Updated
Workforce
3 injured during a gunfight at a Border Patrol building in Texas
Federal and local law enforcement responded to the shooting, which occurred at a facility near the southern border
Management
FDA layoffs could compromise safety of medications made at foreign factories, inspectors say
Beyond staff cuts, the departures of some longtime investigators in recent months have left less experienced people tasked with rooting out dangerous manufacturing practices.
Workforce
Reconciliation bill includes measure to help civilian intel analysts cover moving costs
The policy aims to ease the financial burden on non-military intelligence workers by aligning their moving expense tax benefits with those already afforded to military personnel.
Workforce
OPM deemphasizes ‘favorite EO’ essay following legal challenge
A quietly circulated memo from the federal government's HR agency warns hiring managers against using the essay responses as a "ideological litmus test" for job applicants.
Exclusive
Management
Postal group urges new postmaster general to halt stamp price increase
The cost of stamps has increased as a corollary of former Postmaster General Louis DeJoy’s much-criticized plan to overhaul U.S. Postal Service operations.
Workforce
US civil servants: Do we love them or hate them? Or just thank them?
COMMENTARY | Public servants have to constantly navigate and implement the federal government's balance of individual liberty and public safety. The recognition of that challenging work shouldn't reserved just for special occasions.
Management
Trump’s science order faces scrutiny from scientists and lawmakers
Critics are raising alarms over the Restoring Gold Standard Science executive order, saying the updated guidelines could weaken safeguards meant to keep politics out of federal research.
Workforce
6 reasons to consider corporate board service on your professional journey
COMMENTARY | Senior federal officials underestimate their potential for board service. They shouldn’t.
Tech
OPM to host an industry event on modernizing federal HR systems
The Office of Personnel Management, Office of Management and Budget, and General Services Administration are all involved in this discussion on how to get a new human resources system in place by the end of 2028.
Updated
Pay & Benefits
More than 60,000 feds are still waiting for their 2025 pay raise
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s decision last spring to shutter a slew of advisory committees has imperiled already enacted pay raises for federal employees in blue collar jobs.
Oversight
Watchdog validates whistleblower allegation that safety agency failed to inspect mines in the Pacific territories
The Labor Department inspector general previously flagged that the Mine Safety and Health Administration wasn’t performing required inspections of Pacific mines and erroneously classified them as inactive.
Exclusive
Workforce
DHS plans to shed most of its intel office workforce
The Office of Intelligence and Analysis plans to reduce hundreds of its staff, per people with knowledge of recent plans communicated to employees. It’s faced scrutiny over past domestic surveillance abuses.
Pay & Benefits
TSP funds continued their upward swing in June
Each of the portfolios in the federal government’s 401(k)-style retirement savings program gained value last month.
Defense
Air Force using Sentinel money to retrofit Qatar jet
The move won’t further delay the troubled ICBM program, SECAF says.
Management
FBI to move headquarters into Reagan Building, seemingly resolving decades-long fight
Officials did not immediately respond to questions about the timeline for the move or if it would displace the Reagan Building’s current tenants.
Workforce
Indeed: Job applications from feds level out after initial surge, but risks persist
The job search website also reported that major federal contractors are posting fewer openings, hurting opportunities for former civil servants looking for new work.
Tech
Senate Democrats want more information on SSA’s use of AI on its phone lines
A new letter sent to the SSA Commissioner Frank Bisignano follows Nextgov/FCW reporting that an anti-fraud check installed on the agency’s phone lines found very little likely fraud.
Tech
Senate panel advances Trump’s national cyber director nominee
Sean Cairncross now faces a vote in the full Senate. He was widely expected to advance out of committee.
Management
Virginia lawmakers demand answers on Trump’s planned ‘displacement’ of NSF
The lack of an announced successor space for the National Science Foundation and accusations of largesse to the Housing and Urban Development secretary have swirled since the proposal was unveiled last week.
Management