Policy

Shutdown poised to drag into next week as layoff threat looms

Senate once again fails to approve spending bill and the two sides remain far divided.

Exclusive Policy

More than 60K defense civilians have left under Hegseth—but officials are mum on the effects

Months into a hastily ordered overhaul, officials declined to disclose metrics, discuss problems.

Threats

DOGE risks Americans’ data by operating outside federal law, Democrats say

A report released by the Senate Homeland Committee's ranking member says lax security practices cause “serious cybersecurity vulnerabilities, privacy violations, and risk of corruption.”

Ideas

‘The Bomb Lady’ shows how immigrants power national defense

Just when the United States should be nurturing this source of strength, we are doing the opposite.

Ideas

To build 'peace through strength,' restore this pillar of US power

Administration cuts are breaking the federal-academic partnership that incubates U.S. technology and talent.

Policy

Mass layoffs are imminent, State Department tells employees

The diplomatic agency is poised to be the first to move forward with SCOTUS-blessed RIFs.

Ideas

Is gun violence depressing military recruiting?

Perhaps the problem is not that young people are insufficiently patriotic, but that they have been fighting a war, daily, for their entire lives. 

Policy

Ready, slash, aim: USAID-State merger proceeding without key plans, IG finds

State set hiring goals without a strategy, began the merger without finishing the plan, and is slated to dismiss an oversight board before the effort is complete, the inspector general found.

Policy

What will DOD civilians do at the border? The Pentagon won’t say.

The Defense Department declined to provide any details on Monday’s order to provide support to DHS.

Threats

'The federal government is gone': Under Trump, fighting extremist violence is up to the states

Security officials and extremism researchers say federal coordination for preventing terrorism and targeted violence has evaporated.

Policy

Hegseth halves staff of Pentagon’s testing-oversight office

The move may reduce the quality of DOT&E’s second opinions, but may not affect safety, former officials said.

Policy

Space Force losing 14% of its civilian workers

That’s more than other military branches, and it means the service will end the year with nearly 1,000 fewer people than expected.

Breaking News Policy

State to slash 15% of domestic staff, eliminate 132 offices

Layoffs are expected by July 1. No overseas posts are yet affected.

Policy

There’s no more DEI at DOD, watchdog finds

But most of the roles were eliminated last year by an act of Congress.

Updated Policy

DOD, other agencies may once again fire probationary employees en masse, court rules

An appeals court removed a stay on Wednesday, echoing a Supreme Court ruling one day earlier.

Breaking News Policy

Pentagon can re-fire some probationary workers, Supreme Court says

High court says non-profits who sued to block firings lacked standing—but a second lawsuit is still pending.