Defense
‘5 bullet points’ email now a weekly task for Pentagon civilians
A short explanation of recent achievements is due every Tuesday, SecDef says in additional guidance.
Exclusive
Defense
Pentagon is placing probationary employees on leave in advance of mass firings
The terminations are expected within weeks under plans to fire nearly one-tenth of DOD’s 55,000 “probies.”
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
OPM retroactively edits probationary firing guidance to note it did not order probationary firings
Trump administration tweaks its guidance after a judge called OPM's role unlawful.
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