2024 Election

Bobbleheads, Magic 8 Balls, chairs and other artifacts in the Smithsonian reveal the historical significance of presidential debates

Although voters have come to expect debates in the weeks leading up to an election, they are a relatively new part of the campaign cycle, beginning only in 1960.

Navy secretary violated the Hatch Act, OSC finds

The Office of Special Counsel also determined Education Secretary Miguel Cardona did not break the Hatch Act and concluded that federal employee activity related to Project 2025 is not prohibited under the law.

Trump vows to establish an 'efficiency commission' with Elon Musk at the helm

The former president said the Tesla CEO has “agreed” to head up a task force aimed at cutting federal programs.

OPM reminds agencies to grant feds leave to vote

Federal workers are entitled to up to four hours of paid administrative leave to go to the polls, thanks to an executive order signed by President Biden in 2021.

Trump calls federal workforce 'crooked,' vows to hold them 'accountable'

In an interview with a right-wing Youtuber, the former president seemingly alluded to reviving Schedule F and other Trump-era policies aimed at making it easier to fire federal employees.

Both Harris and Trump are historically behind on presidential transition planning

GSA is beginning to provide office space and information technology support to the candidates, who have both just recently named the heads of their transition teams.

The other time an administration sought a ‘more responsive’ federal workforce

An investigator into the Nixon administration’s civil service abuses says Schedule F shares a lineage with the disgraced former president.

Trump assassination attempt laid bare long-standing vulnerabilities in the Secret Service

A Spotlight PA, ProPublica and Butler Eagle investigation found the process for securing campaign events was susceptible to attack for years.

Partnership for Public Service offers an alternative to “burning down” the civil service

The good government group traditionally has taken great pains to avoid partisan politics, but has become more outspoken since former President Trump unveiled Schedule F.

A pair of new bills aim to reshape the Secret Service 

Rep. Ritchie Torres, D-N.Y., penned new legislation to shift the agency’s jurisdiction for investigating financial crimes and alter how it designates its protective perimeter in the wake of the Trump assassination attempt. 

Leaked Project 2025 training videos warn aspiring political appointees of ‘persecution’ by career feds

Though the videos don’t overtly discuss the Trump campaign or the Heritage Foundation-led transition project’s endorsement of Schedule F, conservatives repeatedly stressed the need for more “political control” of agencies.

Walz’s U.S. House tenure: Bipartisan bills and a focus on vets and farms

The Democratic running mate has an extensive record on Capitol Hill as an effective lawmaker who was largely bipartisan.

Here's new Democratic VP pick Walz's record on civil service issues

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz previously served in the House of Representatives for a dozen years where he became the top Democrat on the Veterans’ Affairs Committee.

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Tim Walz picked by Harris as her running mate

The Minnesota governor was seen as the preferred vice presidential pick of the party’s progressive wing.

Federal worker union shifts presidential endorsements to Harris

Labor groups at federal agencies touted Harris’ record both as a senator and vice president, particularly her co-chairwomanship of a White House task force on union issues.

Unions applaud ‘most pro-union president in history’ following Biden’s decision to end campaign

Labor leaders said their goal remains to defeat Trump’s bid to return to the White House next year.

Unpacking Kamala Harris' record on federal workforce issues

As vice president and a senator, Harris has fought discriminatory pay practices, helped create guidance for how the federal government uses artificial intelligence and championed public sector unions.