Contractors Sue to Block Trump’s Federal DEI Executive Order
A coalition led by the National Association of Minority Contractors and several higher‑education groups has filed a lawsuit to block a new Trump administration executive order that bars federal contractors from engaging in “racially discriminatory DEI activities.” The order threatens termination, suspension, and future ineligibility for non‑compliant firms, prompting concerns that it infringes on First Amendment and due‑process rights. Plaintiffs argue the rule effectively silences discussion of race and equity, while the Justice Department recently settled a $17.1 million DEI case with IBM, marking the first such settlement with a federal contractor. The litigation seeks to halt enforcement of the order and preserve DEI programs in federal procurement.
Senators Demand OPM Withdraw Plan to Access Feds’ Medical Records
Sixteen Democratic senators have urged the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to abandon a proposal that would require insurers to submit monthly, claim‑level health data on federal employees and retirees. The request, published in the Federal Register, lacks safeguards to...
Severe Staffing Cuts at GSA Are Harming Agencies Across Government, Watchdog Says
The General Services Administration’s Public Buildings Service slashed its workforce from over 5,600 to roughly 3,100 employees in 2025, using voluntary separations and layoffs, then rescinded about 400 reduction‑in‑force notices. A GAO report criticizes the agency for cutting staff before...
‘Shirtless in a Hot Tub with Kid Rock’: Dems Question RFK Jr. On HHS Priorities and Budget Decisions
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. testified before the House Ways and Means Committee, expressing displeasure with the Trump administration’s proposal to cut $15.8 billion—12.5%—from HHS, including SNAP and WIC programs. He argued the cuts would undermine efforts...
When Retirement Calculations Don’t Move on the Same Timeline
Federal retirement counselors face mounting pressure as OPM’s high‑3 calculations lag behind retroactive pay adjustments, sometimes taking up to a year to process. A recent case involving a postal worker illustrates the delay after the 2025 USPS contract added back‑pay...
Hegseth Orders Termination of Union Contracts
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issued a memo ordering the termination of most Department of Defense collective bargaining agreements within 24 hours, invoking Executive Order 14251 that limits federal unions on national‑security grounds. The directive exempts Federal Wage System workers at...
OPM Cuts Degree Requirements for Government Tech Jobs in New Standards
The Office of Personnel Management announced new classification standards that remove bachelor’s‑degree requirements for federal technology jobs. Hiring and promotion will now hinge on formal skill assessments rather than education or years of experience. The overhaul covers all 604 occupational...
Dem Senators Boost Effort to Reinstate Two Immigration Judges
Democratic senators have asked the Federal Circuit to expedite an appeal by two former immigration judges who were fired under an at‑will authority asserted by the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB). The MSPB’s ruling, based on a half‑sentence dictum from...
FEMA Came up with a Goal to Cut Half Its Staff without a Plan to Get There, Records Show
FEMA was tasked by the Department of Homeland Security to devise a staffing scenario that would cut its workforce by roughly half, targeting 11,383 employees, before any concrete implementation plan existed. Agency head Karen Evans acknowledged the goal was set...
Fewer Federal Employees Are ‘Thriving’ and More Are ‘Struggling’, According to New Survey
A Gallup survey shows the share of federal employees who consider themselves "thriving" fell from 58% in 2024 to 48% in 2025, a ten‑point drop. At the same time, the proportion classified as "struggling" rose from 37% to 47% and...
VA's Failure to Use Its New Authority to Boost Pay for Doctors Draws Bipartisan Criticism
Veterans Affairs doctors remain capped at $400,000 a year despite the Dole Act, a bipartisan law signed by President Biden that allows 300 pay‑waiver exceptions and retroactive compensation. The VA has not issued guidance to implement the authority, even though...
A Hiring Rule Meant to Help People with Disabilities Get Federal Jobs Instead Left Them More Vulnerable to DOGE Mass...
At the start of President Trump’s second term, the administration dismissed thousands of probationary federal employees, including many hired under Schedule A—a hiring authority for people with severe disabilities that carries a two‑year probation period. In 2025, agencies such as HHS...
Why the Federal Government Needs to Stop Obsessing over Process
Federal managers are increasingly judged on process compliance, but this focus is creating an administrative paradox that hampers program effectiveness. The GAO reports that Americans forgo over $140 billion in benefits each year because of burdensome paperwork, highlighting how procedural rigor...
OPM to FEHB Carriers: Cut Costs, MAHA Style
The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) sent its 2026 call letter to Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) and Postal Service Health Benefits carriers, urging a shift toward "well‑care" initiatives that emphasize preventive health, mental wellness, and patient‑centered decision‑making. The notice...
DHS Employees to Begin Receiving Paychecks This Week
Homeland Security Department employees will receive back pay this week, ending nearly two months of unpaid work after funding lapsed on Feb. 14. President Trump signed a memorandum authorizing DHS to tap previously appropriated funds, allowing paychecks to be issued between...