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.
Management

Workers predict significant disruptions to food assistance programs as USDA announces more relocations

Programs like SNAP and WIC "simply will not function" if employees exit en masse after declining mandatory relocations across the country, union says.

Workforce

Feds that Trump fired without cause can take their appeals directly to federal court, judges say

The most recent decision involved a challenge from Maurene Comey, a former DOJ attorney and daughter of former FBI Director James Comey.

Management

McMahon distances herself from past Education layoffs, vows some rebuilding even amid elimination effort

The secretary says it is "difficult" to defend some of the cuts, adding they were underway before her arrival. She continues to support the department's elimination, however.

Pay & Benefits

DHS to again stop paying employees in May if shutdown continues

Republicans took a new step on Tuesday to end the 67-day standoff, but there is still no immediate end in sight.

Management

RFK: Cuts at HHS haven’t led to problems, but we’re hiring 12,000 new employees

"Nobody in the agency wants to cut these programs," Kennedy said, suggesting instead they were required by the White House.

Exclusive Management

VA has touted appointment wait time reductions, but new data shows a more mixed reality

A comparative analysis of select wait-time data for new patients at more than 100 medical centers indicates the department has made progress in some areas, but not all.

Pay & Benefits

VA's failure to use its new authority to boost pay for doctors draws bipartisan criticism

Department officials, including those in the Trump administration, have long complained that legal pay caps are hurting retention and veteran care.

Pay & Benefits

DHS employees to begin receiving paychecks this week

The Homeland Security Department is still shut down but Trump has ordered immediate back pay anyway.

Management

Privatization, eliminations and consolidations: Major reforms from Trump's budget

The president's fiscal 2027 blueprint contains significant overhauls to the work carried out by federal agencies.

Workforce

See where Trump is looking to make staffing cuts next year and where he wants to grow

The White House wants to stabilize the size of the federal workforce overall in FY27, though some agencies would still experience large reductions.

Management

Civilian agencies face 10% cuts in Trump’s 2027 budget

Dozens of programs and grants face elimination, although proposed cuts to non-defense agencies are smaller than last year and a Defense boost would raise overall spending.

Workforce

Consumer watchdog agency asks court for permission to slash its workforce by two-thirds

The argument that the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau can carry out its duties with one-third the staff is "laughable," a union official said.