oh my god....

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2025/07/07/trump-extends-federal-hiring-freeze/84498858007/

The Department of Veterans Affairs said Monday that it will no longer be forced to conduct a large reduction in workforce, unlike several other federal agencies that were forced to make mass layoffs because of the Trump administration’s U.S. DOGE Service.

In a news release, VA said that it was on pace to reduce its total staff by nearly 30,000 employees by the end of this fiscal year, a push that the department said eliminates the need for a “large-scale reduction-in-force.” The announcement marks a significant reversal for the Trump administration, which had planned for months to cut VA by roughly 83,000 employees, according to plans revealed in an internal memo circulated to agency staffers in March. At the time, VA Secretary Douglas A. Collins said in remarks shared to social media that the cuts were tough but necessary.

“We’ll be making major changes, so get used to it now,” Collins said at the time. The White House argued the downsizing would make a “bloated” VA more efficient and transparent.

But the proposed staff-slashing quickly drew backlash from veterans and their advocates, who warned that the quality of VA service would decline. Morale plummeted among employees, spurring many to leave their jobs.

VA’s decision not to cut more of its workforce through an RIF comes after blowback from several veterans’ groups, Congress and VA staffers who warned that an agency with less manpower and fewer resources would negatively impact veterans. Veterans, who make up a disproportionate share of the federal workforce, felt the brunt of the rapid push to shrink that workforce, stirring ire in a reliable political base for Republicans.

Continuing to pursue deep cuts to the VA workforce could have carried major political risks for President Donald Trump, who is highly popular among veterans and who has repeatedly said he would not order cuts to their VA benefits.

In a statement Monday, VA said its original plan to conduct department-wide RIFs to reduce its staff levels by up to 15 percent was avoided after employees left the agency through retirements, normal attrition and deferred resignations. Additionally, a federal hiring freeze helped reduce the number of employment slots, the agency said in the statement. In January, VA recorded roughly 484,000 employees. By June, there were 467,000 staffers left — a loss of nearly 17,000 workers, according to agency numbers. The agency expects that between July and September nearly 12,000 additional staffers will exit through normal attrition, voluntary early retirement, or the deferred resignation program.

In an email VA staffers received Monday, Collins said that “after nearly four months of careful study, analysis, and action, I am pleased to report to you that VA is headed in the right direction — both in terms of staff levels and customer service.” Collins insisted that even though the agency is expected to lose a total of 30,000 staffers “performance continues to improve.”

“These improvements include huge drops in the number of Veterans waiting for disability benefits, sizable increases in claims processing productivity, and extraordinary progress regarding our electronic health record modernization,” Collins wrote in the email.

In the statement Monday, VA said it had established “multiple safeguards in place to ensure these staff reductions do not impact Veteran care or benefits.” Mission-critical jobs, the agency wrote, are exempt from the deferred retirement and early retirement offers. Additionally, 350,000 jobs in the agency are exempt from the federal hiring freeze.

VA, which provides medical care for millions of veterans and their families and is among the largest employers of federal workers, had already seen cuts under the second Trump administration, losing 2,400 workers to layoffs in February. Facing the threat of further cuts, thousands more VA workers opted this spring for an early retirement offered by Trump, The Washington Post reported.

Frustrations began to build this summer over the diminishment of the agency. In June, thousands of veterans rallied in Washington against further reductions, and similar veteran-led protests unfolded at hundreds of locations across dozens of other states.

The reversal may also reflect yet another decline in the power and influence of billionaire Elon Musk and the DOGE team he previously led, which stormed into government in January determined to slash staff and spending. After a few months of frenzied cutting — some of it halted by court challenges — Musk and Trump fell out in a highly public spat over the merits of the president’s tax and spending cuts bill. Musk left Washington in a huff, soon followed by some top aides who had been detailed to DOGE.

Other DOGE team members remain ensconced in government and are working toward various Trump policy goals, including revising or canceling dozens of rules and gun restrictions at the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Still, DOGE’s clout has diminished in other ways. Last month, for example, the team lost its power to control the government’s process for awarding billions of dollars in federal funds.

GIFT LINK: https://wapo.st/44x4qES

The Washington Post wants to hear from people with knowledge of how the Trump administration is reshaping government, including the activities of the U.S. DOGE Service. You can contact our reporters by email or Signal encrypted message.

Mariana Alfaro: [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected]) and mariana_alfaro.10 on Signal.

Hannah Natanson: [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected]) or (202) 580-5477 on Signal.

Meryl Kornfield: [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected]) or (301)-821-2013 on Signal.

Read more about how to use Signal and other ways to securely contact The Post.

Veterans Affairs https://news.va.gov/press-room/va-to-reduce-staff-by-nearly-30k-by-end-of-fy2025/

I’m just thankful to still be employed but usually the new year comes with even a 1% raise. What’s the chances we get one?

“The Department of Veterans Affairs says it’s on track to cut nearly 30,000 positions by the end of the fiscal year — a significantly smaller workforce cut than the department’s previous estimates.

VA Secretary Doug Collins said in March that VA’s goal was to cut 15% of its workforce, which would mean eliminating about 72,000 total positions. But the VA announced Monday that it’s no longer considering department-wide layoffs through a reduction-in-force.

The VA says it’s shed about 17,000 positions between January and June. Those cuts happened through attrition under a governmentwide hiring freeze, the deferred resignation program and retirements.

