Tracking changes to the federal workplace

Small changes in personnel policies can create seismic shifts in how our government operates — but these internal policies can be hard to find. This Archive provides a catalog of recent changes to policies and practices affecting the federal civil service, searchable by agency, employee category, and theme.

Search the Archive

for Policymakers

Discover the details and impact of changes to inform future civil service reform.

for Journalists

Track how the administration is using its power to change the shape of how government works.

for Advocates

Understand how changes may affect services that matter for your community and cause.

342 Matching Records

Department of Education Begins Hiring Contractors to Replace Office for Civil Rights Attorneys

After firing several hundred employees as part of a reduction in force at the Office for Civil Rights (OCR), the Department of Education is now working with an outside contractor, Kaiva Tech, to hire new attorneys to address OCR's growing...

DOD Reduces Military's Recognized Religion List

Military.com obtained a copy of an internal memorandum (dated May 20, 2026) that reduces the Department of Defense's (DOD) list of recognized religious affiliations from 211 to 31 — a cut of 180 faith codes — within a 60-day implementation...

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth Blocks Promotions of Female & Minority Officers

The New York Times reported that in March 2026, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth made the "highly unusual" move of interceding in the promotions of four officers to be one-star generals, two of whom were Black and two of whom...

U.S. Department of Education Begins Hiring Staff & Contractors for FSA Positions Previously Cut

After losing roughly half its staff in last year's reduction in force, the Office of Federal Student Aid (FSA) — which manages the nation's $1.7 trillion student loan portfolio and serves 43 million borrowers — is adding around 380 new...

Office of English Language Acquisition Eliminated

On May 14, 2026, the U.S. Department of Education shuttered its Office of English Language Acquisition, the agency's only arm dedicated to helping English learners and immigrant students gain English proficiency and academic success while preserving their heritage languages. The...

Citing Staffing Needs, FEMA Begins Reinstating Employees

According to the New York Times, the Federal Management Emergency Agency (FEMA) is reversing staffing cuts it previously made under Secretary Kristi Noem's leadership. These reversals have included the reinstatement of 14 employees who signed the Katrina Declaration — an...

Reporting DEI-Related Discrimination

This memorandum from the Department of Defense (DOD) to civilian employees outlines formal channels for reporting employment discrimination related to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs and preferencing. The memo defines "DEI-related discrimination" as an employment action (hiring, promotion, training...

U.S. Department of Education Hiring More Civil Rights Attorneys to Address Backlogs

Education Secretary Linda McMahon told the Senate Appropriations Committee that the Department of Education was hiring more attorneys to staff the Office for Civil Rights due to a growing backlog of civil rights complaints. Secretary McMahon also stated that the...

Implementation Instructions for the Termination of Certain Collective Bargaining Agreements

This implementation guidance operationalizes Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's April 9, 2026 memorandum directing the termination of nearly all Department of Defense collective bargaining agreements pursuant to Executive Order 14,251 ("Exclusions from Federal Labor-Management Relations Programs"). The memo enumerated narrow carve-outs...

Department of Defense Cancels Union Contracts

This memorandum directed the termination of all collective bargaining agreements between the Department of Defense and federal employee unions within 24 hours of its signing. The directive cited Executive Order 14,251, "Exclusions from Federal Labor-Management Relations Programs," signed by President...

Creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division

In April 2026, Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche issued a memorandum formally establishing the National Fraud Enforcement Division (NFED) as a stand-alone Department of Justice litigating division. The April 7, 2026 memorandum defined the Division's "core mission" as investigating and...

Hegseth Authorizes Off-Duty Service Members to Carry Private Firearms on Installations

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issued a memorandum announcing that military installations could permit uniformed personnel to bring personally owned guns onto military installations. The memorandum excluded the Pentagon but instructed leaders to consider allowing individuals to leave personally owned guns...

State Department Updates FAM to Add Business Formal Dress Code Guidance

On April 2, 2026, the State Department modified its Foreign Affairs Manual (FAM) to include a section titled "3 FAM 4116 Employee Dress." This section added new requirements around dress attire for both foreign service and civil service employees. It...

State Department Announces Reforms to the U.S. Foreign Service

On April 1, 2026, the Department of State announced a series of changes to the United States Foreign Service, including in hiring, promotion, and onboarding. According to a Fact Sheet put out by the Department of State, the reforms include...

DOJ Employees Who Worked on Prior Trump Prosecutions Pushed Out

In November 2025, ProPublica reported, based on its own analysis, that more than fifty career FBI officials had been fired or pushed out since January 2025. The reported group included senior executives with counterterrorism and intelligence experience as well as...

Department of Education Vacating Headquarters Building in the District of Columbia

On March 26, 2026, the Department of Education announced that it would vacate its headquarters office in the District of Columbia and move its remaining staff to 500 D Street SW in Washington, D.C. According to a Department of Education...

Defense Secretary Orders Military Chaplains to Remove Rank Insignia from Uniforms, Instead Displaying Faith Symbols

This directive, announced via video statement by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on March 24, 2026, with a memorandum to follow, removes rank insignia from the uniforms worn by military chaplains across the Department of Defense. Chaplains retain their commissioned officer...

EO 14,397: Further Continuance of the Federal Emergency Management Agency Review Council

This Executive Order, dated March 24, 2026, extends the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Review Council until either 10 days after it submits its report to the President, or May 29, 2026. This is the second extension effectuated by Executive...

Justice Department Lowers Hiring Standards for Attorneys

In March 2026, the Department of Justice (DOJ) lowered its hiring standards for attorneys by authorizing the hiring of recent law school graduates. In the past, the minimum qualification for positions had been at least one year of experience as...