Digital Government

Musk's role as ‘special government employee’ raises ethics questions

The SpaceX founder and CEO's moves across federal agencies break with tradition and could result in legal action.

Updated

Agencies ramp up pressure on their workers to quit

New guidance continues to defend its deferred resignation program as legal, though it fails to address its apparent violation of the Anti-Deficiency Act.

Unions sue Treasury over DOGE access to payment systems

Anonymous plaintiffs also called for a temporary restraining order Tuesday to prevent OPM from using a newly installed email system to mass-message federal employees.

Musk takes aim at GSA tech shop

Elon Musk posted on X that the 18F team behind the IRS Direct File program has been “deleted,” though one staffer told Nextgov/FCW they were still able to work at the time of publication.

Federal tech grant recipients sweat future amid ongoing uncertainty

The federal Office of Management and Budget’s memo pausing grants caused massive uncertainty, including for technology efforts reliant on the money. Recipients say their work will continue, but be harder, without federal help.

Breakneck pace of executive orders and lagging, unclear guidance leave contractors guessing

The Professional Services Council president and CEO said that contractors may not know the criteria spending programs are being reviewed under or who’s doing them while they wait. 

OPM’s new email system sparks questions about cyber compliance

Until very recently, the Office of Personnel Management lacked the capability to send mass emails to all federal employees, a person familiar said, fueling concerns that the agency bypassed procurement rules.

Trump signs order setting up DOGE with a focus on government tech

Trump is wielding — and renaming — the US Digital Service in service of the DOGE.

Trump’s Treasury pick pledges to keep IRS Direct File open this tax season

Scott Bessent, Trump’s pick for Treasury Secretary, said that he would have to study the long-term future of the tool. Republicans on Capitol Hill, however, have panned Direct File.

‘Over half’ of federal websites got better in the past year, OMB official says

Metrics released by the Office of Management and Budget offer insight into how agencies are implementing the 21st Century IDEA Act.

IRS Direct File to open a week after Trump’s inauguration

Republicans on Capitol Hill have asked the incoming president to scrap the free tax filing service developed during the Biden administration.

Exclusive

Coming cyber executive order includes a push to mobile drivers licenses

The draft order does not, however, tackle the full breadth of actions that were expected from a promised identity executive order that has yet to materialize.

Officials say federal employee background check system overhaul is finally on the right track

The director of the agency primarily responsible for background checks of federal employees said the change in administration likely won’t affect modernization efforts.

Unemployment isn’t recession-ready — but it’s getting better, says acting Labor secretary

Julie Su, the acting Department of Labor secretary, has often been scrutinized for her role in California during the pandemic. She sat down with Nextgov/FCW to talk about unemployment four years later.

Government spending bill would also codify VA’s customer experience office

The continuing resolution to keep the government funded through March 14 would, in part, formalize a VA office that gathers feedback to improve veteran services.