People
NSF begins reinstating probationary employees
Following the federal court ruling, the Office of Personnel Management told agencies to begin the reinstatement of unlawfully terminated probationary employees.
People
Trump nominates Paul Dabbar as Commerce deputy secretary
Dabbar previously worked in the Department of Energy during the first Trump administration, and will now focus on global trade and technology for Commerce.
People
GSA eliminates 18F
The latest workforce action at the General Services Administration includes the elimination of an entire tech team of around 90 employees.
People
12 senior executives at the Federal Acquisition Service head for the exits
The agency had 34 senior executive service members in September 2024.
Ideas
Legacy Systems Are Holding Back Government Service Delivery—Here’s How Agencies Can Move Forward
Modernization can save money.
People
Partnership for Public Service lays off dozens of staff
The nonprofit works to improve civil service and positively transform government.
People
TMF executive director resigns
Larry Bafundo cited the “disheartening” depiction of government employees recently in his post announcing his departure.
People
Judge orders Trump administration to rescind directives on probationary employee firings
The administration did not have the authority to issue the dismissals, federal court rules.
Cybersecurity
IBM contract for overseas cyber assistance canned amid USAID shutdown
The foreign aid agency — a prime target of President Donald Trump’s agenda to eliminate perceived government waste — declared cybersecurity an economic development issue in 2021.
Breaking News
Acquisition
Trump administration asks agencies to cull consultants
A memo dated Wednesday asks agencies to review their contracts with 10 of the “highest paid” companies.
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to a letter from Democrat senators, an Education official said the DOGE employee’s access to the FSA systems “has since been revoked.”
Cybersecurity
US spy chief directs legal review of UK’s Apple backdoor demand
Tulsi Gabbard called the order, which demands Apple permit the United Kingdom backdoor access into global users’ iCloud backups, a “clear and egregious” violation of Americans’ privacy.
Cybersecurity
Democrats open investigation into DOGE access to national security information
Multiple media reports have indicated DOGE has accessed classified or highly sensitive data across the government.
People
Agencies to deliver large-scale RIF plans in two weeks
The Trump administration is directing federal agencies to move swiftly to lay off broad swaths of their workforces.
Emerging Tech
AWS unveils its quantum chip prototype, Ocelot
The company joins the ranks of IBM, Google and Microsoft in launching an early stage chip designed to further quantum computing needs.
Breaking News
People
Top Social Security deputies leave amid rumored staff cuts
At least five of the eight regional heads have decided to leave as the mid-level worker-turned-acting commissioner is said to mull workforce reduction.
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.
Cybersecurity
DOJ watchdog to review FBI data retrieval uses under contested spying authority
The audit came from Congress as part of a law that reauthorized Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act.
People
Karen Evans named top cyber official at CISA
Most recently listed as a senior advisor in the agency’s cybersecurity division, Evans has held multiple roles in government cybersecurity and IT.
People