran, D-Calif., seeks to secure benefits for federal employees recently fired by the Trump administration and help get some of their jobs back. 

Transition

‘Reclaim power from unaccountable bureaucracy’: Trump touts early actions against federal workforce in address to Congress

The president praised Elon Musk’s cost-cutting initiatives during his speech to Congress, the first of his second term.

Exclusive Workforce

VA plans to lay off as many as 83,000 employees this year

A leaked memo released Tuesday called for VA to slash its workforce to 2019 levels that were in place before millions of veterans became newly eligible for care.

Management

GSA lease terminations hit GAO offices doing national security work

Some of the terminated leases include buildings with spaces designed to exchange classified information on defense programs.

Workforce

‘Prelude to privatization:’ Social Security confirms workforce reduction targets, continues to shutter offices

Despite most of the agency being exempt from deferred resignations and the government-wide hiring freeze, early retirement and Voluntary Separation Incentive Payments are now available to the entire agency workforce.

Updated Workforce

Many federal employees ordered to submit recent accomplishments for second Musk email

Government workers have been instructed not to include classified or sensitive information in their responses.

Updated Workforce

Some agencies are still firing probationers while others have recalled theirs, following court ruling

There appears to be confusion throughout the Trump administration as to the impacts of the court's decision, with some agencies pausing their personnel actions to assess the fallout.

Workforce

House Dems: Immediately reinstate fired feds

A group of 85 lawmakers called on the Office of Special Counsel to broaden its recommendation earlier this week to stay the firing of six employees on probationary periods to all probationary workers purged in recent days.

Management

Trump administration asks agencies to cull consultants

A memo dated Wednesday asks agencies to review their contracts with 10 of the “highest paid” companies.

Updated Workforce

RIF watch: See which agencies are laying off federal workers

Here are the agencies where we have confirmed layoffs have taken or are about to take place. We will update as we learn more.

Oversight

Multiple groups file lawsuits to get DOGE records

Plaintiffs argue the Musk-led initiative is an agency whose records can be requested for release, while the Trump administration says they’re protected presidential records.

Transition

Trump DOGE order directs agencies to build tech to track government spending

The executive order directs agencies to build centralized tech systems to “record every payment” issued under grants and contracts.

Workforce

Agencies to deliver large-scale RIF plans in two weeks

The Trump administration is directing federal agencies to move swiftly to lay off broad swaths of their workforces.

Transition

The DOGE risk to fighting waste

COMMENTARY | We all want to get rid of waste, fraud, abuse and mismanagement in the federal government, but this is not the way to do it, argues one observer.