Management
Some Trump nominees face confirmation delays with ethics and background checks behind schedule
Lawmakers are demanding Senate Republicans not move forward without full vetting, a process delayed by Trump's transition foot-dragging.
Pay & Benefits
OPM set to finalize rules standardizing General Schedule, blue collar locality pay maps
The final rule implementing the long-requested adjustment to the Federal Wage System’s map of wage areas won’t be published until after President-elect Trump’s inauguration.
Transition
Reported Trump ‘loyalty tests’ for national security officials spur criticism
If career employees are removed from the National Security Council, they would return to their home agencies, but the top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee has expressed concern.
Management
What does the defense secretary do?
The secretary of defense must perform a "delicate dance" between the president, Congress and the public.
Management
‘Over half’ of federal websites got better in the past year, OMB official says
Metrics released by the Office of Management and Budget offer insight into how agencies are implementing the 21st Century IDEA Act.
Management
What does the head of the Environmental Protection Agency do?
The EPA administrator protects public health, air, water and the environment.
Transition
OPM clears Trump’s beachhead teams for landing
Existing authorities allow the president-elect to make certain temporary appointments during the transition to a new administration.
Workforce
IRS chief predicts agency 'performance will backslide' if funds and staffing are cut
The agency says it is fully prepared for filing season in the near term but backlogs could return if the Trump administration pulls back resources.
Workforce
Ernst targets D.C.-area federal workers with trio of bills
Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, proposed legislation this week that would force agencies to move 30% of their D.C.-based workforce out of the region, mandate telework tracking, and push agencies to move their headquarters out of the nation’s capital.
Oversight
Top Oversight Democrat says he’s open to collaborate with the DOGE
The new Department of Government Efficiency — which, despite the “department” referenced in its name, is an advisory effort, not a government department — has aims to trim the federal workforce and hunt efficiencies in tech and fraud reduction efforts.
Oversight
Advanced health research agency needs a strategic workforce plan, watchdog says
The GAO report also found ARPA-H, as of July 1, 2024, has not hired any scientists who are Hispanic or Latino, Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander or two or more races.
Pay & Benefits
EEOC: The federal gender pay gap gets worse with age
The discrepancy between what men and women make in the federal government is substantially larger for those over 40 years old than that of their younger counterparts.
Workforce
Federal agencies respond to LA fires amid budget crunch
Federal firefighters are deploying to urban neighborhoods while some support positions are not being filled.
Oversight
Energy Dept. watchdog reports that travel expense violations in secretary’s criticized EV road trip caused by lack of oversight and knowledge
House Republicans blasted the trip as “ripe with waste, fraud and abuse,” but the report found that some of the violations cost the federal government less than $100.
Pay & Benefits
The Social Security Fairness Act: What we know so far
It may take time to implement this new law -- here’s what you should know for now.
Tech
OPM awards $149M cyber, network operations support contract
The Office of Personnel Management wants to more heavily lean on cloud-based technologies and a zero trust approach.
Management
GSA administrator: This agency’s workforce delivers effective, efficient government – now and into the future
COMMENTARY |The head of the General Services Administration, which manages administrative functions across the federal government, including real estate, acquisition and information technology, reflects on her tenure.
Oversight
Coast Guard is resisting oversight of mishandled sexual misconduct cases, lawmakers say
Congressional inquires were spurred by revelations that the Coast Guard did not disclose an investigation into possible sexual assaults at its service academy.
Tech
US has ‘a lot of work to do’ on cyber defenses, departing cyber czar says
Outgoing National Cyber Director Harry Coker thinks his office needs more influence over the federal cyber budget but not necessarily more authority on offensive cyber operations.
Management