GovExec
@govexec.bsky.social
Government Executive is the federal government's business news daily and the premier digital destination for senior leaders in the federal government's departments and agencies.
Send tips to newstips@govexec.com
Send tips to newstips@govexec.com
Pinned
GovExec
@govexec.bsky.social
· Nov 18
Have a tip? Your information could make a difference. Share it confidentially with our team at newstips@govexec.com
House Democrats warned in a hearing Thursday that Trump’s federal workforce cuts are harming employees and agency missions. Former civil servants shared personal stories of layoffs, chaos, and lost trust under the current administration.
‘My dream job has turned into a nightmare’: Ex-feds and public service experts testify to Congress on how to rebuild government post-Trump
Some recommendations that several Democratic lawmakers and advocates brought up included overturning Schedule Policy/Career, restoring collective bargaining rights for the federal workforce and…
buff.ly
February 16, 2026 at 4:25 PM
House Democrats warned in a hearing Thursday that Trump’s federal workforce cuts are harming employees and agency missions. Former civil servants shared personal stories of layoffs, chaos, and lost trust under the current administration.
The Homeland Security Department is set to shut down over the weekend after lawmakers failed to reach an agreement on funding it, leaving most of the DHS workforce on the verge of missing more paychecks.
DHS to shut down after lawmakers, White House fail to reach agreement on funding and reforms
Most non-ICE, non-CBP employees are now facing potentially delayed paychecks.
buff.ly
February 16, 2026 at 3:33 PM
The Homeland Security Department is set to shut down over the weekend after lawmakers failed to reach an agreement on funding it, leaving most of the DHS workforce on the verge of missing more paychecks.
Federal acquisition cannot keep operating as a static, rules bound system in a fast changing world. This commentary explains why agencies must build buying processes that learn, adapt and respond in real time to survive.
Why federal acquisition must adapt to survive
COMMENTARY | In a world where the only constant is change, failure to adapt equals extinction.
buff.ly
February 16, 2026 at 1:07 PM
Federal acquisition cannot keep operating as a static, rules bound system in a fast changing world. This commentary explains why agencies must build buying processes that learn, adapt and respond in real time to survive.
Office of Personnel Management Scott Kupor told agencies Thursday to get a move on with the administration’s quest to excise labor unions from most federal agencies, seemingly in defiance of multiple federal court orders blocking the initiative.
OPM instructs agencies to terminate union contracts potentially in violation of court orders
A smattering of agencies implicated in President Trump’s executive orders barring labor representation for two-thirds of the federal workforce had held off on formally terminating their collective…
buff.ly
February 13, 2026 at 10:30 PM
Office of Personnel Management Scott Kupor told agencies Thursday to get a move on with the administration’s quest to excise labor unions from most federal agencies, seemingly in defiance of multiple federal court orders blocking the initiative.
The federal security clearance process is still treated as an administrative function instead of core mission infrastructure, creating delays and inconsistencies that directly affect national security operations. via @LindyKyzer
The clearance system is mission infrastructure. Treat it like one
COMMENTARY | Clearance reform is not optional. Without sustained leadership and consistent execution, government modernization risks undermining the trusted workforce it depends on.
buff.ly
February 13, 2026 at 8:46 PM
The federal security clearance process is still treated as an administrative function instead of core mission infrastructure, creating delays and inconsistencies that directly affect national security operations. via @LindyKyzer
EXCLUSIVE: The Social Security Administration has instructed employees newly assigned to answering phones to tell callers expressing suicidal thoughts that suicide is “one option,” raising concerns from employees and experts in the field who called the approach unorthodox. buff.ly/GRs94Vb
February 13, 2026 at 7:49 PM
EXCLUSIVE: The Social Security Administration has instructed employees newly assigned to answering phones to tell callers expressing suicidal thoughts that suicide is “one option,” raising concerns from employees and experts in the field who called the approach unorthodox. buff.ly/GRs94Vb
The Government Accountability Office on Wednesday issued a report examining how the U.S. Coast Guard handles discrimination against service members, flagging issues with how officials define, collect information about and promote awareness of such incidents. buff.ly/ukuiZwk
Watchdog flags gaps in Coast Guard’s handling of discrimination complaints
More than half of the incidents analyzed in the report, which looked back to fiscal 1998, occurred between fiscal 2019 and 2024.
www.govexec.com
February 12, 2026 at 7:30 PM
The Government Accountability Office on Wednesday issued a report examining how the U.S. Coast Guard handles discrimination against service members, flagging issues with how officials define, collect information about and promote awareness of such incidents. buff.ly/ukuiZwk
Many organizations and programs are stepping in to help federal employees impacted by the Trump administration's workforce reductions land on their feet. Staff Reporter Sean Michael Newhouse takes a deeper look at how the former feds are continuing their public service. buff.ly/Vpa8dAo
Former feds turn to tailored job search resources to continue service-oriented work
Several nonprofits and universities are providing support to civil servants in search of new roles.
