GovExec

After shedding most employees, DOJ looks to shift around Civil Rights staff to fill ‘deep need’ Some offices have lost 75% of their attorneys but are still being asked to reassign those who remain to higher priority areas.

EXCLUSIVE: The Justice Department is now scrambling to fill vacancies it has incentivized employees to leave through the extended paid leave program known as “deferred resignations,” early retirement and other offers. buff.ly/53UfrYd

At least 148,000 federal employees have left government under Trump, good government group reports The Partnership for Public Service acknowledged that it’s difficult to track the number of civil servants who have departed because the Trump administration has not publicized much of the information.

More than 148,000 civil servants have involuntarily or voluntarily separated from the federal workforce as of July 21, according to the Partnership for Public Service. buff.ly/UMxW4mC

Agency layoffs do not constitute illegal impoundments, GAO rules RIFs are not themselves violations of federal spending law, watchdog says, though the administration is violating the law in other ways.

GAO says recent agency layoffs don’t violate budget law, as long as funds are still properly obligated and spent.

How federal employees can check if their retirement estimate is accurate Estimating your post-retirement income isn’t just math, it’s about getting the right data, understanding your service credit and avoiding costly missteps.

Not sure your retirement estimate adds up? Feds can double-check with OPM tools and catch common slip-ups.

Senate Dems join calls for EPA to reinstate dissenting workers Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin placed more than 140 agency employees on administrative leave after they signed a letter critical of EPA’s direction since Trump returned to…

A group of 17 Senate Democrats on Wednesday called on the EPA to reinstate more than 140 employees placed on administrative leave earlier this month after signing a letter critical of the agency’s direction since Trump returned to office. buff.ly/oNtQZS7

Veterans Affairs whistleblowers may not be getting settlement benefits due to a lack of oversight, watchdog reports The Government Accountability Office warned that VA needs to do a better job of tracking whistleblower settlement agreements.

A Government Accountability Office report published Thursday found shortfalls in the Department of Veterans Affairs' monitoring of whistleblower cases, meaning that the whistleblowers may not actually receive their negotiated benefits. buff.ly/3NT46rS

Senate panel advances bills to protect whistleblowers, fix CBP workers’ retirement benefits More than 1,300 CBP officers spent more than a decade contributing toward their retirement annuities for which they were not eligible, due to a mistake the agency made in 2008.

A Senate panel has advanced measures to strengthen whistleblower protections and address retirement benefit issues for CBP employees.

USDA says reorg disfavors layoffs, predicts most employees will accept relocations A significant percent more than a majority will come" to new locations, Agriculture Department official says.

USDA says most employees will likely accept relocation offers under its reorganization plan, which it claims will minimize job losses.

OSC recognizes federal mine safety employees who blew the whistle about skipped inspections The award comes as watchdog organizations have warned that Trump’s nominee to lead the Office of Special Counsel, the agency that protects government whistleblowers, could weaken oversight.

The U.S. Office of Special Counsel on Wednesday selected two Mine Safety and Health Administration employees, who disclosed that mines in the Pacific territories have not been inspected since 2016, as winners of its annual award honoring government whistleblowers. buff.ly/mtqgkc7

DOGE and other day one Trump appointees head for the exits at multiple agencies The Interior Department and General Services Administration are seeing significant turnover in the leadership ranks.

Several members of billionaire Elon Musk’s DOGE team at the Interior Department are leaving the agency, joining other Musk associates and early President Trump appointees exiting agencies elsewhere in government. buff.ly/Rse7ucT

2 independent watchdogs quietly replaced by Trump The former acting Education inspector general had accused administration officials of stonewalling an investigation, and the ex-acting Commerce IG was removed from that position for a second time.

Donald Trump replaced two leaders of agency inspector general offices in the most recent incident of the president trying to exert more influence over the independent government watchdogs. buff.ly/YpSCP6y

Trump administration reminds federal employees they can proselytize in the office Supervisors can solicit employees to attend their church, OPM says in new guidance.

Federal workers can hold prayer circles with members of the public and tell colleagues to rethink their religious beliefs, according to new guidance the Trump administration released on Monday. buff.ly/EWX79CZ

Trump wants to reverse the staffing cuts he's overseen for IRS customer service. House Republicans disagree. The Trump administration is warning of dire consequences if it cannot reverse the tax agency's recent staffing exodus.

The Trump administration is warning of dire consequences if it cannot reverse the tax agency's recent staffing exodus. buff.ly/gp96JAF

Court filing reveals which offices at 17 agencies the Trump administration had slated for layoffs Some plans have changed, but the document shows new details on RIF plans.

The Trump administration revealed to a federal court on Thursday the specific offices at which widespread layoffs were planned as of earlier this year, providing rare insight into the scale of its proposed reductions in force.