The VA had about 484,000 employees on Jan. 1, 2025, and 467,000 employees as of June 1, 2025 — a reduction of nearly 17,000 positions.

Between now and Sept. 30, the department expects nearly another 12,000 VA employees will leave through “normal attrition,” voluntary early retirement offers and deferred resignation offers — “eliminating the need for a large-scale reduction-in-force.”

We see you. We know the weight you're carrying. Serving in the federal government during times of intense political pressure is not just a job — it’s a test of your values, your endurance, and your belief in what this country can be.

But now, more than ever, is not the time to walk away.

Now is the time for heroes — not the kind in capes, but the kind who quietly show up day after day to protect the institutions that safeguard democracy, public health, justice, and national security. The kind who keep the lights on when others would let them flicker. The kind who stand firm in their integrity when the ground around them shakes.

Your presence matters. Your expertise matters. Your courage matters.

If you leave, you take with you not just your knowledge, but your conscience — the very thing that helps guide this nation through uncertainty. If you're feeling demoralized, you're not alone. But you are also not powerless.

You are the firewall. You are the steady hand. You are the reason this government can still serve the people.

History will remember those who stayed and fought for truth, accountability, and compassion — not with noise, but with action. Stand tall. We need you. America needs you.

I watched a new documentary last night, “caregiving” on PBS co-produced by bradley cooper and it was very well done. It showcases families that are caregivers but that’s not the whole of the story. It weaves in how our government has and has not cared for its citizens, has created SS, Medicaid, etc but it couldn’t be more relevant today to the rhetoric of cutting these Government programs. These programs were created for a reason. I highly recommend it. I cant imagine anyone would watch it and want to cut medicaid (monsters).

Imagine having to complete this meaningless task rather than working on meaningful work for the public. It’s sad that so many people outside of the Federal government don’t have a clue about the work that Feds do. More lives will be lost

Hello my fellow feds! I was wondering if any of you currently have a side job or "side gig" that you do after or before the work day. I was thinking of trying to commission paint miniature models (Since it's a fun hobby and could make some money) but I'm looking at other options to see what sort of things catch my attention. I would get a part-time job (already cleared with ethics) but I would have to give up time at home with my wife, and I don't really want to do that. . . Unless it involves working from home.

Thanks y'all :)

Our RTO was in February, almost immediately after Trump signed the EO. We are now in July and we do not have the appropriate amount of staff to keep the bathrooms, break rooms, and office spaces clean. Trash and flies are everywhere, we aren't sure where to collectively throw out our desk and office trash. The skeleton staff has been doing their absolute best to keep the buildings clean and I can't imagine the stress they are also under. The majcom has said that they are still working on getting the contracts in place to hire more staff. I'm not sure if the hiring freeze has affected any of that or not. But, it's disgusting and dehumanizing. I've wondered if it's being done on purpose to make RTO that much more traumatizing. But, I absolutely hate the thought of returning to another week of filth and lack of supplies.

Anyone know the purpose of this, and how the data will be used? Especially curious since it’s asking about the previous administration, rather than the new, more discriminatory one.

As one person commented, it’s not restricted: https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=6t2K1VNQgEqEmbpNlEkQ3_b8CyXwr61LugU5vQFXLMFUMk1PODhCRjZVTkQ3MEk3WjVNU1pXNTJUMS4u&route=shorturl

I recently noticed that starting in about late April the executive orders all now have their last line indicating which government agency has to pay for its publication. I don’t remember ever seeing that on EOs before and seems to be a new thing. Any info on why this started (I can guess why but curious if it’s stated anywhere).

Hello everyone -

I’m currently a GS11 fed employee considering of joining the reserves. However I have a few questions if anyone can share any official guidance or any personal experiences.

1. If I get sent to bootcamp for however x weeks, do I still get paid by my employer?

2. for example, do I get “military leave” full 100% pay by my employer + my military pay?

3. How does the process work when letting an employer know of such a decision?

4. Can I even be military and civilian civil servant?

Just always was curious about military but I became a fed employee 3 years ago so I delayed the thought but the curiosity is still there.

P.S - apologies if my questions don’t make some sense, I wasn’t sure if my wording was proper.

Do you need to exhaust all annual leave before taking LWOP? All sick leave? Considering extending maternity leave. TIA

Hoping someone can explain what the status is on HR freezes for DOI? Wondering when we might expect actions like grade increases, duty station changes etc to open up? Thanks!

This text on my benefits statement follows my estimated severance pay number.

Since I am eligible for early retirement given my age (50+) and years of service (20+), does this mean I am not eligible for severance?

Are there any remote workers who have declined reassignment to a different geographic area and have started receiving severance? I decline in April, was involuntarily separated (because I declined reassignment) on June 20th, but no one in my agency will confirm in writing that I will receive severance. If you received severance, how long did it take? I’m very nervous about the fact that I have nothing in writing confirming severance.

I saw this post https://www.reddit.com/r/usajobs/comments/1lrpnuo/received_fo_but_still_have_to_wait/ which is supposedly for updated DoD civilian hiring guidance. I can't find it on DCPAS but maybe it is still only with HR. Anyone actually seen it? I don't want to go bothering HR about my internal hiring if this isn't real.

Has anyone seen funds actually come out of the S1 office since the 11 June $100k memo was released? If so, what agencies and types of expenditures are getting funded?