Policy

Scientific research needs more precise federal funding, White House tech leader says

“To get more bang for America's research bucks, we need to enhance the creativity and precision of our funding,” OSTP Director Michael Kratsios said.

Policy

FBI to reassign 1,500 employees outside of D.C. area, vacate current HQ, Patel says

The location of the FBI’s headquarters has been a contested issue for more than a decade, as the downtown Hoover building deteriorates.

Policy

Justice Dept. rescinds rules safeguarding media from government seizures

The rules, first issued under former Attorney General Merrick Garland, gave members of the press protections from legal mechanisms to obtain sensitive data linked to their reporting.

Policy

State Department moves cyber and intelligence bureaus under agencywide reorg

Some 15% of the agency’s domestic staff will be eliminated as part of the reorganization announced Tuesday.

Policy

NSF cancels over 400 grants covering disinformation, deepfakes and STEM education

Some $328 million worth of research grants to institutions was canned amid a broader restructuring of the National Science Foundation. Disinformation research and empowerment of underprivileged people in STEM fields were prime targets.

Policy

US urging allies to cease talks with Chinese satellite industry

Internal talking points also give State Department officials guidance on how to respond to allies’ concerns about SpaceX’s Starlink.

Policy

NSF begins terminating select grant funding

Research projects that are deemed to focus on diversity, equity and inclusion or that aim to combat mis- and disinformation will no longer receive funding from the National Science Foundation.

Policy

Democrats push Justice Department to keep Election Threats Task Force amid rollbacks

The task force was created to help protect election officials from stalking and threats, but its future remains in question after the Trump administration scrapped other election integrity initiatives.

Policy

Experts fear global media agency’s gutting will strip key tools against foreign propaganda

U.S. Agency for Global Media programs serve a critical function in the face of U.S. adversaries’ efforts to wage information warfare against American allies and regions of critical interest, an influence operations analyst said.

Policy

Judge orders DOGE to comply with FOIA requests

Trump officials have argued that records from the government efficiency initiative fall under the Presidential Records Act, which can temporarily shield information from public scrutiny.

Policy

GSA reverses lease terminations for some GAO offices doing national security work

The Atlanta, Huntsville and Norfolk offices have been removed from a termination list tied to a DOGE effort to reduce purported government spending waste on building leases.

Policy

GSA lease terminations hit GAO offices doing national security work

Some of the terminated leases include buildings with spaces designed to exchange classified information on defense programs.

Policy

Trade group urges Commerce secretary to support the work of subagencies

The Business Software Alliance said international alliances, export control regimes and standards harmonization efforts can all support the Department of Commerce’s advancement of U.S. tech.

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.

Policy

Trump administration asks all feds to justify their jobs or risk losing them

Employees throughout government are receiving emails asking them what they did last week.

Exclusive Policy

OPM triggers more RIFs after ‘clean cleaving’ an entire office

“The job will not get done without our work,” one laid off employee said.

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.

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.