Defense
I ‘did not expect to be told to build a battleship,’ Navy’s surface warfare director says
The Trump administration’s priorities are forcing the service to rethink its shipbuilding plans.
Tech
Trump’s Tech Force hiring effort extends application deadline
Ethical questions remain about how managers from the approximately 30 industry partners involved in the program will work for the government without triggering conflicts of interest.
Workforce
Democrats question White House tech lead on how workforce churn will impact AI Action Plan
Several House lawmakers also worried over whether the Trump administration’s budget request for 2026 would fall short of the funding agencies need to successfully carry out the White House’s AI action plan.
Management
Let's play a drinking game
COMMENTARY | Americans' declining trust in government has been an oft-discussed trend for decades, but it turns out that it's neither unique to government nor Americans. So what is happening to institutional trust?
Sponsor Content
Creating Asymmetric Advantages with AI from the Edge to the Enterprise
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Pay & Benefits
How federal retirement benefits are calculated and where estimates go wrong
High-three pay, length of service and overlooked reductions can significantly change retirement payouts.
Oversight
How many Jan. 6 rioters work for the federal government? Raskin wants to find out
The Maryland Democrat also criticized Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents for wearing masks in a letter to the Trump administration that the Homeland Security Department called “reckless, disgusting and unhinged.”
Management
Move to impeach DHS Secretary Kristi Noem follows fatal ICE shooting
House Democrats introduced three articles of impeachment against Noem, accusing her of blocking congressional oversight, violating civil rights and misusing taxpayer funds after an ICE agent fatally shot a woman in Minneapolis.
Sponsor Content
Solve Today’s Top Public Sector Challenges
When it comes to being future-ready in the public sector, the goalposts are always moving.
Management
Dueling HHS reversals whipsaw federal employees, grant recipients
Hundreds of laid off employees were recalled to work, but thousands of grant recipients had their funds rescinded with no notice.
FEATURED INSIGHTS
Updated
Oversight
Missed deadlines, unclear leadership, neglected requirements: Watchdog flags shortcomings in Coast Guard’s efforts to improve sexual misconduct policy following scandal
Coast Guard officials said that President Donald Trump’s orders to eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion programs in the federal government interrupted some reform efforts.
Tech
Bill to improve government’s anti-fraud checks heads to Trump’s desk
House lawmakers passed a bipartisan proposal on Monday to give the Treasury Department’s Do Not Pay system permanent access to death records at the Social Security Administration.
Pay & Benefits
Signals of a slowdown: What federal employees should do with their TSP right now
If the U.S. is headed for a recession, federal employees need not panic about their investments, but instead strategically assess what their financial goals are.
TSP TICKER
FUND
G
F
C
S
I
JAN 15 CLOSE
$19.6223
$20.9524
$111.1496
$106.2869
$57.6821
DAILY CHANGE
0.0023
-0.0220
0.2863
0.8008
0.1620
THIS MONTH (%)
0.18
0.34
1.49
5.86
3.95
FUND
L 2070
L 2060
L 2050
L 2040
L 2030
L INCOME
JAN 15 CLOSE
$13.0644
$22.0452
$42.5580
$69.2416
$59.1098
$29.5166
DAILY CHANGE
0.0427
0.0721
0.1126
0.1612
0.1106
0.0276
THIS MONTH (%)
2.89
2.89
2.42
2.15
1.74
0.93
FUND
JAN 15
CLOSE
CLOSE
DAILY
CHANGE
CHANGE
THIS
MONTH
MONTH
G
$19.6223
0.0023
0.18
F
$20.9524
-0.0220
0.34
C
$111.1496
0.2863
1.49
S
$106.2869
0.8008
5.86
I
$57.6821
0.1620
3.95
L 2070
$13.0644
0.0427
2.89
L 2060
$22.0452
0.0721
2.89
L 2050
$42.5580
0.1126
2.42
L 2040
$69.2416
0.1612
2.15
L 2030
$59.1098
0.1106
1.74
L INCOME
$29.5166
0.0276
0.93
Workforce
AFGE urges appellate judges to uphold injunction against Trump’s anti-union EOs
A three-judge panel on the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals last summer blocked a lower court ruling that found President Trump violated federal employees’ First Amendment rights when it targeted two-thirds of the government workforce for removal of their collective bargaining rights.
Management
Trump administration stands up consolidated federal firefighting agency over bipartisan congressional reservations
Interior says it is only restructuring internally, though it is still working toward Trump's goal of an interagency merger.
Management
After one year of Trump, is anything left of the American Climate Corps?
By September 2024, 15,000 young people had joined the Biden administration's American Climate Corps. But ahead of the second Trump administration, the climate program wound down, leaving states to pick up the pieces.
Oversight
Most newly confirmed Trump inspectors general previously worked in his administration, raising fears about independent agency oversight
These oversight officials may have to recuse themselves from investigations of programs they previously worked on, an expert said.
Tech
Report: Workforce shortages, security fears among biggest hindrances to agency AI adoption
A report issued by Google Public Sector shed light on the state of play for federal AI adoption, finding most efforts are currently in pilot programs and held up by security concerns.
Pay & Benefits
Congressional appropriators won’t codify Trump’s ban on gender-affirming care for feds after all
Compromise minibus appropriations legislation unveiled Sunday removes a provision that would have affirmed the Trump administration’s removal of gender-affirming care from federal workers’ health insurance in statute.
Management
A federal workforce census, targeted cuts and more key takeaways from the latest FY26 spending package
The latest "minibus" fully funds some offices Trump sought to zero out, creates a new flexible account for the president and has some suggestions for new federal building designs.
Oversight
House Democrats say revived Noem policy restricting congressional visits to ICE facilities violates court order
This second attempt by the Homeland Security Department to put a seven-day notice requirement on lawmaker tours of immigration detention facilities follows the killing of Renee Nicole Good by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer.
Workforce
NSA alum returns to agency to serve as deputy director
Tim Kosiba became the number two leader in the National Security Agency after a prior deputy pick was jettisoned following criticism from far-right activist Laura Loomer.
Oversight
Safeguarding the federal merit system at the Office of Special Counsel
COMMENTARY | A senior OSC attorney argues the agency’s work remains critical to protecting the federal merit system.
Workforce
Probationary appeal rights under further threat by OPM proposal
Under proposed rules issued last week, newly hired federal workers would no longer be able to appeal adverse actions to the Merit Systems Protection Board.
Management
Nearly all civilian Defense employees are back in the office, but watchdog says officials should better track telework eligibility
Employees who are still teleworking are mostly exempt from the in-person work requirement.
