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.
Tech
Job cuts could throw a wrench in the IRS’s plan to modernize
Agency leaders say they want to complete the “vast majority” of its modernization efforts within the next couple of years.
- Eric Katz and Natalie Alms
Management
Forest chief says losing 5,000 employees won’t impact fire season response. Many federal firefighters disagree
USFS says it’s ready for fire season after asking separated employees to come back, but employees say the losses have been "crippling."
- Eric Katz
Exclusive
Workforce
VA signs $700K agreement with OPM for assistance with mass layoffs
The department lacks expertise for such a large reduction, it says, and RIF planners confirm VA leadership is not offering clear guidance.
- Eric Katz
Workforce
NASA renews its push to slash its workforce
The agency would give employees accepting deferred resignations an extended deadline to collect pay while not working.
- Eric Katz
Workforce
Agencies ready to move quickly on RIFs if court block falls
Across government, behind-the-scenes preparations for layoffs have taken place or are ongoing.
- Eric Katz
Management
Vought calls for more OMB staff after spearheading governmentwide cuts
Architect of Trump’s government overhaul says he does not want to "traumatize" feds and some agencies have staff "doing incredible work."
- Eric Katz
Workforce
State Department ‘appears’ to be violating court order by issuing layoffs as soon as June 13, judge says
The Trump administration says it has paused planned RIFs at 17 agencies, but State is “a special case.”
- Eric Katz
Workforce
Trump is planning to slash 107,000 federal jobs next year. See where
New details in the president's budget detail some of the proposed workforce reductions, though the final cuts will likely be steeper.
- Eric Katz
Management
Appeals panel leaves layoff injunction in place as Trump's RIF plans likely head to Supreme Court
Plaintiffs are likely to succeed on the merits, the majority on the appellate court ruled.
- Eric Katz
Oversight
White House says it will cooperate with top watchdog only when it does not ‘unduly burden’ Trump’s agenda
The Trump administration is elevating its feud with the Government Accountability Office, which recently found the administration is violating federal spending laws.
- Eric Katz
Management
Here's where the State Department is planning its layoffs and changes
Various national security offices, as well as units that cover Asia and the Middle East, will be consolidated or slashed. Thousands of employees across divisions are targeted for cuts.
- Eric Katz and David DiMolfetta
Management
Trump administration begins cracking down on federal employees' use of leave for voting
Agencies have begun notifying employees they can no longer take administrative leave for election-related activities.
- Eric Katz
Workforce
Appeals board creates new path to renew reversals of probationary firings
At least some fired feds can pursue their case through a class action, administrative judge says.
- Eric Katz
Workforce
Most major agencies are now indefinitely barred from issuing mass layoffs
The Trump administration's plans to reorganize agencies are "likely unconstitutional," judge says.
- Eric Katz
Breaking News
Oversight
Supreme Court allows Trump to fire federal employee appeals board members at will
In dissenting opinion, justices say the decision will provide Trump the most subservient executive branch “maybe ever.”
- Eric Katz
Management
Judge says she is inclined to further pause layoffs at most major agencies
RIF plans have been frozen for two weeks, but federal court suggests they are unconstitutional and implementation will remain prohibited indefinitely.
- Eric Katz
Breaking News
Workforce
Judge bars Education Department from carrying out mass layoffs
Education is unable to carry out its statutory responsibilities and the Trump administration must receive congressional approval before dismantling the department, judge rules.
- Eric Katz
Management
Staffing cuts will improve government services, agency leaders say
Trump administration officials defend their ongoing workforce reductions to lawmakers amid some bipartisan concerns.
- Eric Katz
Management
NIH director bemoans RIFs, mocks ‘5 things’ email and says agency shoulders blame for COVID outbreak in first address
New agency head also says some laid off employees may be recalled, including to help address supply shortages at labs and medical centers.
- Eric Katz
Workforce
The Trump administration is pausing RIFs but probationary firings are resuming
Some agencies have walked back their layoffs, but the court order spurring that action is not preventing re-firings.
- Eric Katz