Latest news with #federalAgencies
The Independent
2 days ago
- Business
- The Independent
DOGE promised to make government more efficient. Workers say they are wasting more time than ever
Staff across federal agencies said that red tape implemented by the Department of Government Efficiency is wasting more time than ever. Workers at 19 agencies revealed how sweeping changes brought in by DOGE — Elon Musk 's team that pledged to eliminate waste, fraud and abuse — have instead resulted in delays for the most basic transactions and projects put on hold for months, The Washington Post reports. 'People are so demoralized, anxious and sleep deprived,' a NASA employee told the outlet. 'Nobody is working at top efficiency.' Employees at the State Department, Social Security Administration, National Institutes of Health and the Federal Aviation Administration were among those feeling the strain as DOGE laid off staff and brought in new hurdles, impacting financial and policy protocols. One staffer at the State Department told The Post that hiring an international vendor for an event required multiple layers of additional sign off because of the administration's requirement to eradicate diversity, equity and inclusion from government. The vendor refused to sign paperwork confirming that it did not promote DEI, resulting in the staffer having to go through several rounds of sign-off to secure the contract. The process would have typically taken a day but instead took an entire week, according to the outlet. In response, the State Department told The Post that it would 'never apologize for putting processes in place to ensure taxpayer dollars are used correctly.' While many federal workers told the newspaper they supported scrutiny of how the government spends taxpayer money, the reality was running 'counter to the goal of efficiency.' An employee at the Federal Aviation Authority said that the new process for payment systems means that staff must now write statements justifying all expenditures, from bigger expenses to ordering pens and pencils. It has slowed down the process of getting windows cleaned at air traffic control towers, the employee said. Purchase orders that would take 15 to 20 minutes now take up to 2 hours. 'These are things that people don't think about, but clean windows are crucial for controllers,' the employee told the outlet. Meanwhile at some parts of the National Institutes of Health, one staffer revealed that grants must be fed through an AI tool to detect references to 'DEI, transgender, China or vaccine hesitancy.' Staff must also check that grant recipients are not on the list of institutions that President Donald Trump has targeted, including Harvard, Changes at the Social Security Administration pushed through by DOGE are also causing 'chaos' after the team reassigned central-office workers to take lower-level positions, according to The Post. In February, the agency outlined plans to cut 7,000 jobs. Staff are 'overburdened' as they have reportedly been taken off normal duties in order to train new staffers. 'You now have half the staff with very little knowledge of how to do the work,' a relocated staffer told the outlet. 'And the other half of staff overwhelmed with work and unable to really train or mentor these new folks.' The agency said that the reassignment of approximately 2,000 staff 'has not caused disruptions.' A statement said the reassignment of the staffers would 'further accelerate the progress the agency is making.' Responding to the claims made in The Post 's reporting, White House spokesman Harrison Fields said that 'President Trump is curbing government waste and reforming a system that has long burdened American taxpayers' through DOGE. 'Anyone resistant to these critical reforms has had ample opportunity to step aside, but the work of DOGE will press forward unobstructed,' he added.
