Author Archive
Workforce
As agencies begin a second round of deferred resignations, unions revive legal challenge
The Housing and Urban Development Department became the latest agency to revive the controversial program that offers feds the chance to leave their jobs but continue being paid until Sept. 30.
Pay & Benefits
Domestic TSP funds tumble amid government layoffs, tariff threats
Most of the portfolios in the federal government’s 401(k)-style retirement savings program finished March in the red.
Workforce
Trump administration, unions already trading lawsuits over order outlawing most government labor groups
Federal agencies swiftly sued the American Federation of Government Employees last week, asking a lone Trump-appointed judge to uphold an order banning unions for two-thirds of the federal workforce.
Workforce
Labor groups: Trump’s union-busting EO amounts to ‘revenge’ for suing to block workforce cuts
Democratic lawmakers warned that assaults on civil servants and organized labor are common early steps to consolidate power by authoritarian regimes.
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Workforce
Trump order aims to outlaw most government unions on ‘national security’ grounds
An as-yet unpublished executive order purports to utilize a little-used provision allowing the president to restrict collective bargaining for national security reasons to exempt most federal jobs from union protections.
Management
Dems call for Bisignano to withdraw as SSA tweaks controversial plan
The Social Security Administration announced Wednesday that the plan to end phone service for benefits applications and direct deposit changes will no longer apply to Americans filing for disability payments.
Workforce
HUD won’t grant rehired probationary workers back pay, FEHB benefits, despite law requiring it
Title 5 of the U.S. Code mandates that when a federal employee is reinstated following an improper adverse personnel action, their employing agency must grant them back pay for their time spent off the job.
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Management
Senators grill Bisignano about contact with SSA and DOGE officials
The nominee to lead the Social Security Administration acknowledged knowing one DOGE operative for 20 years, but denied improper contacts with officials prior to his confirmation, despite whistleblower accounts to the contrary.
Management
House Dems cite ‘fundamental conflict’ of Rubio’s acting appointments atop USAID and National Archives
Lawmakers’ concerns stem from a March 11 memo instructing USAID employees to prepare for mass destruction of agency records.
Workforce
Trump memo grants governmentwide firing power to OPM
Experts speculated that the measure is intended to address recent judgments against the administration’s workforce actions or to grant DOGE-aligned officials the ability to fire resisters.
Workforce
SSA cancels telework with just a weekend’s notice
Union officials said the sudden and indefinite suspension of most bargaining unit employees’ telework agreements amounts to a de facto termination, despite acting Social Security Commissioner Leland Dudek’s promise to honor labor contracts.
Management
Judge: Musk and Trump’s effort to disband USAID is likely unconstitutional
U.S. District Judge Theodore Chuang found that the Trump administration and Elon Musk violated the constitutional separation of powers and the Appointments Clause when it ordered the shuttering of the foreign aid agency.
Workforce
Trump continues to curtail union rights and career pipelines
Guidance issued by the Office of Personnel Management last week instructs agencies to ignore union contract provisions on reductions in force, and apply its policies.
Workforce
Union sues DHS to protect TSA screeners’ collective bargaining rights
The American Federation of Government Employees accused the Trump administration of retaliating against the labor group over their efforts to block the mass firing of probationary workers across government.
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Management
SSA weighs axing payments to 170,000 beneficiaries
The move to cease making payments to people without Social Security numbers would imperil the benefits of thousands of immigrants’ children with disabilities.
Workforce
Workers and partners make renewed push to block Trump’s dismantling of USAID
An effort to enjoin the Trump administration from placing thousands of USAID workers on administrative leave in advance of their eventual termination failed last month.
Pay & Benefits
Your guide to pay and benefits during a shutdown
Congress has just days to reach agreement on a deal to keep federal agencies open past Friday.
Workforce
Trump administration outlaws unions at TSA
The Homeland Security Department on Friday misrepresented the proportion of union officials performing representational work at the agency and claimed ousting labor organizations would make the agency “more agile.”
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.
