Updated Digital Government

Judge orders reinstatement for most fired probationary federal workers

The firings were "based on a lie," judge says, who suggests he may extend his order beyond the roughly 24,000 already included.

Digital Government

Government shutdown prospects increase after Schumer says Democrats won’t vote for GOP funding bill

Democrats have argued that the shutdown fight is an opportunity to push back on Elon Musk-backed agency spending and staff cuts.

Updated Digital Government

Shrinking tech team endangers a nationwide disease tracking system at CDC

The CDC was in the middle of updating a public health surveillance system when the Trump administration started shedding workers. What happens next could exemplify the impact to key government programs and systems when tech teams are cut.

Digital Government

House passes GOP funding bill to avoid government shutdown

The measure now heads to the Senate where it’s uncertain if Democrats will provide the votes needed to avoid a lapse in government funding.

Digital Government

DHS releases new mobile app pushing migrants to self-deport

The Trump administration’s new Customs and Border Protection app replaces a version that allowed migrants to schedule asylum appointments at U.S. ports of entry.

Digital Government

Trump administration moves to politicize top HR officials following firing at IRS

Guidance from the Office of Personnel Management justified the decision by citing chief human capital officers’ role in implementing Biden-era diversity policies.

Digital Government

GSA preps code for shutdown of text service for government benefits

Though the agency did not confirm whether a Notify.gov shutdown was in the works, the agency’s Github repository shows code for an “end of life” banner for the service.

Digital Government

Login.gov is key to administration anti-fraud efforts, GSA official says

Early in the administration, some in Trump’s orbit had called for the single-sign on and identity proofing service to be gutted. 

Digital Government

DOGE employee had “read-only access” to two Federal Student Aid systems, Education Department says

In a response to a letter from Democrat senators, an Education official said the DOGE employee’s access to the FSA systems “has since been revoked.”

Digital Government

Trump DOGE order directs agencies to build tech to track government spending

The executive order directs agencies to build centralized tech systems to “record every payment” issued under grants and contracts.

Digital Government

Diversion of Security Fee funds from TSA harms screening tech adoption, report warns

One-third of the September 11 Security Fee meant to fund the TSA is being redirected to help reduce the national debt.

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.

Digital Government

168 employees fired at National Science Foundation

“Panch has been conveniently absent throughout this whole time,” said an internal email an NSF worker sent to fellow colleagues, referring to Sethuraman Panchanathan, NSF’s director.

People

Dozens of employees at U.S. DOGE Service dismissed

Personnel from Elon Musk's efficiency service were the latest to be dismissed.

Digital Government

GSA tech modernization office pauses government-wide cloud collaboration groups

The communities of practice are designed to help feds learn more about technology and cybersecurity topics involving the cloud computing space. At least 100 GSA employees have been let go in recent days.

Digital Government

Trump administration directs agencies to fire recent hires en masse

Thousands of employees were already let go as of Thursday, a number that is expected to skyrocket in the coming days.

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.

Digital Government

Senate Democrats call for DOGE to halt until details are provided

The letter to the White House chief of staff and counsel notes that some of billionaire Elon Musk’s actions via DOGE “may be illegal or unconstitutional.”

Digital Government

DOGE enters NOAA, accesses IT systems and removes the top HR official

The Musk-led team is rooting out DEI and, some lawmakers fear, may have an eye toward grander aims at the agency.