Reuters
6 days ago
- Business
- Reuters
Trump administration bans use of race, sex data in federal hiring
May 29 (Reuters) - The Trump administration told federal agencies on Thursday to halt the use of statistics on race, sex, ethnicity or national origin in the hiring process, marking its latest effort to extinguish use of diversity, equity and inclusion programs. The directive was part of a broader set of guidelines sent to human resources leaders at government agencies fleshing out an executive order, opens new tab signed by President Donald Trump in January aimed at "restoring merit" to the center of the hiring process. All hiring and promotion decisions must be based "solely on merit, qualifications and job-related criteria — not race, sex, color, religion, or national origin," the memo from the Office of Personnel Management on Thursday said. The memo further ordered human resources leaders to "cease using statistics on race, sex, ethnicity or national origin, or the broader concept of 'underrepresentation' of certain groups," in relation to recruiting or hiring. The memo also said dissemination of such data was banned. The directive is the latest move by Trump to undermine diversity and inclusion programs, many of which have been in place for decades in an effort to remedy historical injustices for marginalized groups. Trump and his allies have called such programs anti-merit and discriminatory against white people and men. Advocates and experts have said racial or gender data collection, which has long been a standard across the federal government and many private sector U.S. companies, is a necessary tool to identify inequities or potential discrimination within hiring practices. The OPM memo also said government agencies have been too focused "on elite universities and credentials, instead of merit, practical skill, and commitment to American ideals." In addition to hiring veterans and individuals with backgrounds in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, agencies should recruit more young people from state universities, religious colleges, trade schools, faith organizations and homeschooling groups, the memo says. "Going forward, agencies shall ensure that early career recruitment focuses on patriotic Americans who will faithfully adhere to the Constitution and the rule of law," the memo says.
Fast Company
27-05-2025
- Business
- Fast Company
The return-to-office mandate is here. So is the open office. One has to go.
It's official: The era of remote work flexibility is over. From Fortune 100 companies to federal agencies, employees are being summoned back to office towers and cubicles under sweeping return-to-work (RTO) mandates. According to a January 2025 survey by Resume Builder, nine in ten companies will require workers back in the office by the end of the year, with 30% already enforcing full five-day, in-office schedules. The problem? We've failed to consider what employees lose when they leave their home workspaces behind. The office doesn't just move—it takes away employees' control over their environment. At home, employees discovered something revolutionary: control. They could adjust the lighting. Lower the noise. Choose their chair, temperature, background music, and even the scent of their workspace. For the first time, people could truly customize their environment to optimize their productivity. And it worked. Studies show employees working from home report lower stress, better focus, and higher productivity. But when they return to standardized open layouts complete with bright overhead lights, echoing voices, and a one-size-fits-all desk, they don't just lose flexibility; they lose the ability to perform at their best. For neurodiverse individuals, the consequences are even more acute. People with sensory sensitivities and learning differences such as ADHD, autism, anxiety, and dyslexia may find traditional offices overwhelming, disorienting, even paralyzing. In fact, 40% of neurodiverse individuals remain unemployed, often because the workspace itself is the barrier. A few years ago, I walked into a client's office and saw rows of open desks, bright overhead lighting, people chatting all around, and I instantly thought, 'There's no way I could work here.' As someone with dyslexia and ADHD, these environments have always been a challenge. I used to spend hours trying to find quiet corners, using noise-canceling headphones just to focus, or even working odd hours at home where I could control my space. That was a lightbulb moment for me: The modern office isn't designed for everyone—and certainly not for people like me. We talk a lot about square footage, seating charts, and collaboration spaces, but rarely do we talk about airflow, acoustics, texture, or privacy control. Yet these are the levers that most directly affect how people feel and perform at work. And research backs this up: Biophilic design —the integration of natural elements like plants, wood textures, and natural light— reduces stress by 30% and boosts cognitive function by 15%. Adjustable lighting and noise levels help people maintain focus, especially those with sensory sensitivities. Personalized workspaces help employees stay more engaged, more productive, and twice as likely to stay with their employer. These aren't luxury features. They are performance infrastructure that unlock human potential. IF YOU WANT A PEACEFUL AND EFFICIENT TRANSITION BACK TO OFFICE, GIVE EMPLOYEES CONTROL Return-to-office doesn't have to be a loss. It can be a gain. But only if we rethink how the office functions. It's time to move away from rigid, standardized layouts and instead design environments that adapt to the employee—not the other way around. That means letting go of the idea that more desks equals more work, or that open layouts naturally lead to collaboration. In reality, employees need environments that help them stay focused, manage stress, and feel comfortable being themselves. We've spent the last five years learning what people need to be productive. They need flexibility, sensory awareness, and control over their space. Ignoring those lessons now won't bring back the old office culture—it will just breed resentment and churn. Let's stop asking workers to leave their best work conditions behind. Instead, let's meet them halfway with offices that reflect what we've learned: Control is not a perk—it's a prerequisite for performance. As we usher in a new era of work, let's not default to old environments. Let's create spaces where everyone—not just the neurotypical, not just the extroverts—can thrive. Because when we design for the extreme, we uplift the mean.
