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.
Exclusive Workforce

VA forces staff in workforce reduction discussions to sign non-disclosure agreements

Seniors leaders are contemplating which jobs to keep and which to slash in meetings, but telling staff they cannot discuss those topics.

Workforce

Interior solicits employees' resumes in preparation for widespread layoffs

A reorganization and consolidation effort is expected to begin within two weeks and employees are already heading for the exits in droves.

Updated Management

State to slash 15% of domestic staff, eliminate 132 offices

Layoffs expected by July 1, though embassy and overseas closures are not yet part of the plan

Updated Workforce

As re-firings begin, judge demands Trump administration tell probationary employees they were not let go for poor performance

Court declines to block more firings of recently hired staff, saying individual agencies are now making their own decisions.

Management

Rubio denies that Trump will politicize the Foreign Service and slash embassies

State Department says a draft executive order, which would have created new loyalty requirements for career staff and eliminated many offices, is fake. A reorganization of the department is still expected shortly.

Exclusive Management

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.

Management

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.

Exclusive Workforce

Treasury eliminates offices and outsources work, with more layoffs coming

Initial cuts were focused on employees who provide U.S. Treasury bond-related retail services to investors.

Updated Workforce

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.

Breaking News Workforce

SCOTUS: Trump can temporarily move forward with mass firing of some probationary employees

The Supreme Court's ruling applies to 16,000 recently reinstated feds, but some of those are still protected by another court decision.

Exclusive Workforce

USDA to slash headquarters, other staff and relocate some to new 'hubs' around the country

Mass layoffs at the Agriculture Department coming within weeks, with Washington facing significant cuts but regional employees also seeing reductions.

Breaking News Workforce

IRS sends RIF notices as it begins widespread layoffs

The full timeline and scope of the cuts is unclear, but the first office to face them saw its workforce slashed by 75%.

Exclusive Management

Some agencies are notifying employees of their ‘Schedule F’ status

Agencies are submitting lists of employees who will lose civil service protections and some are taking a broad approach.

Management

Some USDA RIF plans take shape as department warns employees of major cuts

Some regional offices are expected to be cut as some headquarters offices will be "hollowed out."

Workforce

Judge further protects most fired probationary feds, though some may be newly vulnerable

A federal court has expanded the duration of the firing reversals but narrowed their geographical impact. A related case is sitting before the Supreme Court.

Breaking News Workforce

Court allows Trump to fire appeals board member, which could ‘trap in legal limbo’ feds fighting terminations and RIFs

Appeals court has paused a lower court ruling blocking the firing one-third of MSPB's central board, creating a crisis for the agency.