Author Archive
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.
- Eric Katz
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.
- Eric Katz
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
- Eric Katz
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.
- Eric Katz
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.
- Eric Katz
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.
- Eric Katz
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.
- Frank Konkel and Eric Katz
Workforce
Employees swarm to second ‘deferred resignation’ offer, though some are receiving unexpected responses
At USDA, 16,000 employees have signed up for the “DRP.”
- Eric Katz
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.
- Eric Katz
Management
Interior Department to consolidate functions across the country, leading to widespread layoffs
Changes are expected to be implemented in the coming weeks.
- Eric Katz
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.
- Eric Katz
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.
- Eric Katz
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.
- Eric Katz
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%.
- Eric Katz
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.
- Eric Katz and Erich Wagner
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."
- Eric Katz
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.
- Eric Katz
Workforce
Cancer researchers, opioid abuse analysts, infectious disease experts: Layoffs at HHS begin to take shape
Tears and added security greeted employees unexpectedly turned away from their offices Tuesday.
- Eric Katz
Workforce
Uncertainty grips HHS as employees await their fate and leadership is left in the dark: ‘It’s madness’
Employees are still waiting for more information after the department announced widespread layoffs.
- Eric Katz
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.
- Eric Katz