Oversight

Independent agencies targeted by Trump’s latest executive order

A regulatory expert said the directive will likely be challenged in court, as Congress has largely shielded some of the affected agencies from involvement by the White House.

Exclusive Management

Agency employees told to no longer block any funding from Trump's EOs

Following court order, some agencies have turned spending back on while others are confused an awaiting further guidance.

Transition

Chaos reigns across government as Trump freezes large swaths of federal spending

"It is blatantly unconstitutional," one senator says as agencies grapple with pausing nearly all grants and loan programs.

Tech

Gregory Barbaccia named federal CIO

The Palantir alum has also served in the Army and as an intelligence analyst.

Management

Dems say thwarting Trump's controversial OMB pick is a top priority

The senators are still looking for a bipartisan coalition to vote down Russ Vought, a man they said "exudes hate for federal employees."

Management

She was the first Black woman to run the U.S. budget. She doesn’t want to be the last.

Shalanda Young, outgoing director of Biden’s Office of Management and Budget, spoke about her historic tenure, her approach to leadership — and her concerns about what lies ahead.

Management

Trump’s pick for OMB chief defends removing civil service protections, withholding appropriated funds

Russ Vought laments "weaponized bureaucracies" as he draws bipartisan criticism for declining to commit to following spending laws.

Management

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.

Workforce

Trump expected to tap Schedule F architect promising widespread federal layoffs to head OMB

Russ Vought previously held the job and now says he wants federal workers to be "viewed as the villains."

Oversight

OMB needs to provide public details on its plan to finish federal programs inventory, GAO says

Under a revised deadline, OMB has until January 2025 to complete an inventory of federal programs. But the agency hasn’t provided a timeline to meet such a target.

Tech

Senate Dems ask OMB for more regulations, support to mitigate algorithm bias

Sens. Ed Markey and Chuck Schumer are seeking updated guidance and organizational structures to prevent artificial intelligence from discrimination.

Oversight

Watchdog urges OMB to prioritize implementation of anti-fraud recommendations

GAO updated the budget agency on the 172 recommendations that it has not completed.

Management

OPM and OMB unveil a new plan to improve the federal hiring ‘experience’ for both workers and HR managers

The Biden administration’s latest effort to improve the federal hiring process provides a roadmap for implementing decades-old calls for reform.

Workforce

Teleworking feds are spending 60% of their time working in person, OMB says

In a congressionally mandated report, the Office of Management and Budget rebuffed many common complaints by congressional Republicans about the popular workplace flexibility.

Workforce

OMB leader defends administration’s approach to telework

House Republicans continued to demand better data from the Biden administration regarding the prevalence and effectiveness of telework at federal agencies.

Management

OPM launches a new one-stop shop for agency HR needs

Federal agencies can now directly compare shared service providers, as well as more easily find assistance on human capital challenges, thanks to a new online marketplace.

Management

OMB overhauls federal grant guidance to simplify it for recipients

The Biden administration offered new updates to the Uniform Guidance that governs federal grant programs, aiming to slice red tape and simplify the language recipients use to apply for funding. 

Management

Biden administration finalizes first demographics data standards update in nearly 30 years

No longer will “race” and “ethnicity” be bifurcated into separate questions in federal datasets and questionnaires such as the U.S. Census, and people of Middle Eastern or North African ancestry will have their own distinct category.