Author Archive

Eric Katz

Eric Katz

Senior Correspondent

Eric Katz writes about federal agency operations and management. His deep coverage of Veterans Affairs, Homeland Security, the Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Postal Service has earned him frequent guest spots on national radio and television news programs. Eric joined Government Executive in the summer of 2012 and previously worked for The Financial Times. He is a graduate of The George Washington University.
Eric Katz writes about federal agency operations and management. His deep coverage of Veterans Affairs, Homeland Security, the Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Postal Service has earned him frequent guest spots on national radio and television news programs. Eric joined Government Executive in the summer of 2012 and previously worked for The Financial Times. He is a graduate of The George Washington University.
Exclusive Management

Trump administration cancels translation services for those seeking to access or correct their immigration status

The lack of translation services will lead to more people being improperly denied benefits or jobs, experts say.

Exclusive Workforce

Commerce seeks to cut 20% of staff—without using layoffs

The department will implement a series of RIF avoidance measures to meet Trump's mandate to cut staff.

Management

DOGE to work with USPS to find efficiencies, DeJoy says

The mailing agency will work with GSA and the group led by Elon Musk, who has called for Postal Service privatization.

Updated Workforce

Judge orders reinstatement for most fired probationary federal workers

The firings were "based on a lie," judge says, who suggests he may extend his order beyond the roughly 24,000 already included.

Management

EPA begins eliminating offices as DOGE tightens grip on nearly all agency spending

RIFs are expected for employees in impacted areas, while DOGE is now requiring special sign off for any large EPA expenditure.

Updated Workforce

OPM chief rejects court order to testify on probationary firings as case expands governmentwide

Some Republicans push bills to protect workers as thousands of fired feds will rejoin the payroll this week, albeit on administrative leave.

Workforce

Inside federal agencies' rush to reshape their workforces—and spare employees from layoffs

Trump has tasked agencies with developing aggressive reduction-in-force plans, but implementing staff are "still trying to save as many as we can."

Management

Agency guidance on ‘five accomplishments’ email still inconsistent

Bureaus inside DHS are still reviewing past submissions from staff and have instructed their workers to hold off on sending more updates.

Exclusive Workforce

NIH faces renewed DOGE directive to cut staff, putting thousands in line for RIFs

The Elon Musk-backed group is calling the shots even after President Trump’s edict that they let individual agencies take the lead.

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.

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

NOAA terminates space, climate and marine life advisory committees

Experts caution the groups play a key role in ensuring agencies use the best available science in their decision making.

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

OPM tells court it never ordered mass firings, contradicting prior claims

The Trump administration is arguing in court that agencies acted on their own to fire probationary staff, but it previously sent a government directive with a deadline for the firings.

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.