News
Shutdown averted: Enough Senate Democrats vote with the GOP to pass a government funding bill
Democrats were split on the vote, with some wanting to use it as leverage to fight Department of Government Efficiency cuts.
Tech
US spy chief probing classified chat rooms to pursue leakers
Tulsi Gabbard said recent examples of unauthorized leaks involve data about Iran, Israel, U.S.-Russia relations and activities in ODNI’s counterintelligence office.
Exclusive
Management
Trump administration cancels translation services for those seeking to access or correct their immigration status
The lack of translation services will lead to more people being improperly denied benefits or jobs, experts say.
Workforce
Union sues DHS to protect TSA screeners’ collective bargaining rights
The American Federation of Government Employees accused the Trump administration of retaliating against the labor group over their efforts to block the mass firing of probationary workers across government.
Exclusive
Workforce
Commerce seeks to cut 20% of staff—without using layoffs
The department will implement a series of RIF avoidance measures to meet Trump's mandate to cut staff.
Route Fifty
What’s next for cybersecurity, election info sharing?
Federal funding has been slashed by $10 million for two information sharing centers, which both have tens of thousands of members. A more fragmented and expensive future could follow as states and others go it alone.
Nextgov
Building a stronger federal workforce in an era of cost-cutting
Former Federal Chief Information Officer Suzette Kent weighs in.
Exclusive
Management
SSA weighs axing payments to 170,000 beneficiaries
The move to cease making payments to people without Social Security numbers would imperil the benefits of thousands of immigrants’ children with disabilities.
Management
DOGE to work with USPS to find efficiencies, DeJoy says
The mailing agency will work with GSA and the group led by Elon Musk, who has called for Postal Service privatization.
Companies
Accenture Federal faces second challenge to its Energy IT contract
DOGE nixes 10 task orders on the incumbent contract after a pair of competitors won a corrective action on the recompete.
Workforce
Veteran suicide hotline employees permitted to work remotely after concerns that in-office requirement would hurt service
One Veterans Crisis Line supervisor said the return to office mandate was creating confusion among staff, presented logistical challenges and could hurt recruitment.
Pay & Benefits
Need fast cash? A TSP loan may be the answer
While not ideal, it is an option available to federal employees who need financial help.
Updated
Workforce
Judge orders reinstatement for most fired probationary federal workers
The firings were "based on a lie," judge says, who suggests he may extend his order beyond the roughly 24,000 already included.
Nextgov
Energy appoints Twitter, Google and DOGE alum as new CIO
Ross Graber most recently supported the nascent Department of Government Efficiency’s work at the State Department, a State Department official told Nextgov/FCW.
Management
The VA is not waste, it’s a lifeline
COMMENTARY | “There’s a way to improve VA without hasty and indiscriminate cuts that will set us back and hinder our ability to provide compassionate care,” argues one VA staffer and former combat medic.
Management
The DOGE-acolypse
COMMENTARY | All of Washington is a stage as the drama between DOGE and the three branches of the federal government play out in real time.
News
Government shutdown prospects increase after Schumer says Democrats won’t vote for GOP funding bill
Democrats have argued that the shutdown fight is an opportunity to push back on Elon Musk-backed agency spending and staff cuts.
Oversight
Congresswoman concerned acting leader of Commerce Department watchdog was previously removed from the position
Deputy Inspector General Roderick Anderson is again leading the Commerce Department’s OIG following the mass firing of oversight officials.
Contracts
Trump’s ‘pincer maneuver’ reshapes federal contracting landscape
Contractors are under more pressure than before to justify value and embrace innovation as the DOGE seeks radical efficiencies through cuts and process reforms.
Management