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How dozens of Trump's political appointees will stay in government after Biden takes over

Burrowing has a history that traces back to civil service reforms of the late 1880s, when Congress passed a law to try to ensure that jobs were awarded on merit rather than patronage. The number of hires sought under Trump is so far roughly similar to the tally of other recent administrations, but the types of positions being converted are more political than in the past

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House chairs seek 'full accounting' of Schedule F conversions

The lawmakers requested information about any political appointees given civil service positions and about any positions converted to the new personnel category created by President Trump.

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What to expect from Joe Biden’s DOD

President-elect Joe Biden’s national security team is taking shape. FCW talked with experts to understand exactly what’s at stake for the Defense Department’s modernization efforts over the next four years.

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GSA's Murphy releases transition funds to Biden

More than two weeks after Joe Biden was declared the winner of the 2020 presidential election by the Associated Press, the General Services Administration is releasing $7.3 million in transition funding and making other resources available to the president-elect's team.

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Pentagon tightens workplace restrictions as COVID cases spike

The increase of coronavirus cases in the Washington, D.C. region preceded the Pentagon’s decision to revert to stricter workplace protocols.

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OMB seeks to reclassify workforce under Schedule F

The agency is gearing up to make 88% of its positions subject to at-will employment.

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VA union claims victory in termination case

In win for the National VA Council, the Federal Labor Relations Authority dismissed the VA's exceptions to an arbitrator's award that requires it to reinstate union employees fired without performance improvement plans.

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Lawmakers probe telework's impact on federal jobs, hiring

Although the move to telework has presented challenges, agency officials told senators at a hearing emphasized the benefits in terms of hiring and productivity.

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NTEU looks for a 'fresh start' for federal employees under Biden

The union's blueprint for immediate action joins with NAPA's working group on the federal workforce in calling for the next director of OPM to abandon a regulation-heavy approach.

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DOD fails third audit, but sees progress with cost-savings

The Defense Department boasts cost savings as it chases a clean audit. But using the $1 billion audit to find savings could be short-sighted.

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OPM aide tapped as next federal CIO

The chief of staff at the Office of Personnel Management is taking over the top federal tech job for the last days of the Trump administration.

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NAPA working group floats proposal to roll back Trump's workforce orders

A team at the National Academy of Public Administration wants the incoming president to order a reduction in the number of General Schedule job classifications while expanding the use of recruitment, relocation and retention payments.

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Federal panel sides with VA on union contract

The Federal Service Impasses Panel largely sided with the Department of Veterans Affairs in a contract ruling in a case between the VA and the National Veterans Affairs Council (NVAC).

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Biden's GSA transition team brings deep agency ties

The six volunteers tasked with General Services Administration transition planning have worked at GSA, the White House or both.

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OPM veterans on the Biden-Harris transition team

In advance of the General Services Administration designating Biden as president-elect and releasing transition funds, the Biden-Harris team is working outside of government, consulting with former officials and experts.

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A Biden-Harris 'reset’ for feds

Federal employee unions and associations are hoping for concrete day-one rollbacks of Trump administration workforce policies on diversity training, official time, collective bargaining and the new 'Schedule F' classification.

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Lawmakers demand answers from GSA on transition

The head of the General Services Administration must designate Joe Biden as the president-elect before key transition activities can take place, and Democratic lawmakers are growing impatient.

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Esper out at DOD

President Trump announced on Twitter that he had fired his secretary of defense, with Christopher C. Miller, the director of the National Counterterrorism Center, taking over on an acting basis.

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DOD's reform efforts could wane without consistent leadership

The Government Accountability Office found that leadership and organizational changes, namely the future of DOD's chief management officer role, could hamper long term reform efforts.

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Civil rights groups sue to block diversity training order

"Regardless of whatever dates or deadlines are in the executive order, the chilling effect is happening now," an attorney involved the case said.