Latest news with #U.S.OfficeofPersonnelManagement
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Trump administration moves to fast-track firings of federal workers for misconduct
By Daniel Wiessner (Reuters) -President Donald Trump's administration moved on Tuesday to make it easier to fire federal employees for misconduct, the latest step in a broader effort to overhaul the civil service and shrink the federal bureaucracy. The U.S. Office of Personnel Management published a proposed rule that would allow the office, which acts as the federal government's human resources department, to direct other agencies to fire employees for conduct such as tax evasion, leaking sensitive information and refusing to testify in other workers' disciplinary cases. The rule would extend OPM's existing power to designate job applicants as unsuitable for federal employment, to current federal employees, a change it said was necessary to hold government workers accountable to the public. Federal workers have for decades been covered by an array of job protections, including the ability to contest firings by engaging in a lengthy administrative process. The proposal would allow agencies to refer misconduct cases to OPM instead of going through the traditional disciplinary process. If OPM determines that removal of an employee is required, an agency would have five days to terminate them. "Illogically, the government has far greater ability to bar someone from federal employment who has committed a serious crime or misconduct in the past than it does to remove someone who engages in the exact same behavior as a federal employee," OPM said in the proposal. The publication of the proposal kicked off a 30-day public comment period. Since Trump's second term began in January, the administration has moved aggressively to shrink the federal bureaucracy, including directing mass firings and layoffs and implementing changes to the civil service. Many of those policies have been met with court challenges and some have been temporarily blocked by judges. OPM, which is closely linked to the White House, has played a key role in those efforts by attempting to give Trump more direct control of the federal workforce. Many unions, Democrats and advocacy groups have said Trump's various policies violate complex federal civil service and labor laws meant to regulate government employment and ensure that federal workers are insulated from political influence. OPM on Tuesday said the policies agencies have followed for decades rely on overly cumbersome and restrictive procedures that protect misconduct. "This arbitrary state of affairs seriously impairs the efficiency, effectiveness, and public perception of the Federal service," the agency said.
Hindustan Times
6 hours ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Trump administration moves to fast-track firings of federal workers for misconduct
* Federal workers' job protections face potential changes under new rule * Unions and Democrats argue policies violate civil service and labor laws * OPM proposal initiates 30-day public comment period * Trump administration aims to shrink federal bureaucracy June 3 - President Donald Trump's administration moved on Tuesday to make it easier to fire federal employees for misconduct, the latest step in a broader effort to overhaul the civil service and shrink the federal bureaucracy. The U.S. Office of Personnel Management published a proposed rule that would allow the office, which acts as the federal government's human resources department, to direct other agencies to fire employees for conduct such as tax evasion, leaking sensitive information and refusing to testify in other workers' disciplinary cases. The rule would extend OPM's existing power to designate job applicants as unsuitable for federal employment, to current federal employees, a change it said was necessary to hold government workers accountable to the public. Federal workers have for decades been covered by an array of job protections, including the ability to contest firings by engaging in a lengthy administrative process. The proposal would allow agencies to refer misconduct cases to OPM instead of going through the traditional disciplinary process. If OPM determines that removal of an employee is required, an agency would have five days to terminate them. "Illogically, the government has far greater ability to bar someone from federal employment who has committed a serious crime or misconduct in the past than it does to remove someone who engages in the exact same behavior as a federal employee," OPM said in the proposal. The publication of the proposal kicked off a 30-day public comment period. Since Trump's second term began in January, the administration has moved aggressively to shrink the federal bureaucracy, including directing mass firings and layoffs and implementing changes to the civil service. Many of those policies have been met with court challenges and some have been temporarily blocked by judges. OPM, which is closely linked to the White House, has played a key role in those efforts by attempting to give Trump more direct control of the federal workforce. Many unions, Democrats and advocacy groups have said Trump's various policies violate complex federal civil service and labor laws meant to regulate government employment and ensure that federal workers are insulated from political influence. OPM on Tuesday said the policies agencies have followed for decades rely on overly cumbersome and restrictive procedures that protect misconduct. "This arbitrary state of affairs seriously impairs the efficiency, effectiveness, and public perception of the Federal service," the agency said.