www.govexec.com
February 11, 2026 at 10:50 PM
Many organizations and programs are stepping in to help federal employees impacted by the Trump administration's workforce reductions land on their feet. Staff Reporter Sean Michael Newhouse takes a deeper look at how the former feds are continuing their public service. buff.ly/Vpa8dAo
At a recent NAPA awards ceremony, former Cabinet secretaries Janet Yellen and Gary Locke recognized the dedication of career federal employees, noting they are the backbone of government operations. Reporting by Sean Michael Newhouse
Former Cabinet secretaries urge federal employees to 'keep the faith' despite threats to civil service
Janet Yellen and Gary Locke praised career civil servants for their dedication and stressed the vital role they play in keeping government running, even in challenging times.
buff.ly
February 11, 2026 at 1:07 PM
At a recent NAPA awards ceremony, former Cabinet secretaries Janet Yellen and Gary Locke recognized the dedication of career federal employees, noting they are the backbone of government operations. Reporting by Sean Michael Newhouse
The FAIR Act, introduced by Rep. James Walkinshaw, D-Va., and Sen. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, would provide federal workers with a 3.1% across-the-board increase in basic pay next year, in addition to an average 1% boost to locality pay. buff.ly/34nrTdH
February 10, 2026 at 10:34 PM
The FAIR Act, introduced by Rep. James Walkinshaw, D-Va., and Sen. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, would provide federal workers with a 3.1% across-the-board increase in basic pay next year, in addition to an average 1% boost to locality pay. buff.ly/34nrTdH
The Internal Revenue Service last week shifted hundreds of human resources employees into its taxpayer services office to assist with filing season workload and this week notified former IT staff that they too would work on issues related to tax returns and customer service. buff.ly/Rp9HMVv
IRS tasks more staff without any tax experience to process tax returns
“This has the potential to be a disaster,” employees warn as the tax agency scrambles to prepare for the already underway filing season.
www.govexec.com
February 10, 2026 at 9:03 PM
The Internal Revenue Service last week shifted hundreds of human resources employees into its taxpayer services office to assist with filing season workload and this week notified former IT staff that they too would work on issues related to tax returns and customer service. buff.ly/Rp9HMVv
The Trump administration has not issued any new layoffs since Congress acted to temporarily block the personnel actions last year, but that legislative barrier is set for removal at the end of the week. buff.ly/49plFq2
Congress paused all federal layoffs for 3 months. That's set to change this week.
A ban on agency RIFs is scheduled to be lifted after Feb. 13.
www.govexec.com
February 10, 2026 at 1:24 PM
The Trump administration has not issued any new layoffs since Congress acted to temporarily block the personnel actions last year, but that legislative barrier is set for removal at the end of the week. buff.ly/49plFq2
The Office of Personnel Management this week proposed two new sets of regulations that would grant itself the authority to adjudicate the appeals of some federal workers’ firings, wresting control from the Merit Systems Protection Board. buff.ly/ZOMwBjG
OPM seeks to consolidate power over employee appeals in new regulations
Under a pair of regulatory proposals published this week, the federal government’s dedicated HR agency seeks to wrest appeals of suitability and reduction in force decisions from the Merit Systems…
www.govexec.com
February 9, 2026 at 11:46 PM
The Office of Personnel Management this week proposed two new sets of regulations that would grant itself the authority to adjudicate the appeals of some federal workers’ firings, wresting control from the Merit Systems Protection Board. buff.ly/ZOMwBjG
Some Army civilians say they worked during the shutdown and were later told to report that they did not. Our exclusive details what happened and why it matters. Reporting by Eric Katz and Thomas Novelly buff.ly/KjomxZZ #shutdown
Some Army civilians worked during the shutdown—and were told to say they didn’t
What started as confusion became a coverup, employees and emails say.
www.govexec.com
February 9, 2026 at 9:23 PM
Some Army civilians say they worked during the shutdown and were later told to report that they did not. Our exclusive details what happened and why it matters. Reporting by Eric Katz and Thomas Novelly buff.ly/KjomxZZ #shutdown
The U.S. Postal Service reported a net loss of nearly $1.3 billion in the first quarter of fiscal 2026, as there continues to be a lack of consensus among postal leaders, stakeholders and lawmakers about how to fix the agency’s longstanding financial challenges. buff.ly/WKw3ChX
February 6, 2026 at 7:22 PM
The U.S. Postal Service reported a net loss of nearly $1.3 billion in the first quarter of fiscal 2026, as there continues to be a lack of consensus among postal leaders, stakeholders and lawmakers about how to fix the agency’s longstanding financial challenges. buff.ly/WKw3ChX
Social Security is pulling employees who normally process benefits to staff phone lines after losing more than 7,400 workers, a shift employees say could slow claims processing and add to backlogs for the public. via Natalie Alms and Eric Katz buff.ly/AacAD7I
Social Security is directing employees who normally process benefits to answer phones instead
After shedding thousands of employees, SSA is reassigning workers amid fears the moves will cause backlogs to grow.
