Workforce
Exclusive
Commerce seeks to cut 20% of staff—without using layoffs
The department will implement a series of RIF avoidance measures to meet Trump's mandate to cut staff.
Veteran suicide hotline employees permitted to work remotely after concerns that in-office requirement would hurt service
One Veterans Crisis Line supervisor said the return to office mandate was creating confusion among staff, presented logistical challenges and could hurt recruitment.
Updated
Judge orders reinstatement for most fired probationary federal workers
The firings were "based on a lie," judge says, who suggests he may extend his order beyond the roughly 24,000 already included.
Workers and partners make renewed push to block Trump’s dismantling of USAID
An effort to enjoin the Trump administration from placing thousands of USAID workers on administrative leave in advance of their eventual termination failed last month.
Updated
OPM chief rejects court order to testify on probationary firings as case expands governmentwide
Some Republicans push bills to protect workers as thousands of fired feds will rejoin the payroll this week, albeit on administrative leave.
Top Republican and Democrat plan competing bills to curb VA firings, protect veterans
Thousands of veterans have lost their jobs across federal agencies in sweeping cuts by the Trump administration, according to lawmakers.
Inside federal agencies' rush to reshape their workforces—and spare employees from layoffs
Trump has tasked agencies with developing aggressive reduction-in-force plans, but implementing staff are "still trying to save as many as we can."
CIA is terminating some probationary employees
Recent U.S. intelligence has signaled that foreign adversaries are increasing efforts to recruit disgruntled federal employees in sensitive national security roles.
Labor Department rehires removed probationary workers
DOL’s decision comes after fired probationary employees were ordered back to work at the Agriculture Department.
Exclusive
NIH faces renewed DOGE directive to cut staff, putting thousands in line for RIFs
The Elon Musk-backed group is calling the shots even after President Trump’s edict that they let individual agencies take the lead.
Trump administration outlaws unions at TSA
The Homeland Security Department on Friday misrepresented the proportion of union officials performing representational work at the agency and claimed ousting labor organizations would make the agency “more agile.”
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GSA continues slow drip of RIFs, nearly wiping out entire offices
More cuts are coming. Staff in the Technology Transformation Services were told Thursday that their team will be halved.
Good government group hopes federal workforce report serves as a future baseline amid tumult
The Partnership for Public Service’s annual Best Places to Work in the Federal Government report found higher satisfaction and engagement among civilian employees in 2024, and president and CEO Max Stier said he hopes the numbers will inform the Trump administration as it reshapes federal agencies.
MSPB orders temporary reinstatement of nearly 6,000 probationary workers at USDA
These Agriculture Department employees must be allowed back to their jobs for 45 days, as the Office of Special Counsel continues to investigate the Trump administration’s purge of recently hired, promoted or transferred federal employees.
Exclusive
VA plans to lay off as many as 83,000 employees this year
A leaked memo released Tuesday called for VA to slash its workforce to 2019 levels that were in place before millions of veterans became newly eligible for care.
NTEU leaders vow to fight amid IRS return-to-office mandate
Internal Revenue Service employees have just one week to prepare for the end of telework at the agency, as management disregards union contract provisions governing the workplace flexibility.
OPM retroactively edits probationary firing guidance to note it did not order probationary firings
Trump administration tweaks its guidance after a judge called OPM's role unlawful.
‘Prelude to privatization:’ Social Security confirms workforce reduction targets, continues to shutter offices
Despite most of the agency being exempt from deferred resignations and the government-wide hiring freeze, early retirement and Voluntary Separation Incentive Payments are now available to the entire agency workforce.
Updated
Many federal employees ordered to submit recent accomplishments for second Musk email
Government workers have been instructed not to include classified or sensitive information in their responses.
Updated
Some agencies are still firing probationers while others have recalled theirs, following court ruling
There appears to be confusion throughout the Trump administration as to the impacts of the court's decision, with some agencies pausing their personnel actions to assess the fallout.
