Pay & Benefits
Wildland firefighters face up to $20,000 pay cut if Congress doesn’t act − that’s taking a toll on a workforce already under stress
COMMENTARY | The fate of three-year-old pay raises meant to retain federal wildland firefighters again hangs in the balance while Congress hammers out another budget deal.
Management
House Republicans set the stage for expanding private care for veterans
President-elect Trump could once again seek to shift veterans away from VA for health care and the top Republican on the issue just laid out a blueprint for doing so.
Management
New IRS funding boosted tax enforcement and improved taxpayer services during the Biden administration
The 2022 Inflation Reduction Act allocated $80 billion in new funding for the IRS over 10 years. Congress later reduced that sum to $60 billion.
Workforce
White House, agencies warn of hiring freezes without ‘anomalies’ to upcoming spending bill
Agencies, already slashing workforce costs due to a constrained budget environment, are now reckoning with yet another short-term funding measure.
Pay & Benefits
Nearly every TSP fund rebounded in November
Only one of the portfolios in the federal government’s 401(k)-style retirement savings program lost value last month.
Tech
Lawmakers want to enhance HHS cyber engagement with health care orgs
The bipartisan proposal, introduced by Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., came out of the efforts of a working group focused on protecting medical institutions from digital attacks.
Tech
Could states’ cyber get trickier under a Trump administration?
Some Republicans have proposed eliminating CISA altogether, which could complicate information sharing efforts. More pressing, though, is the ending of federal cyber grants.
Tech
GSA plans new federal employee travel system with $930M IBM contract
The General Services Administration expects 124 civilian agencies to transition to the new system by June 2027.
Management
As Trump’s teams get set to deploy to agencies, concerns remain over his transition approach
The president-elect is still sidestepping many of the procedures typically required for presidential transitions, but Biden's White House says its hands are tied.
Exclusive
Management
O'Malley: SSA’s 2024 progress refutes government doubters
Under the commissioner’s tenure, Social Security has seen marked improvements in its customer service metrics despite continually mounting workloads and dwindling funding.
Oversight
GAO saved the federal government $67.5 billion in fiscal 2024
The watchdog’s open recommendations could be a foundation for the new Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency.
Updated
Management
Extraordinary senior executives receive presidential rank award
The selective honor comes with a cash award that is up to 35% of the recipient’s annual basic pay.
Tech
Trump’s first White House debated the role of the U.S. Digital Service. What will Trump 2.0 do?
The Office of Management and Budget led an effort to assess USDS — even whether it should exist — during the twilight days of the Trump administration. With another Trump White House incoming, the question of what’s next for the government’s digital SWAT team looms.
Breaking News
Management
Trump teams to deploy throughout government after reaching agreement with the Biden administration
The president-elect had previously refused to sign the agreement and is still sidestepping many of the steps typically required for presidential transitions.
Tech
‘The $42B question’: What’s next for federal broadband funding?
The Trump administration could fiddle with the Broadband Equity Access and Deployment program or even claw back funds. But the ball will be in states’ courts given how quickly they have moved, and the momentum behind getting people connected.
Tech
Lawmaker wants the FCC to create an AI tool for identifying scams
The measure from Rep. John Curtis, R-Utah., would direct the FCC to develop an online platform that can assess submitted communications and then rate the likelihood that they are scam attempts.
Management
‘Whenever they’re interested:’ Agencies say they are ready and waiting to bring Trump’s team up to speed
Federal agencies are hoping to assist with a "smooth and orderly" transition, but so far remain rebuffed by the president-elect.
Defense
Musk's government roles create 'clear avenues for serious conflicts of interest'
The SpaceX CEO, who leads a company with more than $10 billion in government contracts, is also the face of a new body aimed at getting rid of government waste.
Management
How George Washington used his first Thanksgiving as president to unite a new country
On Nov. 26, 1789, Washington called on the people to hold their new country together in the face of forces that he knew could pull it apart.
Management