Management
Former NSF heads criticize funding and staff cuts at science agency
Former National Science Foundation and National Science Board leads sent a letter to congressional leadership saying the cuts to the agency run contrary to the Trump administration’s priorities.
Defense
‘Gimmicks’: GOP lawmakers slam Trump’s ‘trillion-dollar’ defense-spending proposal
White House claims of a 13% increase rest on unusual maneuvers, not a higher DOD budget line.
Workforce
Initial layoffs at Transportation Department expected in late May
Secretary Sean Duffy said at a department town hall that the number of employees subject to reductions in force would depend on how many leave government service under the deferred resignation program.
Pay & Benefits
Proposed retirement cuts cast renewed pall over deferred resignations
Federal workers who accepted President Trump and Elon Musk’s so-called ‘fork in the road’ fear Republicans have “pulled the rug out from under” their retirement plans.
Sponsor Content
Cross-skilling creates an efficient, adaptable workforce
A new approach to workforce development can help to optimize government tech talent.
Tech
Here are the tech takeaways from Trump’s budget proposal
The White House has suggested sweeping reductions to many civilian agencies, though it promises to maintain investments in emerging technologies.
Management
The biggest takeaways from Trump's cut-filled FY26 budget
See which agencies suffer the most significant reductions as Trump seeks to slash non-defense agencies by 22%.
Workforce
VA tech panel’s top Democrat worries layoffs will harm EHR rollout
Rep. Nikki Budzinski, D-Ill., is concerned that staffing vacancies, coupled with the department’s reduction in force plans, will put “more pressure onto the VA to execute on an expedited calendar for implementation” of its new EHR system.
Sponsor Content
Keeping the lights on: How agencies can build cyber resilience for critical infrastructure
Optiv+ClearShark and Splunk empower critical infrastructure with secure-by-design solutions and real-time cyber threat detection.
Defense
Hegseth issues Army a lengthy to-do list
The Wednesday memo includes deadlines for weapons and tech, orders to streamline units and organizations, and more.
FEATURED INSIGHTS
Pay & Benefits
Domestic TSP funds continued to swoon in April
The federal government’s 401(k)-style retirement savings program continued to produce a mixed bag for participants last month.
Pay & Benefits
A crash course in retirement planning
Let's revisit my tips and resources for transitioning from employee to annuitant.
Exclusive
Workforce
Connolly demands rescission of regulations reviving Schedule F
The top Democrat on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee warned that politicization of the federal workforce will lead to more instances of “incompetence” in government.
TSP TICKER
FUND
G
F
C
S
I
MAY 02 CLOSE
$19.0355
$19.9398
$90.2150
$83.7420
$46.3334
DAILY CHANGE
0.0022
-0.0903
1.3125
1.8186
0.8280
THIS MONTH (%)
0.02
-0.78
2.12
2.81
1.46
FUND
L 2060
L 2050
L 2040
L 2030
L INCOME
MAY 02 CLOSE
$17.7770
$35.3774
$58.6319
$51.2218
$27.1779
DAILY CHANGE
0.2928
0.4729
0.6881
0.5061
0.1183
THIS MONTH (%)
1.95
1.56
1.37
1.15
0.50
FUND
MAY 02
CLOSE
CLOSE
DAILY
CHANGE
CHANGE
THIS
MONTH
MONTH
G
$19.0355
0.0022
0.02
F
$19.9398
-0.0903
-0.78
C
$90.2150
1.3125
2.12
S
$83.7420
1.8186
2.81
I
$46.3334
0.8280
1.46
L 2050
$35.3774
0.4729
1.56
L 2040
$58.6319
0.6881
1.37
L 2030
$51.2218
0.5061
1.15
L 2020
$None
None
L INCOME
$27.1779
0.1183
0.50
Exclusive
Workforce
Federal employees removed by Trump would have easier pathway back to government service under Democratic bill
A pair of bills would seek to give hiring preference to axed feds and to standardize the length of probationary periods for government workers, as the administration has sought to fire those individuals who have less civil service job protections.
Pay & Benefits
House Republicans advance plan to cut federal worker benefits and undermine civil service protections
One Republican who voted against the measure said efforts to reduce existing federal workers’ pension benefits will fail if put to a vote before the full House.
Workforce
Selected federal hiring sprees included in House Republicans’ sweeping tax cut package
Several agencies across government would receive tens of billions of dollars to hire tens of thousands of employees.
Workforce
Survey says…most Americans don’t like DOGE
New polling data from the Partnership for Public Service shows that nearly double the number of surveyed respondents thought Trump’s federal workforce overhauls would have negative impacts compared with those who supported the policies, but there were sharp divides between Republicans and Democrats.
Management
The Trump administration just dismissed all 400 experts working on America’s official climate report
The White House's recent dismissal of volunteer scientists and experts working on the National Climate Assessment places the anticipated 2027 iteration of the climate change impact report on uncertain ground.
Transition
Trump Customs and Border Protection nominee probed on 2010 death in custody
Rodney Scott served as chief of Border Patrol during the first Trump administration and was dismissed in 2021 by President Biden.
Pay & Benefits
Don’t get stuck with a tax bill in retirement: The federal retiree's guide to tax withholding
While tax withholding is automatic while working, retirees face the responsibility of ensuring their income is withheld for federal and state taxes. With that in mind, here are some options to be aware of.
Workforce
Judge: Trump’s national security reasoning for anti-union EO was 'pretext for retaliation'
Even when taken at face value, U.S. District Judge Paul Friedman said the White House did not meet the evidentiary bar to prove that collective bargaining was incompatible with national security considerations for the majority of federal agencies.
Oversight
A DOGE aide involved in CFPB cuts owns stock prohibited by ethics laws
Gavin Kliger, a 25-year-old DOGE employee tasked with assisting in the recent rollout of more than 1,400 RIF notices at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau owns stock in several companies overseen by the agency.
Management
100% withholding on Social Security clawbacks scaled back by the Trump administration
The Biden administration had capped the clawbacks at 10%.
Workforce
NASA preparing for steep workforce cuts but hopeful it can avoid more layoffs
The agency is still planning for lunar missions and to keep all of its centers open, though it will likely do so with fewer employees.
Workforce
Despite return-to-office deadline, some VA employees may still work remotely because there's not enough workspace
Veterans Health Administration employees who live within 50 miles of federal office space must begin working fully in person by May 5 if they’re not already, but agency officials said there’ll be leniency if there’s not enough workspace.