A Senate panel that was set to consider President Trump’s nominee to serve as U.S. Special Counsel said that Paul Ingrassia’s appearance before the committee had been postponed, following widespread outcry over a series of controversies surrounding him. buff.ly/cJo13ML

USDA to relocate thousands of staff outside Washington, consolidate dozens of offices The Agriculture Department is slashing regional offices and centralizing staff into five new hubs across the country.

The USDA will soon move thousands of employees out of the Washington area and consolidate dozens of offices, likely leading to significant further reductions to the department’s already shrinking workforce. buff.ly/sbupLjL

A federal judge in Texas on Wednesday denied the Trump administration’s effort to attain the judicial greenlight to enforce a March executive order stripping two-thirds of the federal workforce of its collective bargaining rights. buff.ly/Sxdz9pu

Most Americans oppose RIFs, but a good government group says anti-layoff messaging needs to be improved A Partnership for Public Service researcher said that there needs to be more focus on the consequences of laying off federal employees versus the government workers themselves because “we found…

A new survey shows most Americans oppose federal layoffs—but not necessarily out of support for federal workers. Concerns focus on how service delivery might suffer. Experts say messaging should shift to highlight the real-life impacts of staffing cuts on the public. #FederalJobs

Agency RIF plans will remain secret for now after court blocks release As more agency layoffs appear imminent, an appeals court has intervened in allowing more details on the plans to be released.

A federal court says agencies can keep their RIF plans under wraps—for now. Learn more here:

Russ Vought bills CFPB $5M for his security detail The expense comes as CFPB's budget is slashed nearly in half.

The Office of Management and Budget is now billing the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau $4.7 million for Russ Vought’s security detail, according to a memorandum obtained by Government Executive. buff.ly/WOrIA8p

Amid ongoing federal layoffs, new fellowships offer opportunities for affected employees Harvard University will provide full scholarships for selected recipients seeking master’s degrees, and a deadline for a new program from Democracy Forward to research the effects of President Donald…

Amid ongoing federal layoffs, new fellowship programs are creating opportunities for affected employees to continue public service or pivot their careers. Applications are now open. #FederalWorkforce #Fellowships #CareerTransition #PublicService

VA launches a departmentwide 'review of its mission' as it seeks changes to its operations Veterans Affairs is no longer planning mass layoffs, but major changes still expected.

The VA launches a departmentwide review to rethink how it delivers services and fulfills its mission, amid ongoing federal workforce cuts. Led by the new secretary, the effort aims to identify changes to improve veteran care even as the department sheds 30,000 employees. More here: buff.ly/hVGeQM0

Census has long struggled with staffing shortages. Employees say Trump is making it worse Voluntary separation incentives and the government hiring freeze have left remaining staff on the hook with more work.

Census workers say staffing shortages are getting worse, compounding long-standing issues at the agency.

Trump creates 'Schedule G' to add more political appointees to agencies top ranks The new, non-career employees will serve in policy-making roles and add "horsepower" to carrying out the administration's agenda, White House says.

Trump creates new “Schedule G” job classification to expand the number of political appointees in federal agencies. Learn more here: buff.ly/7rYw2EN #federalworkforce

​​Agencies to ‘redouble’ efforts to rightsize their workforces following Supreme Court ruling, White House official says Agencies are still finalizing decisions on whether they have "too many people in the wrong place," official says.

Federal agencies are adjusting workforce strategies following a Supreme Court ruling, with efforts focused on aligning staffing levels to new legal and operational standards. #FederalWorkforce #SCOTUS

House sends bill to rescind billions for foreign aid and public media to the White House Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought said there will likely be additional rescission packages.

House passes bill to rescind $9 billion from foreign aid and public media. It now heads to President Trump for final approval. More here: buff.ly/ZSUTnmO

One week after the Supreme Court’s July 8 decision, agencies are moving forward with RIFs. From the VA to the State Department, here’s a look at the latest workforce cuts.

See our full RIF Watch: buff.ly/6uMDldF

Trump admin. tells judge it can fire at least some career feds at any time for any reason The administration is seeking to upend civil service protections long in place for federal employees.

In a case before an MSPB judge, the Trump admin argued it has the authority to fire some career federal employees without cause. The outcome could affect key civil service protections. Learn more here: buff.ly/4F6jl68 #FederalJobs #CivilService #MSPB

Trump’s anti-union EO can remain in effect during challenge, appellate court says The judge who dissented from an appellate court’s initial decision allowing the edict to be implemented issued a warning about the high standards that should accompany a judicial stay.

Appeals court: Trump’s executive order limiting union rights may stay in effect while the federal employee union challenge moves forward. Details: buff.ly/hDtay4n #FederalWorkforce #UnionRights #ExecutiveOrder

Bill to rescind billions in government funding being amended by the Senate Republicans in the House and Senate have until Friday to pass the recissions measure that targets foreign assistance and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

Senate is amending a bill to rescind billions in government funding. Lawmakers face a Friday deadline to finalize changes. Details: buff.ly/gVUsGNJ