Workforce

The Trump hiring plan wants to fix federal jobs, but it might just make things worse

COMMENTARY | The administration’s new approach promises faster, fairer hiring. But with old-school rules and political essay tests, it could actually make the process harder for everyone. There is another, better way.

Workforce

Employee groups challenge ‘favorite EO’ question as agencies begin rollout

Experts warn that the Trump administration’s new essay questionnaire for most federal job applicants amount to a litmus test to politicize agency hiring.

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.

Workforce

Trump’s push for executive order loyalty risks undermining the federal workforce and the Constitution

COMMENTARY | Federal workers are being asked to prove their loyalty to Trump’s agenda, but history shows that when politics overtakes merit, government performance suffers.

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.

Workforce

OPM recommends telework, other flexibilities for D.C.-area feds ahead of military parade

The Trump administration previously took pains to end the regular use of telework by federal workers earlier this year.

Updated Workforce

Unions and advocacy groups protest veteran job cuts, warn of downstream impacts

The Trump administration is planning to cut around 15% of staff at the Veterans Affairs Department.

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.

Workforce

Federal workforce advocates flood opposition to renewed Schedule F

With just a day remaining before the deadline to submit comments on the Trump administration’s proposed Schedule F regulations, the vast majority of more than 30,000 submissions were opposed to the measure.

Workforce

The evolution of telework in the federal government: A cautionary tale

COMMENTARY | How early telework gains during the pandemic collided with post-COVID realities inside federal agencies.

Workforce

Trump administration debuts permitting modernization plan, even as staff cuts could jeopardize it

The new plan builds on Biden-era work, but how implementation goes during Trump-era workforce reductions remains to be seen.

Workforce

CISA projected to lose a third of its workforce under Trump’s 2026 budget

The White House’s latest spending proposal projects nearly 1,000 jobs will be slashed at the nation’s lead civilian cyber agency. Related cyber and intel programs across government also face funding rollbacks.

Workforce

Feds on the job hunt are taking advantage of professional development opportunities tailored to them

Initiatives are focusing on topics ranging from wellness and career coaching to artificial intelligence.

Workforce

Appeals court: Has Trump neutered the Civil Service Reform Act?

A three-judge panel on the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals revived a lawsuit challenging the gag order on federal immigration judges in light of the president’s decision to fire the U.S. special counsel and members of the Merit Systems Protection Board.

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.

Workforce

Federal judge blocks dissolution of union at TSA

Though the Transportation Security Administration has broad latitude to design and administer its own personnel system, U.S. District Judge Marsha Pechman found its contract with AFGE to be a “self-imposed restriction” on that power.

Exclusive Workforce

Lynch: OPM’s hiring plan includes ‘blatant loyalty test’

The Trump administration last week unveiled its new ‘Merit Hiring Plan’ that in part quizzes job applicants about their favorite Trump policy or executive order.

Workforce

Intelligence agency employee arrested for trying to share classified info with foreign government

Nathan Vilas Laatsch was allegedly disgruntled by the Trump administration and willing to share sensitive data with the foreign country. The FBI set up a dead drop operation to intercept the classified materials.

Workforce

DOGE reorganization of nuclear regulator prompts concerns about the agency’s continued focus on safety

President Donald Trump wants the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to lay off workers, while the agency has fallen short of its recruitment goals in recent years and struggled to replenish its aging workforce.