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.
Updated
Management
Federal agencies can resume mass layoffs, Supreme Court rules
Many agencies across government are expected to swiftly implement workforce cuts.
- Eric Katz
Workforce
Trump extends hiring freeze for 3 more months
Most agencies will now face a moratorium on hiring at least through mid-October after Trump issues his third freeze order.
- Eric Katz
Oversight
Schumer requests probe into impact of staffing cuts on Texas flood response
The Trump administration denies the hundreds of reductions to the National Weather Service workforce had any effect on preparations.
- Eric Katz
Breaking News
Workforce
VA backs down on mass layoffs, will cut 30K through attrition only
Following significant pushback, VA is reversing course on its plan for widespread RIFs while still promising some staffing reductions.
- Eric Katz
Management
Trump’s science order faces scrutiny from scientists and lawmakers
Critics are raising alarms over the Restoring Gold Standard Science executive order, saying the updated guidelines could weaken safeguards meant to keep politics out of federal research.
- Eric Katz
Workforce
Mass layoffs likely to remain blocked, for now, thanks to a Supreme Court footnote
The Trump administration is cheering a SCOTUS ruling and its impact on the federal workforce, but attorneys on a key reduction-in-force case say its impact on feds is currently limited.
- Eric Katz
Management
Cuts to FEMA and other agencies will lead to slow disaster response, former administrator says
“It just slows down the entire response and delays the recovery process from starting,” the previous FEMA chief said.
- Eric Katz
Management
Withholding agency funds at the end of the year under consideration, White House says
OMB Director Russ Vought tells lawmakers the administration has "numerous options" to achieve savings.
- Eric Katz
Workforce
State Dept. further prepares for mass layoffs even as court block remains
A judge specified last month that State, like most major agencies, cannot yet move forward with RIFs.
- Eric Katz
Workforce
National Parks scramble to fill top leadership positions, but fix could create more vacancies
The agency is also struggling to recruit staff for front-line positions as the parks hit their busiest season.
- Eric Katz
Exclusive
Management
DOGE holds meetings with White House, new postal leadership and Treasury to discuss reforming USPS
Internal documents reveal a series of meetings with far-reaching impacts for the future of the Postal Service.
- Eric Katz
Exclusive
Management
‘Censorship:’ See the National Park visitor responses after Trump requested help deleting ‘negative’ signage
The administration asked for help erasing language on park displays that failed to emphasize American grandeur, but visitors have not identified any examples.
- Eric Katz
Workforce
CDC has shed one-quarter of staff even as it recalls some laid off workers
Agency tells court that states are not suffering "irreparable harm" from cuts even as agency leaders lament "operational disruptions" and "loss of expertise and capacity."
- Eric Katz
Breaking News
Workforce
Trump administration resumes layoffs, targeting National Archives staff
Employees warn of impacts at presidential libraries and on records retrieval.
- Eric Katz
Breaking News
Workforce
Judge blocks State Department layoffs
The Trump administration has sought special dispensation to imminently cut staff at State, but employees won a—potentially short-lived—reprieve.
- Eric Katz
Updated
Management
Feds from IRS agents to refugee officers are deploying to assist ICE conduct raids
President Trump is tapping unusual parts of the government immigration enforcement, and offering unprecedented roles.
- Eric Katz
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