Management
DOGE was government contracting's biggest story of 2025 — and it's not close
COMMENTARY | Contract cancellations, exaggerated savings claims and consulting contract reviews dominated our most-read stories of the year.
Workforce
Report: Federal statistical system needs help to meet its ‘basic mission’ in the face of upheaval
Statistical agencies have lost scores of staff under the Trump administration, threatening their ability to meet their mission, according to a new report from the American Statistical Association.
Management
Research confirms it: Happy workers are more productive
COMMENTARY | If agencies want to improve their performance, worker satisfaction and engagement would be a proven strategy to add to the mix.
Management
The 5 biggest stories federal agencies and employees need to watch in 2026
Trump will look to finalize his government overhaul efforts next year.
Sponsor Content
GovExec TV: Five Questions with Kevin Talbert
Watch Five Questions with Cloudera to learn how agencies use hybrid cloud and private AI to modernize IT with FedRAMP-ready, security-first strategies.
Management
Controlling ratings inflation is a good idea...but a forced distribution isn’t
COMMENTARY | OPM's plan to corral inflated performance ratings should also be mindful not to undercut employee excellence with arbitrary limits on recognition.
Oversight
Office of Special Counsel resumes Hatch Act enforcement against former feds for violations during their service
The agency had paused filing Hatch Act complaints against such individuals pending a Merit Systems Protection Board decision on the jurisdiction of former federal employees.
Workforce
The twists and turns of Trump’s 2025 war on unions
Since returning to office, the Trump administration has engaged in a series of efforts to sideline labor representatives within the federal government.
Sponsor Content
AI with Agency: A Framework for Defense Readiness
Explore how agentic AI enables autonomous, mission-ready defense operations—and discover a responsible roadmap for adopting these capabilities with confidence and control.
Defense
Pentagon preps to enforce ban on companies with ‘indirect’ ties to China
Defense firms will be notified of potential links to blacklisted Chinese-military companies a year before the contracting ban goes into effect, the assistant defense secretary for industrial policy said.
FEATURED INSIGHTS
Tech
Senate adjourns without confirming CISA director
Sean Plankey’s nomination faltered as lawmakers ran out the clock after a tumultuous year of workforce reductions. The cyberdefense agency enters the new year without a permanent leader as the White House finalizes a sweeping national cyber strategy.
Defense
Pentagon will cough up summaries of 3 years of safety investigations, per NDAA
Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., pushed for the disclosure amid rise in military aviation mishaps.
Workforce
Supreme Court won’t halt judge’s probe into civil service laws’ virility, for now
The unsigned order, which prompted no public dissents, suggested the Trump administration could return to the high court if the federal district court’s factfinding mission commences before justices consider whether to formally take on the case.
TSP TICKER
FUND
G
F
C
S
I
JAN 02 CLOSE
$19.5922
$20.8602
$109.7449
$101.6677
$56.0292
DAILY CHANGE
0.0045
-0.0216
0.2323
1.2600
0.5370
THIS MONTH (%)
0.02
-0.10
0.21
1.25
0.97
FUND
L 2070
L 2060
L 2050
L 2040
L 2030
L INCOME
JAN 02 CLOSE
$12.7748
$21.5566
$41.7575
$68.0819
$58.3022
$29.2952
DAILY CHANGE
0.0769
0.1298
0.2060
0.2960
0.2040
0.0519
THIS MONTH (%)
0.61
0.61
0.50
0.44
0.35
0.18
FUND
JAN 02
CLOSE
CLOSE
DAILY
CHANGE
CHANGE
THIS
MONTH
MONTH
G
$19.5922
0.0045
0.02
F
$20.8602
-0.0216
-0.10
C
$109.7449
0.2323
0.21
S
$101.6677
1.2600
1.25
I
$56.0292
0.5370
0.97
L 2070
$12.7748
0.0769
0.61
L 2060
$21.5566
0.1298
0.61
L 2050
$41.7575
0.2060
0.50
L 2040
$68.0819
0.2960
0.44
L 2030
$58.3022
0.2040
0.35
L INCOME
$29.2952
0.0519
0.18
Workforce
GSA backs off planned layoffs within its technology team after court order
The Technology Transformation Services has lost 67% of its staff since Jan. 25.
Workforce
CISA opens 100 applications for CyberCorps students
Earlier hiring snags had forced the scholarship program to pause recruitment of top student talent for cyber jobs.
Exclusive
Oversight
USCIS’ arbitrarily strict FOIA policy is keeping some migrants from receiving their immigration records, whistleblower alleges
In a protected disclosure to Congress, an agency employee claims that U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services since 2024 has been finding ways to reject Freedom of Information Act requests from migrants in order to make it seem like the agency is complying with a court order.
Pay & Benefits
Feds will have Dec. 24 and Dec. 26 off
Federal employees will now have a five-day weekend, beginning on Christmas Eve.
Pay & Benefits
Trump finalizes 1% pay raise for most feds
The president also tasked OPM Director Scott Kupor with analyzing whether to provide federal law enforcement officers with a 3.8% pay increase, in line with what military service members are set to receive next month.
Pay & Benefits
DHS opens up new $60K bonuses for Border Patrol agents, other officers
The Trump administration is boosting incentives as it seeks to meet lofty hiring goals.
Pay & Benefits
Retiring soon? Key decisions every federal employee must make
From survivor benefits and health coverage to leave payouts and TSP choices, federal employees nearing retirement face deadlines that can permanently shape their finances.
Defense
Trump rebrands troop housing subsidy as ‘warrior dividend’ bonus checks
More than $2.9 billion in reconciliation funds was allocated to beef up troop housing allowances. Now, it’s being used for $1,776 checks.
Exclusive
Management
Trump to limit top ratings for all feds and consolidate scoring in forthcoming rule
Though the forced distribution of performance ratings is “categorically prohibited” under current rules, federal agencies already appear to be adopting the system, before the proposal has even been announced.
Updated
Workforce
Additional shutdown layoffs must be rolled back, judge rules
The order is set to impact around 700 workers at four agencies.
Tech
Warren, Sanders push Labor on plans to create a centralized unemployment ‘starting point’
The senators worry that the planned intake of applicant data at the Labor Department will create "grievous economic and privacy risks for millions of Americans.”
Management
Postal Service hopes selling access to its final-leg delivery network will provide much-needed revenue
Because the U.S. Postal Service delivers to all U.S. addresses, many private companies rely on the agency to ship to harder-to-reach places. Postmaster General David Steiner wants to enable more businesses to utilize this service.
