Transition
Unions sue to stop demolition of mediator agency
The congressionally authorized Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service worked to avoid costly litigation between labor groups and their employers—in both the private and public sectors—until President Trump ordered officials to effectively shutter the agency last month.
Trump administration wants new headquarters for the Housing and Urban Development Department
The headquarters announcement comes days after the president repealed decades-old executive orders in an effort to reshape where agencies decide to establish their office locations.
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COMMENTARY: Trump officials explain his plan to make government acquisition great, for once
Three senior Trump officials explain why revamping the Federal Acquisition Regulation, and the $1 trillion in government spending it governs each year, is now a top priority.
Trump orders structural changes to rules covering $1T in federal spending
The Tuesday mandate — which aims to streamline the way government buys goods and services — was accompanied by a second order requiring agencies to predominantly use commercial products, rather than custom-built.
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White House pitches layoffs, local office closures and program eliminations at USDA
“These are the people that are directly where the farmers are,” one official says of the planned cuts.
WT Survey: Contractors see dark clouds hanging over the market
Our survey shows widespread concerns over budget constraints and federal workforce cuts by the Trump administration, with small businesses feeling the most impact.
SBA investigating staff for talking to press, former colleagues
SBA’s general counsel warned staff Monday it was investigating employee communications with media and former colleagues in a memo. It was promptly shared with reporters.
How cyber vulnerabilities and workforce cuts threaten the crisis lifeline program
A bipartisan, bicameral measure is hoping to prevent cyber incidents from limiting access to the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline after a 2022 attack on a system operator disrupted calls to the hotline.
Federal contract oversight employees contemplate resignation offer, as agency faces layoffs and mission realignment
Employees at the Labor Department’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs had less than two weeks to decide whether to opt into the second round of the deferred resignation program.
Deep cuts hit HHS tech offices
Current employees say that dramatic cuts to leadership and career staff within FDA and HHS have left critical projects at risk.
Employees swarm to second ‘deferred resignation’ offer, though some are receiving unexpected responses
At USDA, 16,000 employees have signed up for the “DRP.”
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Trump likely to propose pay freeze for federal workers in 2026
In OMB’s response to agency budget submissions, the White House budget office told officials to prepare for a freeze on federal civilian pay next year.
Top homeland security lawmaker calls for cautious cuts to CISA
“We have to be very careful about who and what we cut, because [the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency] does have a mission to overwatch our critical infrastructure and make sure the bad guys aren’t getting in,” said Rep. Mark Green, R-Tenn.
Trump directive aims to speed up deregulation by nixing public input
Advocacy groups have already announced they would challenge the president’s effort in court.
Interior fires senior leaders after fight over DOGE access to key payroll system
Several officials in the department’s CIO shop who were not fired are taking the latest deferred resignation offer, meaning that the office is nearly cleared out, with only two of nine leadership roles permanently filled.
Trump administration ends union dues collection for most feds without notice
Unions at federal agencies targeted by the president’s executive order stripping them of their collective bargaining rights found out about the change when employees began receiving their most recent paychecks this week.
Plan for sweeping FAR changes nears release
The General Services Administration, NASA and Office of Federal Procurement Policy are working to create a leaner acquisition framework that could attract more companies to the market.
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Agencies can once again fire all probationary employees following new court ruling
An appeals court on Wednesday reached a similar conclusion as the Supreme Court a day prior.
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Project 2025 wanted to hobble the federal workforce. DOGE has hastily done that, and more
The controversial policy blueprint sought to cut back on civil servants’ powers, but the Trump administration’s turbulent method of execution wasn’t part of the plan.
Democrats confront Social Security Administration about disruptions to constituent SSI accounts
This is the first oversight effort of Senate Democrats’ new Social Security War Room.
