GovExec

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Interior officials say the department is already behind on seasonal hiring as parks head into summer and wildfire season, while employees warn staffing gaps are getting harder to cover as permanent workers keep leaving. By @EricM_Katz: buff.ly/nem7VWn

USDA employees and a union are suing over an Easter email they say crossed a constitutional line in a fed workplace. The dept declined to comment on the lawsuit, saying: “we will keep the plaintiffs in our prayers.” By Sean Michael Newhouse @seanthenewsboy buff.ly/mt6J188

House Republicans are zeroing in on why agencies settle so many disputes with federal workers, while attorneys who handle these cases say dragging every fight through litigation would likely cost the government even more. By Erich Wagner: buff.ly/EDE9PML

GAO flags nearly 100 new ways agencies could cut duplication and save billions, even as many past fixes remain open and the watchdog faces proposed funding cuts. By Sean Michael Newhouse @seanthenewsboy: buff.ly/WlyR26B

The DOT IG is reviewing a complaint tied to Sean Duffy’s travel show. Ethics questions have been raised over sponsorships and official travel. DOT says no taxpayer funds were used and approvals were cleared. Watchdogs pressing for scrutiny. By @EricM_Katz: buff.ly/bO2JQOO

COMMENTARY: As agencies ramp up adverse actions, a federal employment attorney argues the MSPB’s framework is centered on rehabilitation and proportionality, not simply punishing misconduct. buff.ly/cGZAU55

The number of federal employees behind on their #taxes has climbed sharply since the pandemic, with more than 215,000 workers now carrying outstanding tax debt, according to a new watchdog report. By @EricM_Katz: buff.ly/7w7xlvT #IRS

Federal addiction researchers say staffing cuts, canceled grants and the rollback of national data collection are undermining the government’s ability to respond to substance abuse trends for years to come. By Sean Michael Newhouse @seanthenewsboy: buff.ly/KquOXV6

A #USDA scientist spent nearly four decades helping dairy farmers produce more milk through govt-backed research. Now he’s watching many of the people trained to continue that work leave USDA amid cuts, buyouts and relocation orders. By @seanthenewsboy: buff.ly/IM6UEUo

Some feds are eyeing OPM’s latest workforce skills survey with suspicion, saying months of layoffs, purges and “efficiency” messaging have made even routine hiring initiatives feel harder to trust. Erich Wagner reports: buff.ly/thK9B0a #federalworkforce

NIH staff say #grants are being flagged for words tied to race, gender and #diversity, forcing scientists to rewrite proposals and delaying funding as employees describe the process as opaque, unethical and increasingly systematic. By @seanthenewsboy buff.ly/LHODHJf

Sexual abuse allegations against federal prison staff are rising, but most cases still end without a finding as investigators face staffing gaps, backlogs and weak oversight, according to GAO. Reporting by @EricM_Katz: buff.ly/5KOMpWg

Shutdowns may end on paper, but for some feds the credit damage lingers. Senate Dems want to change that with a bill to block shutdown-related hits to credit scores and give workers a clean way to fix them after the fact. Erich Wagner explains: buff.ly/nilamMR #shutdown

The 2015 #OPM breach is still hitting the federal workforce. Now, identity protection services are reaching their 10-year limit and expiring, leaving affected employees to decide whether to keep coverage. By @EricM_Katz @ddimolfetta buff.ly/iBo561R

A DOJ opinion is pushing #USPS to loosen handgun shipping rules, and one House Dem is raising 🚩. @RepMaxwellFrost is pressing for answers on enforcement, security and how this would square with state laws before any change moves forward. buff.ly/fPZ9KpO

FEMA is reversing course and bringing back about 200 disaster staff it let go, citing hurricane season and major events ahead, as a lawsuit over the cuts keeps turning up new questions about how those decisions were made. By @EricM_Katz buff.ly/OWoBu1A #FEMA

COMMENTARY: The question after the Trump-era upheaval isn’t how to restore the old system, but how to rebuild a better one. Bring back lost capacity, fix broken processes, and design govt that actually works. Not 2023 restored, but something stronger. buff.ly/H1YCz0C

Turning 65 brings a flood of #Medicare advice, much of it wrong. What looks expensive upfront can change how much you actually pay over time. Here’s what federal retirees should really weigh before deciding. #retirementplanning" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">buff.ly/lFdekuc#retire…

USDA is moving food assistance staff out of DC and regional offices into new hubs. Officials say it will improve service. Workers warn many won’t relocate, and #SNAP and #WIC could break if the workforce walks. @EricM_Katz explains: buff.ly/lSIvV27 #USDA