Updated
People
Federal judge blocks USAID leave notices and reinstates workers
Attorneys representing the Trump administration confirmed Friday that upwards of 2,200 employees, many of whom are stationed overseas, would have been put on administrative leave Friday night, absent the court’s intervention.
Digital Government
Solving the cloud cost equation
Agencies should take a deliberate approach to the cloud.
Emerging Tech
DARPA taps Microsoft, PsiQuantum for scalable quantum computer research
As part of DARPA’s Quantum Benchmarking Initiative, the two companies are now in negotiations under the validation and co-design phase of the quantum computing program.
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.”
Defense
What Google’s return to defense AI means
More competition in a hot market—and the plain fact that only the Pentagon will set boundaries.
Breaking News
Policy
Russ Vought, champion of Schedule F and slashing agency budgets, wins confirmation to OMB
Trump's pick for budget chief was confirmed by the Senate after Democrats held the floor for a full day to speak in opposition to him.
People
Senate Dems call on VA secretary to protect veteran data from DOGE
Lawmakers asked VA Secretary Doug Collins “to deny and sever” DOGE’s access to department systems that include information about veterans.
Policy
Trump administration’s 'deferred resignation' deadline blocked until next week
OPM is required to notify all employees who received an initial "deferred resignation" offer by Thursday evening that the deadline for accepting the legally dubious offer has been pushed until Monday.
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.
Digital Government
Sources: VA’s new EHR is not accessibility compliant
A VA official told Nextgov/FCW that, at the facilities where VA’s new electronic health record has been deployed, “veterans with disabilities cannot access their own records because the patient portal is inaccessible to them.”
Cybersecurity
In reversal, CISA workforce now permitted to take deferred resignation offer
The move could enable the Trump administration to reduce the size and scope of the cyber agency.
Cybersecurity
OPM asks to dismiss email server lawsuit, citing misinterpretation of law
The agency notably released a privacy impact assessment for the dubious email server used to mass-message federal employees about a deferred resignation offer on the same day as the legal dismissal request.
Policy
DIA, NGA among growing number of intel agencies offering buyouts
The intelligence community workforce has been given an offer to leave their jobs early in exchange for pay until September, similar to a proposal extended to civilian agencies.
People
Musk’s DOGE efforts pose a ‘constitutional crisis,’ experts warn
Elon Musk has spent the first two weeks of the Trump administration parachuting into government offices, leaving extensive — and some say legally prohibited — changes in his wake.
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
Digital Government
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.
People
Trump administration opens the door to politicize government tech executives
“This sounds like another method of censorship and control of the federal career workforce,” one former government tech executive said of a Tuesday memo issued by the Office of Personnel Management.
Defense
DHS personnel descend on New Orleans to help secure Super Bowl LIX
CISA has already conducted physical and cybersecurity vulnerability assessments ahead of the Feb. 9 NFL championship game.
People
OPM claims agencies can ignore union telework contracts
A new memo instructing agencies to cease enforcing union-negotiated telework policies under the guise of “management rights” could portend future assaults on collective bargaining.
Digital Government