Author Archive

Eric Katz

Eric Katz

Senior Correspondent

Eric Katz writes about federal agency operations and management. His deep coverage of Veterans Affairs, Homeland Security, the Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Postal Service has earned him frequent guest spots on national radio and television news programs. Eric joined Government Executive in the summer of 2012 and previously worked for The Financial Times. He is a graduate of The George Washington University.
Eric Katz writes about federal agency operations and management. His deep coverage of Veterans Affairs, Homeland Security, the Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Postal Service has earned him frequent guest spots on national radio and television news programs. Eric joined Government Executive in the summer of 2012 and previously worked for The Financial Times. He is a graduate of The George Washington University.
Workforce

GSA backs off planned layoffs within its technology team after court order

The Technology Transformation Services has lost 67% of its staff since Jan. 25.

Exclusive Management

Trump to limit top ratings for all feds and consolidate scoring in forthcoming rule

Though the forced distribution of performance ratings is “categorically prohibited” under current rules, federal agencies already appear to be adopting the system, before the proposal has even been announced.

Workforce

Air traffic controllers calling out sick during shutdown may have acted illegally, FAA chief says

Agency will “ask tough questions” of those workers even as administrator concedes agency has “a retention issue” among controllers.

Management

USDA received overwhelmingly negative feedback on its reorg plan from employees, lawmakers and locals governments

The department solicited comments and those who wrote in said a potential exodus of staff and loss of local interaction would prove harmful to farmers.

Workforce

OPM says 92% of fed departures this year were voluntary. Those who left disagree

Staff only left "the most amazing job I could ever have" under significant pressure, former federal employees said.

Workforce

Trump is using $70K bonuses for a hiring surge at one agency. Democrats want to stop him

The hiring of hundreds of new officers will allow Trump to centralize his power in Washington, senators say, though administration suggests the effort is boosting safety.

Workforce

DOJ says lower court ruling would ‘wreak havoc’ on the civil service absent Supreme Court intervention

A federal judge was set to review whether Trump has neutered civil service laws, but the Supreme Court has paused that effort while it considers the administration's request.

Management

After NASA shed 4,000 employees, Trump’s pick to lead space agency vows to attract new talent

A "reinvigorated culture" focusing on the "near-impossible" will allow NASA to rebuild its workforce, Jared Isaacman says.

Workforce

State becomes the latest agency to proceed with RIFs despite statutory pause

The deal to end the shutdown placed a moratorium on any action to implement layoffs, but some agency are moving forward anyway.

Exclusive Management

Amid unprecedented hiring push, ICE and CBP both lose HR chiefs

One of the executives was fired without explanation, while the other voluntarily moved to a different agency.

Management

Agency layoff rules to get an overhaul under nearly finalized Trump administration proposal

OPM’s reduction in force revamp plan will put performance ratings over tenure and strip some employees of protections.

Exclusive Management

Doug Burgum is charging Interior Department agencies a premium to subsume their employees

The Interior Department's consolidation efforts is coming with a cost to National Parks and other components of the agency.