Workforce
OPM will grant VERA authority to all agencies, as confusion around ‘deferred resignation’ program continues
With just one week before the deadline, many federal workers are still unclear whether they can trust the Trump administration’s offer, or if they are even eligible for it.
Transition
Senior Democrat wants to know who in the Trump White House got Top Secret clearance without a complete background check
Trump issued a memo providing temporary security clearances for certain personnel, arguing delays in their vetting were "unacceptable."
Transition
Gabbard and Patel hearings display diverging views of reality, history along partisan lines
Senators focused mostly on the nominees’ past statements, rather than how they may lead in their prospective positions.
Defense
Hegseth stands up anti-DEI task force
Some of the task force’s targets, like quotas and discriminatory promotion policies, don’t exist.
Exclusive
Workforce
As the Trump administration gathers names of recent hires, some are being asked to justify their jobs
New federal workers are the easiest to fire and the administration is gathering information on their names, backgrounds, roles and performance.
Management
Musk visits and asserts growing influence at GSA
Musk has former employees installed at the government’s HR shop, and several have appeared at its acquisition, tech and real estate agency as well.
Transition
Democrats worry RFK Jr. could purge ‘thousands’ of federal health employees
Trump’s nominee for Health and Human Services secretary said that NIH, FDA and CDC would be integral in his objective to prevent chronic disease.
Pay & Benefits
Figuring out the ‘Fork in the Road’
The Trump administration’s “deferred resignation” offer has federal employees scrambling for answers and facing tough choices.
Workforce
Employee groups, Democrats, experts warn feds not to accept ‘deferred resignation’ offer
The lack of a legal underpinning for the purported eight-month severance package, and Elon Musk’s history of offering—and then revoking—severance payments have many federal workers wary of the measure.
Transition
Breakneck pace of executive orders and lagging, unclear guidance leave contractors guessing
The Professional Services Council president and CEO said that contractors may not know the criteria spending programs are being reviewed under or who’s doing them while they wait.
Updated
Transition
White House rescinds widespread freeze on federal funds that caused chaos inside agencies
The revocation follows public outcry and an injunction in court.
Oversight
Congressional response to watchdog firings hindered by GOP control, Connolly says
A good government group fears that Trump will ignore rules about who can serve as an acting inspector general.
Pay & Benefits
SSA: It could take more than a year to implement the WEP and GPO repeal
Though Congress acted on a bipartisan basis last year to pass legislation ending two controversial tax provisions that affected some federal workers and other public servants, it failed to give the Social Security Administration any money to implement it.
Workforce
EPA employees told to pause most external communications and cancel meetings with outside parties
The agency joins several across government at which the Trump administration has issued at least a partial gag order. An agency spokesperson has denied that a pause is in place.
Transition
DEI and diversity: Is there a difference?
COMMENTARY | One long-time civil servant urges those charged with implementing Trump’s DEI executive order to not throw the baby out with the bathwater.
Pay & Benefits
OPM unveils its major plans and policy goals for federal health care in 2026
The Office of Personnel Management's 2026 Federal Employees Health Benefits program roadmap focuses on cutting red tape for feds and retirees while staying committed to key health care priorities—here’s what it could mean for you.
Updated
Workforce
Trump reportedly will offer 'buyouts' to all 2 million federal workers
The White House’s plan to offer “deferred resignations” that pay departing federal employees their salary through Sept. 30 will likely run afoul of rules governing buyout payments.
Transition
2 Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Democrats fired
Their removals by President Donald Trump leave the EEOC without a quorum.
Oversight
Court temporarily blocks Trump's spending freeze; government's top watchdog is reviewing whether it is legal
GAO has enforcement options if it deems the Trump administration is violating the law.
Management