Civilians
Senior officers advised Hegseth to keep civilian-protection program. He axed it anyway
The U.S. military has killed hundreds of noncombatants since gutting its Civilian Harm Mitigation and Response mission. The blowback may lead to a partial restoration.
New calls for lawmakers to override Trump’s anti-union EO at the Pentagon
Last year, the Senate blocked a House measure to halt ban on collective bargaining at the Defense Department and other agencies.
OPM proposes requiring all feds to sign an NDA
Experts warned the measure, when combined with the federal HR agency’s new power to target employees’ suitability for federal employment, creates a new pathway for Trump administration officials to purge those deemed insufficiently loyal to the president.
West Pointers can be trained to better evaluate, appreciate AI, study finds
New research may point the way to harnessing AI’s potential on the battlefield—and in society.
Exclusive
Hegseth orders ‘ruthless’ review of JAGs. Some see an attempt to evade accountability
Current and former military lawyers question the secretary’s motives and timing.
Exclusive
A year into Hegseth’s cuts, defense civilians report ‘degraded performance’ and low morale
And the hiring freeze is still keeping overseas civilians from taking new jobs stateside.
The quantum curtain
What if citizens get unbreakable encryption? Welcome to the latest edition of Fictional Intelligence.
Why the US went to war without a plan to evacuate DOD civilians, contractors, and others
A diplomatic veteran cites operational secrecy—and describes how things might have gone better.
After shedding thousands of feds, Trump admin's new 'Tech Force' aims to recruit workers to two-year jobs
Some of the recruits to government service will be on leaves of absence from private-sector companies, raising conflict-of-interest questions.
Provision to protect DOD civilians’ union rights stripped from NDAA
The House dropped bipartisan language that would have nullified Trump's anti-union orders after the Senate balked at a fight.
Foreign spies see opportunity in fed workers' uncertainty, Army warns
The service's deputy chief for intelligence told more than a million soldiers, civilian employees, and family members to be on their guard.
Feds should get at least most backpay by Nov. 19, administration says
Lawmakers added a provision for full backpay after the White House suggested it might illegally prevent workers from getting their money.
‘Cautious’ optimism follows top warship builder’s productivity, workforce wins
For HII, higher wages attracted seasoned shipyard workers and boosted retention.
Memo lays out path to removing even more defense civilians from their jobs
The department, which has met its 8-percent overall reduction goal, is now going after “low performers.”
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Defense civilians, other feds abroad fret about making rent during shutdown
Some employees say their foreign landlords have little sympathy for their “U.S. issue.”
