Tech
Government pacing toward increased IT contract spending despite DOGE cuts
A new administration and new priorities haven’t slowed the federal government’s spend on IT.
Management
Treasury, GSA partner to reward fed employees who ID wasteful contract spending
Parts of the program could eventually expand beyond the Treasury Department.
Pay & Benefits
Legislation to end government shutdowns returns to Capitol Hill
Rep. Jodey Arrington, R-Texas, and Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla., have brought back a bill aimed at ending the costly budget impasses, a proposal that’s historically had little success in Congress.
Workforce
Social Security office that helps members of Congress assist their constituents slashed by up to 94%
A spokesperson said that Social Security's congressional affairs work is continuing in offices across the agency.
Tech
AI platform rolls out tools for federal networks with no data retention
The new “Perplexity for Government” initiative will automatically identify federal networks to provide tailored search and security services.
Tech
‘Whole-of-nation’ effort needed to deter nation-state hackers, new White House cyber director says
Newly confirmed ONCD director Sean Cairncross wants to work with the private sector to develop a toolkit for stopping foreign hackers and boosting U.S. cyberdefenses.
Exclusive
Workforce
Suspected Chinese operation aims to recruit former feds with job postings, research shows
Researchers at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies uncovered a network of likely fraudulent China-linked websites operating as far back as 2021. One has very recently tried to recruit former federal workers and policy experts.
Exclusive
Management
GSA launches FAS Office of Centralized Acquisition Services
The office will be headed by longtime GSA executive Tom Meiron.
Management
OPM implements years-in-the-making update to federal hiring process
The "rule of many" aims to give federal hiring managers more information and choices as they evaluate job candidates.
Updated
Management
Some funding frozen by Trump could soon expire due to new fiscal year, Democrats warn
Congress will need to reach a bipartisan consensus by Sept. 30 to avoid a government shutdown.
Management
FEMA begins security overhauls following cyber incident and employee firings
The agency recently blocked users from accessing multiple websites and made password changes to an internet security tool in efforts to shore up its cyber posture, people familiar say.
Management
Boosting timber harvesting in national forests while cutting public oversight won’t solve America’s wildfire problem
COMMENTARY | The shrinking of the federal forest workforce is among several factors that have more impact on forest fire risk than the time it takes to approve timber harvesting projects.
Management
The untold saga of what happened when DOGE stormed Social Security
Former acting Social Security Commissioner Leland Dudek said he first tried to collaborate with DOGE officials and then he tried to shield the agency from them.
Management
Union criticizes IRS plan to shutter 9 taxpayer assistance centers
The tax agency said that no employees would lose their jobs because of the closures.
Management
Social Security announces leadership team light on government experience
The agency’s new leadership roster — announced alongside a reorganization plan sources say is short on details — is intended to bring a fresh perspective into SSA, its commissioner said. Critics argue they lack the expertise usually required of most agency leaders.
Management
Trump campaigned on closing the Education Department. Reality is more difficult.
Despite a wide range of cuts by the Trump administration, the momentum to completely disband the Education Department has, for the moment, largely run aground on Capitol Hill.
Tech
Agencies and industry announce efforts to further Presidential AI Challenge
The Trump administration is angling to leverage private sector partnerships and an all-hands agency approach to establish a robust U.S. AI workforce and education platform.
Management
Centralization might not be the best model for delivering common government services
COMMENTARY | The second Trump administration's approach to shared services may offer agencies less flexibility and potentially lower performance by centralizing acquisition. It's a shift from the president's first term.
Updated
Management
Here’s how Trump’s planned regulations could impact federal employees
The president’s regulatory preview indicates how officials plan to follow his deregulatory directives.
Management