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A new survey of former USAID employees found that only 40% of respondents who were laid off last year have since found full-time employment, and most of those who have are making less money than before their ouster.

Survey shows the toll of USAID’s closure on former employees and their families

Nearly half of survey respondents who were foreign service officers reported that their households experienced dual job loss as a result of the layoffs.

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Federal employees don’t need a crystal ball to build retirement wealth. They need time, consistency and a plan. Federal retirement expert Tammy Flanagan breaks down what decades of TSP data can teach about letting compounding do the heavy lifting.

Why time, not timing, is the biggest retirement advantage for federal employees

A look at decades of market shifts and TSP data shows the biggest driver of retirement wealth isn't picking the right stock. It's starting early, contributing consistently and letting compounding do…

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If you've ever wondered why your refund is taking so long, senators want the IRS to start showing its work. A bipartisan bill would force the agency to be more transparent about delays as it moves to modernize how it serves taxpayers. Jory Heckman reports:

IRS could be required to publicly report wait times and backlogs

A bipartisan Senate bill would create new transparency around the agency's customer service performance and expand callback options for taxpayers.

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GovExec @govexec.bsky.social · 6d ago

A GSA official says veterans' preference is slowing efforts to hire tech talent. A hiring expert says the bigger problem is an outdated hiring system and how agencies apply the rules. Sean Michael Newhouse has more here:

GSA official says veterans' preference in federal hiring is hampering tech recruiting

A government workforce expert told Government Executive that many hiring rules, including veterans’ preference, have become “procedural hurdles rather than achieving the intended outcome” because…

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VA and AFGE are back in court over the future of their union contracts. After two previous attempts to end the agreements were blocked, a judge will now weigh the latest dispute. Erich Wagner explains:

VA’s third attempt to scrap union contract heads back to court

The Veterans Affairs Department says it is following the terms of an expiring agreement. AFGE argues VA is ignoring a requirement to keep the contract in place during negotiations.

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GovExec @govexec.bsky.social · 6d ago

The Bureau of Labor Statistics, Census Bureau and other federal statistical agencies are feeling the effects of deep staffing losses. Experts say the hardest thing to replace may be the experience walking out the door. Jory Heckman reports:

Staffing cuts are leaving federal statistical agencies stretched thin

The Bureau of Labor Statistics and Census Bureau have been hard hit by staffing cuts, and experts say replacing lost expertise won't happen overnight.

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GovExec @govexec.bsky.social · 7d ago

Eighteen months of disruption inside the federal government have left a mark on one of its key accountability systems. New data shows watchdog offices are smaller and producing fewer audits and investigations. Reporting by Sean Michael Newhouse:

Inspectors general are conducting fewer oversight reports after 18 months of upheaval

In a new report, the Partnership for Public Service noted that the average Cabinet inspector general office has shrunk by 19% since the end of 2024.

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A documentary captures a moment of upheaval for the federal workforce through the stories of the people who lived it. “Heist” follows former civil servants navigating job loss, uncertainty and what comes next. Sean Michael Newhouse reports:

New documentary recounts ‘free-for-all attitude of cruelty’ toward axed federal employees

The movie, which was filmed during the start of the second Trump administration, examines the human and societal effects of recent federal job cuts.

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IRS and SSA employees who were counting on advanced leave are now facing a new reality. The change is drawing pushback from unions, who say the benefit has helped workers through some of their toughest moments. By Jory Heckman:

IRS and Social Security bar employees from taking advanced leave

A union official says advanced leave functions as a sort of short-term or long-term disability insurance program for many federal employees.

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COMMENTARY: A stronger presidency doesn't automatically mean weaker government. The real test is whether Congress, agency leaders and career civil servants are willing to uphold the checks, norms and institutions that make accountability possible.

As presidents gain power, who keeps government accountable?

COMMENTARY | The Supreme Court's decision expanding presidential authority over independent agencies is about more than executive power, it also raises the stakes for congressional oversight, agency…

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Senators are asking a simple question: If field offices are staying open, why are some Americans finding the doors closed? Lawmakers say staffing cuts and reassignments are making it harder for people to get in-person Social Security help when they need it. Erich Wagner reports: buff.ly/PvKTkPb

Dem senators demand answers on SSA field office closures despite Bisignano’s vow

Just weeks after the Social Security commissioner falsely accused his predecessor of turning away members of the public, lawmakers say Bisignano has done just that.

