All articles tagged with #government
France’s DINUM announces a switch of government desktops from Windows to Linux as part of a digital-sovereignty strategy; every ministry must submit an implementation plan by autumn 2026 addressing desktop systems, collaboration tools, security, AI, databases, virtualization, and networking, with distribution choices to come—signaling a broad interministerial shift beyond a pilot.
The U.S. Postal Service announced a cash-conservation plan that temporarily suspends employer contributions to the defined-benefit portion of the Federal Employees Retirement System starting April 10, to preserve liquidity amid a severe financial crisis. The move frees about $2.5 billion in the current fiscal year; employee contributions to FERS and employer automatic/matching contributions to the Thrift Savings Plan, as well as employee contributions to the TSP, will continue. CFO Luke Grossmann says there will be no immediate harm to current or future retirees, and notes that FERS remains better funded than many other agencies. The USPS pays roughly $200 million biweekly to OPM for the FERS annuity, with more details in the FERS action FAQ.
Israel's parliament passed the annual budget, enabling Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to remain in office and ensuring political continuity as Netanyahu frames the move as stability.
San Francisco District 9 Supervisor Jackie Fielder will remain in office but take a medical leave of absence to thoughtfully address a mental health condition and consider her options, ending days of resignation speculation; the district office will operate with aides and she will be unable to vote while away.
The Department of Veterans Affairs re-terminated its master collective bargaining agreement with AFGE/NVAC covering more than 300,000 employees despite a federal judge’s injunction to restore it, invoking national-security exemptions tied to recent executive orders; the judge condemned the action as a disrespect of the court’s order and gave the VA until the close of business to explain why it shouldn’t be held in contempt, while AFGE seeks to enforce the injunction and the DOJ has appealed, signaling an ongoing legal battle over federal labor contracts amid broader national-security considerations.
Italy’s tourism minister Daniela Santanchè resigned after the referendum’s defeat, signaling a government shake-up as political fallout from the vote unfolds.
Democrat Rep. Jamie Raskin says the DOJ provided Congress with sealed grand-jury materials related to the Trump classified-documents case, potentially violating Judge Aileen Cannon's gag order and federal secrecy rules; he demands full disclosures, including a Bedminster flight manifest and details on who was advised of highly sensitive documents, while DOJ maintains it complied with the law and redacted sensitive information.
OPM Director Scott Kupor told lawmakers he would be “perfectly happy” to hire more federal employees if agencies cut the use of contractors, arguing the current contractor workforce acts as a costly “shadow” and that shifting dollars to federal headcount could save taxpayers and improve services. Agencies are being asked to publish annual staffing plans balancing contractor and federal staff needs, while continuing to fill key talent gaps and expand early-career recruitment via initiatives like Tech Force; Kupor also signaled support for a stronger performance-management system to speed up removals of underperformers.
President Trump announced the first members of the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST), co-chaired by David Sacks and Michael Kratsios. The panel brings together leading tech figures such as Marc Andreessen, Sergey Brin, Safra Catz, Michael Dell, Jensen Huang, Lisa Su, and Mark Zuckerberg to advise on opportunities and challenges posed by emerging technologies and to strengthen American leadership in science and technology. PCAST can have up to 24 members, with additional appointments and the council’s first meeting forthcoming.
Denmark’s left and right blocs failed to win a majority in the 179-seat parliament, prompting Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen to resign and kick-start the process of forming a new government with a royal investigator; the centrist Moderates may hold kingmaker leverage, and coalition negotiations are expected to take weeks.
As the DHS shutdown reaches day 39, TSA workers report pay delays and rising attrition, with more than 400 leaving and thousands calling out, leading to longer security lines. Unions push for the Shutdown Fairness Act to guarantee pay during a shutdown, while ICE officers deployed to airports are paid but viewed by TSA reps as a distraction. Many employees are relying on emergency funds as back pay remains uncertain and the prospect of another shutdown looms.
Tens of thousands gathered in Prague to protest the new government led by Prime Minister Andrej Babiš, signaling broad opposition to the coalition policies.
The Education Department will transfer its roughly $1.7 trillion federal student aid portfolio to the Treasury, which will handle defaulted loan collections and, in a later phase, administer FAFSA, as part of interagency moves critics say amount to dismantling the department. Officials say the changes aim to fix long‑standing mismanagement and improve programs without requiring borrowers to take action, while unions and lawmakers warn of confusion and higher costs amid staff cuts and ongoing servicer performance concerns.
The US Commission of Fine Arts approved the final design for a 24-karat gold commemorative coin bearing Donald Trump's image to celebrate the nation's 250th birthday; production will begin but the coin's size and denomination are still undecided, and there is debate over depicting a living president on currency.
House Democrats are using a discharge petition to force a floor vote on funding the Department of Homeland Security through September that excludes ICE and CBP, aiming to fund TSA, FEMA, CISA, the Coast Guard and Secret Service while pressing for immigration-enforcement reforms; Republicans doubt the effort will succeed amid ongoing DHS funding negotiations with the White House and Senate.