Management
Trump administration moves to politicize top HR officials following firing at IRS
Guidance from the Office of Personnel Management justified the decision by citing chief human capital officers’ role in implementing Biden-era diversity policies.
Opinion
Full faith and credit crisis: The true costs of unpaid government invoices
How the administration’s payment freeze threatens many government contractors and could disrupt the entire federal marketplace.
Management
Official who safeguards whistleblowers drops lawsuit protesting his firing by Trump
An appeals court had allowed the Trump administration to remove Special Counsel Hampton Dellinger while it heard his case.
Management
Official who fought to reinstate fired probationary feds can be removed during legal fight, court says
A federal judge had ruled that President Donald Trump’s firing of Special Counsel Hampton Dellinger was unlawful, but the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit determined that he could be removed while they weigh the case.
Workforce
MSPB orders temporary reinstatement of nearly 6,000 probationary workers at USDA
These Agriculture Department employees must be allowed back to their jobs for 45 days, as the Office of Special Counsel continues to investigate the Trump administration’s purge of recently hired, promoted or transferred federal employees.
Management
GSA says it will republish a retracted list of potential federal buildings to sell
The Public Buildings Service, which handles government property, is currently experiencing sizable layoffs.
Transition
Supreme Court rejects Trump’s bid to freeze USAID payments
In a 5-4 ruling, the justices require the administration to honor existing aid and contracts obligations while the legal battle continues.
Contracts
Supreme Court rejects Trump’s bid to freeze USAID payments
In a 5-4 ruling, the justices require the administration to honor existing aid and contracts obligations while the legal battle continues.
Route Fifty
Commerce secretary announces ‘rigorous review’ of BEAD program
Howard Lutnick said it is in “dire need of a readjustment,” and pledged to take a tech-neutral approach while dismantling many of the broadband access program’s Biden-era requirements.
Pay & Benefits
A pair of House bills aim to give fired feds relief
Legislation from Reps. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, D-Fla., and Derek Tran, D-Calif., seeks to secure benefits for federal employees recently fired by the Trump administration and help get some of their jobs back.
Transition
‘Reclaim power from unaccountable bureaucracy’: Trump touts early actions against federal workforce in address to Congress
The president praised Elon Musk’s cost-cutting initiatives during his speech to Congress, the first of his second term.
Exclusive
Workforce
VA plans to lay off as many as 83,000 employees this year
A leaked memo released Tuesday called for VA to slash its workforce to 2019 levels that were in place before millions of veterans became newly eligible for care.
Workforce
NTEU leaders vow to fight amid IRS return-to-office mandate
Internal Revenue Service employees have just one week to prepare for the end of telework at the agency, as management disregards union contract provisions governing the workplace flexibility.
Management
GSA lease terminations hit GAO offices doing national security work
Some of the terminated leases include buildings with spaces designed to exchange classified information on defense programs.
Oversight
Judge blocks Trump administration from firing Democratic member of Merit Systems Protection Board
The ruling follows a weekend decision to stop the removal of Special Counsel Hampton Dellinger, who has pushed back on the firings of probationary employees.
Contracts
Some cancelled VA contracts disappear from ‘Wall of Receipts’ as more cuts loom
Despite inconsistencies, veteran-owned businesses are bearing the brunt of the DOGE-driven eliminations at the Veterans Affairs Department.
Workforce
OPM retroactively edits probationary firing guidance to note it did not order probationary firings
Trump administration tweaks its guidance after a judge called OPM's role unlawful.
Workforce
‘Prelude to privatization:’ Social Security confirms workforce reduction targets, continues to shutter offices
Despite most of the agency being exempt from deferred resignations and the government-wide hiring freeze, early retirement and Voluntary Separation Incentive Payments are now available to the entire agency workforce.
Management
McMahon confirmed to lead Education Department ahead of anticipated layoffs
The incoming secretary said during her confirmation hearing that eliminating the Education Department, a priority of President Donald Trump, would require congressional approval.
Contracts