Workforce

NASA employees: EEOC committed ‘flagrant distortions’ to decertify class complaint

EEOC officials touted a long-running discrimination case against NASA as an example why federal sector cases were in need of reform. The employees who brought the case said commissioners railroaded them.

Management

Labor’s disability accommodation delays under scrutiny by House lawmakers 

Lawmakers say interim accommodations “are infrequently considered,” and that staffing shortages have contributed to significant processing delays and growing backlogs. 

Management

The FDA requires follow-up studies for drugs and devices. Years later, many still aren’t done

An analysis of FDA data found hundreds of postmarket studies running behind schedule, raising questions about the agency’s ability to ensure manufacturers follow through.

Tech

Inside Commerce efforts to break data siloes and improve integrity

An agency official also encouraged public comment on a proposed overhaul of the census that would eliminate race questions and change who is counted as living in the U.S.

Management

VA disputes arbitration fees split with union it’s fighting to no longer recognize 

VA officials say the agency will pay a "portion" of what a third-party arbitrator billed it, but is "unable to pay” for services rendered when VA didn't officially recognize its largest union.

Management

ICE chief nominee’s path to Senate confirmation ends abruptly

Richard “Lance” Schroyer’s nomination had yet to reach a confirmation hearing before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee.

Oversight

Interior watchdog clears official over agency work involving his former oil industry employer

The inspector general for the Interior Department has faced scrutiny due to the installation of a political appointee in the office, but the watchdog’s former leader said that the outcome of this ethics investigation “seems legitimate.”

Pay & Benefits

Navigating the Pay.gov maze for federal retirement deposits

Don't let missing service credits or opaque OPM billing notices shrink your monthly annuity. Here is what you need to know before clicking submit.

Tech

AI ‘is changing the game’ in fraud threats and prevention efforts, SSA OIG official says

Chief Strategy Officer for the SSA Office of the Inspector General Chad Bungard said “the government is looking towards AI to fight fraud, and the criminals are looking towards AI to commit fraud.”

Pay & Benefits

Lawmakers again raise alarm over OPM’s health records collection plan

The Office of Personnel Management’s plan to collect claims-level health information about federal workers and their family members and store it for 30 years could open feds up to a potential security breach, Senate Democrats said.

Updated Management

VA’s reported staffing challenges in healthcare facilities hit 7-year high 

An annual report from VA’s inspector general office highlights the types of positions VA healthcare facilities have difficulty filling when they need to hire, but “does not necessarily indicate the presence of vacancies.”

Updated Management

‘I love to solve problems’: Awards program honors feds who improved the delivery of public services

The Service to the Citizen award recognizes public servants at the federal, state and local levels as well as contractors.

Tech

TSA uses AI agent to respond to 100,000 traveler conversations per month

The technology has resolved 96% of traveler inquiries without human escalation, according to Salesforce.

Oversight

Agencies spent nearly $10 billion for feds not to work in 2025

The use of paid administrative leave as part of the Trump administration’s deferred resignation program, an effort to entice federal workers to quit, across government in 2025 was 435% higher than two years prior, according to a new GAO report.

Management

Education Department shutdown plans face a new hurdle

House and Senate Democrats optimistic about the outcome of year's midterm elections outlined their plans on Tuesday to stop the Education Department from closing down.

Management

Patel won’t say whether FBI agents will be at the polls this fall

The FBI director faced senators’ questions about election activity, hiring standards and the bureau’s handling of AI crimes during a tense five-hour hearing on Tuesday.

Management

More ‘Big Balls’-type young feds are what the OPM chief wants

In an interview on Monday, Scott Kupor also discussed implementing skills-based hiring, which had been a priority of the Biden administration as well.

Management

Supreme Court keeps USPS from carrying out mail-in voting changes in midterm elections

Postmaster General David Steiner previously told Government Executive that USPS would comply if the courts decided to block these changes.

Tech

VA watchdog uses AI to help compile healthcare facility audits

The Office of Inspector General has been using Copilot Chat “to review inspection data such as interview transcripts, documents, questionnaire responses, and physical observations.”