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Trump Administration Makes New Federal Employees Write Essays to Prove MAGA Loyalty
New hiring guidelines from the U.S. Office of Personnel Management reveal that government applicants will have to answer four 200-word essay questions to be considered for a job in the Trump administration. Questions include an inquiry into which of Trump's executive orders have been "significant" to their lives. Trump implemented a government-hiring freeze upon his inauguration on Jan. 20, which is expected to be lifted on July 15. While the first four months of President Donald Trump's second term have been characterized by mass layoffs and hiring freezes, the government is about to start accepting new employees — with one major new requirement. The U.S. Office of Personnel Management laid out the guidelines for hopeful applicants in a May 29 memo. In keeping with Trump's rejection of diversity, equity and inclusion hiring practices, the memo stresses that the 'Merit Hiring Plan' focuses on 'skills-based hiring, eliminating unnecessary degree requirements, and requiring the use of rigorous, job-related assessments to ensure candidates are selected based on their merit and competence, not their skin color or academic pedigree.' One of those "assessments," the memo explains, is four 200-word essay questions each applicant must answer in order to prove that they would be a good fit for the Trump administration. The questions, particularly the third, ask the applicant to prove their mettle not only through personal qualification, but also with an ideological alignment with the administration's existing policies. Read the full essay questions below:How has your commitment to the Constitution and the founding principles of the United States inspired you to pursue this role within the Federal government? Provide a concrete example from professional, academic, or personal experience. In this role, how would you use your skills and experience to improve government efficiency and effectiveness? Provide specific examples where you improved processes, reduced costs, or improved outcomes. How would you help advance the President's Executive Orders and policy priorities in this role? Identify one or two relevant Executive Orders or policy initiatives that are significant to you, and explain how you would help implement them if hired. How has a strong work ethic contributed to your professional, academic or personal achievements? Provide one or two specific examples, and explain how those qualities would enable you to serve effectively in this his inauguration on Jan. 20, Trump implemented a federal hiring freeze, which he later extended to July 15. In February, he issued another executive order implementing a 'workforce optimization initiative" with the assistance of the Department of Government Efficiency, which was headed by Elon Musk until recently. The order explained that, when the hiring freeze was lifted, government agencies were to hire only one employee for each four that had left or been laid off. Following that order and several others reflecting the administration's plan to 'prioritize recruitment of individuals committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution,' 21 DOGE employees submitted their resignations. The employees claimed that, beginning one day after Trump's inauguration, they had been taken in for 15-minute interviews with individuals wearing White House visitor badges, who refused to identify themselves and 'asked questions about political loyalty, attempted to pit colleagues against each other, and demonstrated limited technical ability.' 'We will not use our skills as technologists to compromise core government systems, jeopardize Americans' sensitive data, or dismantle critical public services,' the letter continued. 'We will not lend our expertise to carry out or legitimize DOGE's actions.' For his part, Musk left the White House on Friday, May 30, as his 130-day limit as a special government employee had come to an end. On his way out, the tech billionaire also issued some criticisms of Trump's administration, claiming that the president's touted 'Big Beautiful Bill' was set to undermine all the work he'd done at DOGE. 'I was disappointed to see the massive spending bill, frankly, which increases the budget deficit, not just decreases it, and undermines the work that the DOGE team is doing,' he told CBS Sunday Morning in an interview that aired on June 1. The "Big, Beautiful Bill" is funding its tax cuts and military spending in part by cutting some federal health and energy programs. However, it is also poised to add an estimated $3.8 trillion to the national deficit, according to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office. 'I think a bill can be big or it can be beautiful, but I don't know if it can be both," Musk said. Read the original article on People
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
What day is Memorial Day 2025? Is Memorial Day a federal holiday? Here's what to know