Arab News
06-05-2025
- Business
- Arab News
Columbia University lays off nearly 180 after Trump pulled $400M over his antisemitism concerns
Columbia University lays off nearly 180 after Trump pulled $400M over his antisemitism concerns /node/2599809/world Trump hopes India-Pakistan clashes end 'very quickly' /node/2599808/world Trump hopes India-Pakistan clashes end 'very quickly' Updated 36 sec ago May 07, 2025 01:13 Topics: Trump Returns US India Pakistan Germany's Merz vows to be 'very European' chancellor /node/2599806/world Germany's Merz vows to be 'very European' chancellor Updated 12 min 20 sec ago May 07, 2025 01:04 US judge blocks Trump from shuttering three small federal agencies /node/2599805/world US judge blocks Trump from shuttering three small federal agencies Updated 16 min 59 sec ago May 07, 2025 00:57 US judge blocks Trump from shuttering three small federal agencies Updated 16 min 59 sec ago Reuters May 07, 2025 00:57 A federal judge on Tuesday blocked President Donald Trump's administration from firing workers and taking other steps to shut down federal agencies that fund museums and libraries, mediate labor disputes and support minority-owned businesses. US District Judge John McConnell in Providence, Rhode Island, agreed with 21 mostly Democrat-led states that Trump's March executive order directing that the agencies effectively be wiped out violated the US Constitution. 'This executive order ... ignores the unshakable principles that Congress makes the law and appropriates funds, and the Executive implements the law Congress enacted and spends the funds Congress appropriated,' wrote McConnell, an appointee of Democratic former President Barack Obama. The judge halted Trump's order from being implemented at the US Institute of Museum and Library Services, the Minority Business Development Agency, and the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service pending the outcome of the case. McConnell did not order the agencies to take any specific steps. The judge told the states to consult with the Trump administration and submit a more detailed order for his approval. Trump in his order directed that those agencies and four others be reduced 'to the minimum presence and function required by law.' A judge in Washington, D.C. last week had separately blocked the museum and library agency from being shut down. White House spokesman Davis Ingle said McConnell had defied US Supreme Court precedent by blocking Trump from closing elements of the federal bureaucracy. 'The lower court's outrageous order will not be the last say on the matter,' Ingle said in a statement. Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha, a Democrat whose office is leading the lawsuit, called the decision a critical win for the public. 'When the Trump Administration attempts to dismantle these agencies, it is making a targeted, concerted effort to prohibit everyday people from accessing their full potential,' Neronha said in a statement. Trump's executive order was part of his broader effort to dramatically shrink the federal government and slash government spending. Tens of thousands of federal workers have been fired, placed on leave indefinitely or accepted buyouts to leave their jobs. At the three agencies involved in Tuesday's case, virtually all employees were placed on administrative leave shortly after Trump issued his executive order, according to court filings. The states in their lawsuit filed in April say that because Congress created the agencies and set their funding levels, Trump had no power to order that their work be halted. McConnell on Tuesday agreed. Federal law includes a mechanism for the president to return unneeded funding to Congress, the judge said, but Trump failed to follow that process. State libraries and museums have abandoned programs and implemented hiring freezes, business development offices are curbing training and other support programs, and state agencies have fewer options to mediate disputes with unions, McConnell said. North Korea's Kim Jong Un inspects munitions plants, lauds increased shell production /node/2599803/world North Korea's Kim Jong Un inspects munitions plants, lauds increased shell production Updated 25 min 3 sec ago May 07, 2025 00:51
