Workforce news
DailyFED's workforce section covers news about federal jobs themselves: the yearly pay raise, reductions in force and separation offers, shutdowns and back pay, telework and return-to-office policy, hiring and personnel rules. Each story links to the guide or data page that explains what it means for you.
September20255 stories
- OPM Implements Forced Distribution for SES Performance RatingsThe Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has finalized a significant rule that introduces forced distribution into the performance evaluations of Senior Executive Service (SES)...
- POPVOX Launches Departure Dialogues for Federal EmployeesThe federal government is filled with programs that shape the daily lives of Americans, yet the people most familiar with how those programs actually work often leave public...
- The “Rule of Many”: A New Era for Federal HiringThe Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has officially replaced the long-standing “rule of three” with the new “rule of many,” marking a significant overhaul in how federal...
- Looming U.S. Government ShutdownAs the September 30 funding deadline nears, the U.S.
- Alternative Pay Plan Defies Anticipated Pay FreezePresident Donald Trump issued the 2026 Alternative Pay Plan Letter on August 28, 2025, outlining pay adjustments for civilian federal employees under the General Schedule and...
August202511 stories
- Roots of Labor Day Resonate as Federal Workers Lose ProtectionsLabor Day, celebrated on the first Monday in September, is more than just the unofficial end of summer; it’s a holiday rooted in the fight for workers’ rights.
- America By Design: Airbnb Co-Founder to Lead Federal OverhaulJoe Gebbia, Airbnb co-founder and Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) associate, was recently appointed the United States’ first Chief Design Officer by President Trump.
- Trump’s 2026 Federal Pay Freeze Plan Nears DeadlineAs the August 31, 2025, deadline approaches, President Donald Trump is expected to issue an alternative pay plan that could result in a federal pay freeze for 2026.
- FEVS Canceled, Presidential Rank Awards RestartedIn a series of moves aimed at overhauling federal personnel management, the Trump administration has canceled the 2025 Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey (FEVS) while announcing...
- The Social Security Act Turns 90Social Security, officially the Social Security Act, was signed into law on August 14, 1935, by President Franklin D.
- Appeals Court Clears Path for CFPB LayoffsIn a significant ruling on August 15, 2025, the U.S.
- Recent News Affecting Federal EmployeesICE Recruiting Former Federal Employees ICE is aggressively recruiting former federal employees as part of a $76.5 billion expansion, with roughly $30 billion dedicated to hiring.
- Federal Workforce Cuts: Financial Fallout, Capacity Concerns, and New Leave RulesThe federal workforce is undergoing sweeping reductions, triggering debate over the long-term costs and operational consequences.
- VA Cuts Ties with Unions, Sparking UproarOn August 6, 2025, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) ended collective bargaining agreements with unions representing 377,000 employees, 80% of its 483,000-person...
- Appeals Courts Uphold Executive Order Curbing Federal UnionsFederal unions suffered a major setback this summer as two appeals courts cleared the way for the Trump administration’s executive order limiting collective bargaining rights...
- How the Merit Hiring Plan Changes Federal EmploymentThe 2025 Merit Hiring Plan, enacted through an executive order in January 2025, significantly transforms federal hiring practices, emphasizing skills, merit, and constitutional...
July20254 stories
- New Director to Oversee OPM TransformationScott Kupor, sworn in as Director of the OPM on July 14, 2025, brings nearly 30 years of private-sector experience, primarily as a managing partner at Andreessen Horowitz, a...
- Appeals Court Overturns Judge’s Order to Disclose ARRPsThe U.S.
- Trump Administration Defies Court Order on Federal RIF PlansIn an ongoing legal battle over federal workforce restructuring, the Trump administration has refused to comply with a court order to disclose RIF plans, even as several...
- Senate Passes Rescissions ActThe U.S.
What we cover here
- Pay. The proposed and final yearly raise, locality changes and new pay tables.
- RIFs and offers. Reductions in force, VERA and VSIP announcements.
- Shutdowns. Furlough rules and back pay.
- Workplace policy. Telework, return to office, hiring and personnel rules.
- Time off. Extra days off granted by executive order.
The rules behind the headlines
Look up current pay on the GS pay scale page and this year's federal holidays.
When the news affects your job
A RIF notice or a separation offer brings decisions with deadlines. A Federal Retirement Consultant (FRC®) can help you see what each option means for your retirement. Get matched with an FRC, free.
More sections: all news · retirement · benefits · TSP