In 2025, Memorial Day is on Monday, May 26. But what does the day actually signify? And what's closed on the holiday? Here's everything you need to know about the holiday ahead of Memorial Day weekend. Yes, in the United States, Memorial Day is a federal holiday and always commemorated on the last Monday in May. It is one of 12 federal holidays in 2025, according to the U.S. Office of Personnel Management. Government offices, schools, banks and financial markets are typically closed on federal holidays. Yes. According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the U.S. flag should be displayed at half-staff until noon on Memorial Day. In Washington, Gov. Bob Ferguson will direct the flag be lowered to half-staff from sunrise to noon on Memorial Day, according to the governor's website. The difference between half-staff and half-mast depends on where the flag flies. The terms are often used interchangeably, but half-staff refers to a flag hanging halfway up on a flag pole on land, while half-mast pertains to a flag flying halfway up the mast on a ship at sea. Memorial Day is a day on which Americans honor the nation's military members who died in service to the country, according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. It is observed on the last Monday in May. The president is requested to issue a proclamation each year calling on the people of the United States to "observe Memorial Day by praying, according to their individual religious faith, for permanent peace," according to a joint resolution approved by Congress. In 2020, President Donald Trump's proclamation said Memorial Day is a time to honor the nation's "fallen warriors" and "pause in quiet reverence to reflect on the incredible dedication of these valiant men and women and their families, invoking divine Providence as we continue pursuing our noble goal of lasting peace for the world." Here are the federal holidays in 2025, according to the U.S. Office of Personnel Management: Wednesday, Jan. 1: New Year's Day Monday, Jan. 20: Birthday of Martin Luther King Jr. Monday, Jan. 20: Inauguration Day Monday, Feb. 17: Washington's Birthday Monday, May 26: Memorial Day Thursday, June 19: Juneteenth National Independence Day Friday, July 4: Independence Day Monday, Sept. 1: Labor Day Monday, Oct. 13: Columbus Day Tuesday, Nov. 11: Veterans Day Thursday, Nov. 27: Thanksgiving Day Thursday, Dec. 25: Christmas Day Here are the dates for the 2025 state holidays in Washington, according to the Washington State Department of Revenue: Wednesday, Jan. 1: New Year's Day Monday, Jan. 20: Martin Luther King Jr. Day Monday, Feb. 17: Presidents Day Monday, May 26: Memorial Day Thursday, June 19: Juneteenth Day Friday, July 4: Independence Day Monday, Sept. 1: Labor Day Tuesday, Nov. 11: Veterans Day Thursday, Nov. 27: Thanksgiving Day Friday, Nov. 28: Native American Heritage Day Thursday, Dec. 25: Christmas Day Contributing: USA TODAY Network, USA TODAY This article originally appeared on Kitsap Sun: When is Memorial Day weekend 2025? Is Memorial Day a federal holiday?
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Trump Wants To Hide His Mass Layoff Plans For Federal Workers
The Trump administration is trying to keep a lid on its scheme to lay off thousands of workers across the federal government. On Sunday, the Justice Department asked for a protective order in federal court so officials would not have to divulge details of their looming 'reductions in force,' or RIFs. Those potentially massive job cuts are expected to hit agencies throughout the bureaucracy in the coming weeks. A group of labor unions and nonprofits recently filed a lawsuit alleging the imminent layoffs and restructurings are illegal, and a judge on Friday issued a restraining order temporarily blocking them. As part of her ruling, U.S. District Judge Susan Illston, of the Northern District of California, ordered the administration to cough up the details of its plans by Tuesday. Making the plans public could reveal the rationale behind specific cuts and whether officials are lawfully following the rules around reorganizing federal agencies. As the unions and nonprofits put it in their complaint, 'The American people have a right to know what their President is doing to dismantle their federal government.' But the White House is trying to keep the plans secret, claiming they include 'highly sensitive information' and that disclosing them would 'irreparably harm' the Office of Management and Budget and the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, two agencies at the center of Trump's government-cutting agenda. The White House instructed federal agencies to submit the first phase of their downsizing plans by March 13 and the second by April 14. Although some have leaked out, the administration has not made any of those plans public, despite requests from unions, the media and Democrats on Capitol Hill. In some cases the layoffs have already started. Illston, an appointee of former President Bill Clinton, noted in her order that the administration's planned cuts 'largely remain secret' and that they 'flow from likely illegal directives' from the Trump administration. As the unions and nonprofits put it in their complaint, 'The American people have a right to know what their President is doing to dismantle their federal government.' The lawsuit revolves around the question of whether Trump exceeded his constitutional powers by trying to carry out mass layoffs throughout the government unilaterally. The law allows for agencies to pursue reductions in force, but unions argue — and Illston agreed — that what Trump is doing goes beyond what's allowed without authorization from Congress. The reductions are a key component of Trump's overall scheme to downsize the government and shrink the federal workforce without lawmakers' approval. Other strategies have varied in their success. Many workers have accepted the White House's 'deferred resignation' offer to leave their jobs and remain on the payroll through September, but the administration's efforts to fire tens of thousands of probationary federal workers have been stymied in court, at least temporarily. A key legal question in the case against Trump's reductions in force is whether federal agencies are drawing up their own plans according to established rules, or simply following Trump's orders and trying to fulfill his wishes. The administration has claimed the agencies are acting independent of the White House — something Illston wasn't buying. 'The evidence [the unions] have presented paints a very different picture: that the agencies are acting at the direction of the President and his team,' she wrote. Are you a federal employee with something to share? You can find our reporter on Signal at davejamieson.99 or him.
