People
Judge orders Trump administration to rescind directives on probationary employee firings
The administration did not have the authority to issue the dismissals, federal court rules.
People
Agencies to deliver large-scale RIF plans in two weeks
The Trump administration is directing federal agencies to move swiftly to lay off broad swaths of their workforces.
Breaking News
People
Top Social Security deputies leave amid rumored staff cuts
At least five of the eight regional heads have decided to leave as the mid-level worker-turned-acting commissioner is said to mull workforce reduction.
People
OPM procurement processing fully halted following agency layoffs, internal email says
Sweeping terminations in OPM’s Office of Procurement Operations have fully halted agency contracting business and are likely to increase OPM’s operational risks, an internal email reads.
People
GSA takes ‘sledgehammer’ to workforce with planned layoffs
The agency’s acting administrator informed employees Monday that a reduction in force effort was impending.
People
‘What did you do last week?’ Feds get mixed signals on whether to respond
Responses to the new governmentwide email system are meant to be voluntary, as OPM has advised agencies, but billionaire Elon Musk has said feds risk their employment if they choose not to respond — and some agencies are still telling feds to do so.
Exclusive
People
Oversight agency finds Trump’s federal worker firings unlawful, asks for some employees to be reinstated
The findings could have sweeping impacts for the tens of thousands of recently dismissed workers.
People
Judge denies federal unions’ request to block mass probationary firings
The federal judge said in a preliminary ruling that the National Treasury Employees Union likely must first bring their challenge to the Federal Labor Relations Authority.
Ideas
Trump’s plan to slash the federal workforce isn’t the first, it’s just the worst
COMMENTARY | The triple-meat-cleaver approach to workforce “reform.”
People
Virginia governor pressed to support federal workers and contractors
Fairfax County's board of supervisors chairman says the Trump administration's proposed workforce reductions threaten Virginia's economy and wants Gov. Youngkin to take action.
Digital Government
Longtime GSA employee quits rather than give Musk ally access to Notify.gov
The leader of the Technology Transformation Services at GSA wanted access to a text messaging platform for government agencies.
People
GSA to cut at least 100 employees, feds inside the agency say
Employees within the agency’s Technology Transformation Services received calls from supervisors Wednesday informing them of their impending dismissals.
People
CISA staff focused on disinformation and influence operations put on leave
DHS Secretary Kristi Noem has committed to rescoping the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency so that it pivots away from disinformation matters.
Digital Government
OPM skirted agency norms in assessing the privacy of its new email system
Anonymous federal employees filed a lawsuit alleging that the new email system could be placing their sensitive personal information at risk.
Cybersecurity
Trump’s anti-DEI efforts damage national security, former officials say
The rollback of diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives weakens intelligence operations, erodes workforce morale and limits the U.S. government’s ability to navigate global threats, former national security officials argue.
Cybersecurity
CISA among DHS offices exempt from taking OPM’s deferred buyout offer
President Trump’s DHS chief said she wants to scale back the cybersecurity agency’s size and mission scope.
People
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.
People
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.
People
VA wants hiring freeze exemptions for 300,000 roles
The acting Veterans Affairs secretary said in a Jan. 21 memo that the requested exemptions cover positions critical to the delivery of health care services.
People