www.govexec.com
February 6, 2026 at 6:24 PM
Social Security is pulling employees who normally process benefits to staff phone lines after losing more than 7,400 workers, a shift employees say could slow claims processing and add to backlogs for the public. via Natalie Alms and Eric Katz buff.ly/AacAD7I
The Trump admin is set to publish a final rule to implement a policy that would strip civil service protections from an estimated 50k feds and make them effectively at-will, eliminating appeal rights and changing whistleblower complaint processes. via Erich Wagner buff.ly/Zib2DdN
Trump admin moves to finalize return of Schedule F
Officials estimate that around 50,000 federal workers will be stripped of their civil service protections beginning in around a month, as unions, employee associations and good government groups…
www.govexec.com
February 5, 2026 at 10:56 PM
The Trump admin is set to publish a final rule to implement a policy that would strip civil service protections from an estimated 50k feds and make them effectively at-will, eliminating appeal rights and changing whistleblower complaint processes. via Erich Wagner buff.ly/Zib2DdN
Federal employees have more options than just annual and sick leave. From paid parental leave to military leave, here’s what time off you can use when standard leave runs out.
The federal leave options employees can use when annual and sick time run out
From unpaid leave to parental and military leave, federal workers have multiple options for time off under specific circumstances.
buff.ly
February 5, 2026 at 8:46 PM
Federal employees have more options than just annual and sick leave. From paid parental leave to military leave, here’s what time off you can use when standard leave runs out.
The Government Accountability Office found that U.S. Indian Affairs’ job cuts have left critical vacancies, causing concern among tribal leaders about the future effectiveness of programs that support law enforcement, schools and natural resource management. buff.ly/Rx6kOfx
A thinning roster at Indian Affairs leaves tribes wondering who’s left to help, watchdog reports
Indian Affairs’ workforce has decreased by 11% since the start of President Donald Trump’s second term.
www.govexec.com
February 5, 2026 at 6:37 PM
The Government Accountability Office found that U.S. Indian Affairs’ job cuts have left critical vacancies, causing concern among tribal leaders about the future effectiveness of programs that support law enforcement, schools and natural resource management. buff.ly/Rx6kOfx
The House Oversight and Reform Committee on Wednesday unanimously advanced legislation aimed at updating the federal government’s buyout programs to encourage employees to leave. buff.ly/HGZI6lq
February 5, 2026 at 1:12 PM
The House Oversight and Reform Committee on Wednesday unanimously advanced legislation aimed at updating the federal government’s buyout programs to encourage employees to leave. buff.ly/HGZI6lq
The IRS is asking seasoned employees without any direct tax experience to perform entry-level tasks of answering phones and processing tax returns, a step impacted staff call unprecedented as the agency scrambles to prepare for filing season.
buff.ly/52RfQeA
buff.ly/52RfQeA
‘Setting this agency up for failure:’ Amid staffing crunch, IRS taps employees with no relevant experience to assist during filing season
The tax agency is taking unusual steps to prepare for its busy season after watchdog finds it is severely underprepared.
www.govexec.com
February 4, 2026 at 6:35 PM
The IRS is asking seasoned employees without any direct tax experience to perform entry-level tasks of answering phones and processing tax returns, a step impacted staff call unprecedented as the agency scrambles to prepare for filing season.
buff.ly/52RfQeA
buff.ly/52RfQeA
When Congress voted to end the four-day partial government shutdown, lawmakers included language reiterating that all federal workers receive back pay, despite renewed wrangling by the Trump administration to the contrary. buff.ly/KFBWAQ3
February 3, 2026 at 10:20 PM
When Congress voted to end the four-day partial government shutdown, lawmakers included language reiterating that all federal workers receive back pay, despite renewed wrangling by the Trump administration to the contrary. buff.ly/KFBWAQ3
Federal agencies are set to reopen after the House on Tuesday approved a spending package funding those forced to close their doors over the weekend, ending the shutdown less than four days after it began. buff.ly/QkE6fgj
Partial shutdown ends less than four days after it began
Nearly every federal agency is now funded through September and employees will be paid for the days they were furloughed.
www.govexec.com
February 3, 2026 at 7:22 PM
Federal agencies are set to reopen after the House on Tuesday approved a spending package funding those forced to close their doors over the weekend, ending the shutdown less than four days after it began. buff.ly/QkE6fgj
The Thrift Savings Program's portfolios edged up to open the year. Take a look at where the investment funds landed in January.
TSP investments begin 2026 in the black
Each of the portfolios in the federal government’s 401(k)-style retirement savings program gained value in January.
buff.ly
February 2, 2026 at 10:00 PM
The Thrift Savings Program's portfolios edged up to open the year. Take a look at where the investment funds landed in January.
Federal employees began furloughs as the government #shutdown took hold, with lawmakers aiming to pass a funding deal by Tuesday. Here is what agencies and workers can expect next. via Eric Katz buff.ly/k9BuErd
Employees begin furloughs as lawmakers hope to end shutdown Tuesday
The unusual nature of the funding lapse has led to some confusion for impacted federal workers.
www.govexec.com
February 2, 2026 at 9:33 PM
Federal employees began furloughs as the government #shutdown took hold, with lawmakers aiming to pass a funding deal by Tuesday. Here is what agencies and workers can expect next. via Eric Katz buff.ly/k9BuErd