Author Archive

Erich Wagner

Erich Wagner

Erich Wagner is a senior correspondent covering pay, benefits, organized labor and other federal workforce issues. He joined Government Executive in the spring of 2017 after extensive experience writing about state and local issues in Maryland and Virginia, most recently as editor-in-chief of the Alexandria Times. He holds a bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of Maryland.
Erich Wagner is a senior correspondent covering pay, benefits, organized labor and other federal workforce issues. He joined Government Executive in the spring of 2017 after extensive experience writing about state and local issues in Maryland and Virginia, most recently as editor-in-chief of the Alexandria Times. He holds a bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of Maryland.
Workforce

Social Security to close hearing office in New York

The decision to shutter the busy White Plains Office of Hearings Operations when its lease expires in May comes amid Elon Musk’s effort to cancel thousands of government leases.

Workforce

Judge extends order blocking USAID leave notices and evacuations

The U.S. Agency for International Development must put on hold plans to place thousands of its employees on paid administrative leave for one more week, as a federal judge weighs whether to issue a preliminary injunction in the case.

Updated Workforce

Federal judge clears way for 'deferred resignations'

U.S. District Judge George A. O’Toole Jr. found that unions must first adjudicate their claims before the Merit Systems Protection Board or Federal Labor Relations Authority before suing in court.

Workforce

EPA orders most workers back within weeks, breaking union covenants

The Office of Personnel Management previously issued guidance purporting to grant agencies the authority to disregard telework provisions in union contracts based on a blanket assertion of ‘management rights.’

Workforce

OPM continues to tweak 'deferred resignation' provisions as unions press court challenge

As the parties await a written decision from a federal judge in Massachusetts, unions fighting the controversial ‘Fork in the Road’ directive have highlighted how recent Trump firings could limit federal workers’ legal recourse.

Updated Workforce

Trump apparently fires FLRA chairwoman

Susan Tsui Grundmann’s term at the agency that oversees federal sector labor disputes was not set to end until July.

Updated Workforce

Judge extends pause on ‘deferred resignation’ deadline

U.S. District Judge George O’Toole reportedly said he was considering converting the existing temporary restraining order blocking the administration from advancing its deferred resignation program into a preliminary injunction, but he did not indicate how he would rule in the case.

Updated Workforce

Federal judge blocks USAID leave notices and reinstates workers

Attorneys representing the Trump administration confirmed Friday that upwards of 2,200 employees, many of whom are stationed overseas, would have been put on administrative leave Friday night, absent the court’s intervention.

Updated Workforce

Trump administration’s 'deferred resignation' deadline blocked until next week

OPM is required to notify all employees who received an initial "deferred resignation" offer by Thursday evening that the deadline for accepting the legally dubious offer has been pushed until Monday.

Updated Workforce

USAID begins sending administrative leave notices ahead of expected shutdown

The agency also reportedly has ordered overseas missions to shut down by the end of the week.

Updated Workforce

Agencies ramp up pressure on their workers to quit

New guidance continues to defend the Trump administration's "deferred resignation" program as legal, though it fails to address its apparent violation of the Anti-Deficiency Act.

Pay & Benefits

TSP funds rebound to start 2025

After a rocky end to 2024, all funds in the federal government’s 401(k)-style retirement savings program finished January in the black.

Workforce

OPM claims agencies can ignore union telework contracts

A new memo instructing agencies to cease enforcing union-negotiated telework policies under the guise of “management rights” could portend future assaults on collective bargaining.

Workforce

Trump signs memo that claims to cancel late Biden-era union contracts

Although the president railed against collective bargaining agreements signed at the Social Security Administration and the Education Department shortly before his inauguration, it’s unlikely any of those deals will be upended by the measure.

Workforce

OPM will grant VERA authority to all agencies, as confusion around ‘deferred resignation’ program continues

With just one week before the deadline, many federal workers are still unclear whether they can trust the Trump administration’s offer, or if they are even eligible for it.

Workforce

Employee groups, Democrats, experts warn feds not to accept ‘deferred resignation’ offer

The lack of a legal underpinning for the purported eight-month severance package, and Elon Musk’s history of offering—and then revoking—severance payments have many federal workers wary of the measure.

Pay & Benefits

SSA: It could take more than a year to implement the WEP and GPO repeal

Though Congress acted on a bipartisan basis last year to pass legislation ending two controversial tax provisions that affected some federal workers and other public servants, it failed to give the Social Security Administration any money to implement it.

Updated Workforce

Trump reportedly will offer 'buyouts' to all 2 million federal workers

The White House’s plan to offer “deferred resignations” that pay departing federal employees their salary through Sept. 30 will likely run afoul of rules governing buyout payments.

Workforce

New Schedule F guidance shows the Trump White House is rearing for a fight

Trump administration officials elected to bypass the regulatory process to rescind Biden-era rules aimed at barring Schedule F’s revival, setting up a bigger fight over the president's authority.

Pay & Benefits

Congressional Republicans mull plans to gash feds’ pay, benefits and job security

GOP lawmakers are once again considering a litany of proposals that would require federal workers to pay more in exchange for less retirement and health care benefits.