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AI is becoming a bigger part of how agencies write rules. The debate now is over how to keep those decisions accountable. Sean Michael Newhouse explains:

AI's growing role in rulemaking raises new transparency questions

As the Trump administration pursues an aggressive deregulatory agenda, concerns are mounting that artificial intelligence could make agency decisions harder to explain and defend.

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USDA employees say they're being asked to decide whether to move or quit before they have answers to basic questions about the relocation process. The department is still sending notices as deadlines draw closer and a legal challenge moves forward. Jory Heckman reports:

As USDA relocation deadlines near, employees say questions remain unanswered

Employees say they still lack key details about exemptions, moving costs and next steps as USDA continues issuing relocation notices.

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House Democrats want to make it harder for agencies to block oversight visits. A new bill would set governmentwide access rules after months of clashes over lawmakers' attempts to enter federal facilities. By Sean Michael Newhouse

Bill aims to end blocked congressional access at federal buildings

A new bill would set governmentwide rules for congressional visits after disputes over access to agencies and immigration detention centers.

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OPM says its updated plan protects federal employees' health data. NARFE says not enough. The group's latest warning centers on one key distinction: pseudonymized records can still be linked back to people. De-identified records can't. By Erich Wagner:

NARFE still has concerns with OPM’s plan to collect employee health care records

Last month, the Office of Personnel Management sought to assuage concerns about its request for claims-level data on federal workers’ health insurance usage. Employee groups say it’s still not enough.

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A new report finds record turnover among Trump's Senate-confirmed appointees and historically low nomination numbers. Sean Michael Newhouse reports

Trump appointees confirmed by the Senate are exiting their jobs in record numbers, report finds

The Partnership for Public Service also reported that the president is making a historically low number of nominations.

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The fight over who sits on the USPS Board of Governors may be about more than the #Postal Service. Experts say the nominations could preview what's ahead for bipartisan boards across government. Reporting by Jory Heckman and Erich Wagner:

USPS nominations test the future of bipartisan boards

Federal law requires that no more than five members of USPS’ Board of Governors be from the same political party. The Trump administration has only submitted Republican nominees so far.

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Retirement comes with a new learning curve, and the help you get can make all the difference. Federal retirement expert Tammy Flanagan breaks down how OPM, TSP and Social Security compare for retirees. buff.ly/NcC5vhN

Why your retirement experience may depend more on the agency than the benefit

Federal retirees interact with OPM, the Thrift Savings Plan and Social Security at different stages of retirement. Their latest performance data reveals starkly different customer service experiences…

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IGs are facing major changes, but the watchdogs say the fight against fraud has never been more urgent. At a govt accounting conference, they talked about political pressure, shrinking staffs and a new challenge: scams powered by smarter technology. Sean Michael Newhouse reports:

Despite firings, acting IG says it’s “the best time to be in the inspector general community” due to focus on fraud

A panel of inspectors general at a government accounting conference also discussed challenges combating technologically advanced scams and performing more proactive oversight.

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After years of shutdown brinkmanship, some lawmakers are asking: What if the government never had to shut down again? A proposal getting a fresh look would change the rules of the budget fight and put more pressure on Congress to reach a deal. By Jory Heckman buff.ly/R7S6kVn

Lawmakers look to avoid government shutdown, and reconsider getting rid of them entirely

The latest proposals would change how Congress handles funding lapses and could reshape the budget fights that have repeatedly disrupted federal operations.

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The unions suing DOD over its terminated labor contracts have a new argument: The Pentagon didn't even follow the Trump administration's own guidance for carrying out the move. Now they're asking a judge to restore collective bargaining while the case proceeds. Erich Wagner reports: buff.ly/DHsShxR

Unions ask for injunction restoring collective bargaining at Defense

The latest filing from a pair of federal employee unions highlights the ways in which the Pentagon strayed from the Trump administration’s own guidance for implementing the president’s executive…

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The House is weighing a bill to scrap the group that supports federal inspectors general, putting a spotlight on a fight over who should oversee the government’s watchdogs. Sean Michael Newhouse

Inspector general group would be axed under new House GOP bill

Supporters of the measure pointed to a recent Government Accountability Office report that found the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency frequently missed requirements when…

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