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Jory Heckman

@jheckman.bsky.social
322 followers 178 following 68 posts

Senior reporter at @GovExec covering the federal workforce & federal government | jheckman@govexec.com | Signal: jheckman.29 www.govexec.com/voices/jory-heckman…

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Jory Heckman @jheckman.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
A federal judge in San Francisco says he's inclined to grant an administrative stay and temporarily block USDA from moving forward with imminent employee relocations. USDA's reorg was originally challenged in AFGE v Trump, but is now spun off as a new lawsuit w/ a new judge
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Hansi Lo Wang (he/him) @hansilowang.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
BREAKING: Trump admin proposes major #2030Census changes that would reshape voting maps, including no race & ethnicity questions and excluding non-U.S. citizens without a green card from a count that 14th Amendment says must include “whole number of persons in each state” www.npr.org/2026/09/09/n...
npr.org
Trump officials propose sweeping changes to the census that would reshape voting maps
A Trump census proposal would stop asking about race and exclude millions of U.S. residents from a count that the 14th Amendment says must include the "whole number of persons in each state."
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Natalie Alms @almsnatalie.bsky.social · 20/08/2026
The federal government’s landlord, is looking to increase its hiring after going through significant staffing cuts last year. “They realize they let go of too many people and were inundated, because the kids at DOGE didn’t know what they were doing,” one employee said.
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Jory Heckman @jheckman.bsky.social · 20/08/2026
CDC is looking to rebuild trust in a workforce spread thin by staffing cuts. Its new director Dr. Erica Schwartz tells employees “there is no retribution for honest thought and honest conversation” under her leadership www.govexec.com/management/2...
govexec.com
New CDC chief looks to rebuild a workforce fearful of retaliation
On Wednesday, Dr. Erica Schwartz told staff “there is no retribution for honest thought and honest conversation” under her leadership.
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Jory Heckman @jheckman.bsky.social · 13/08/2026
The State Department is expanding its search for employees to reclassify as at-will workers under the Trump administration’s rebranded version of Schedule F, suggesting agencies didn’t target enough workers on the first round
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Chris Marcum 📖 @csmarcum.bsky.social · 15/05/2026
@denicewross.bsky.social and I spoke with @jheckman.bsky.social about demystifying Federal data with the federaldatafieldguide.us: federalnewsnetwork.com/big-data/202...
federalnewsnetwork.com
Federal data guide aims to demystify ‘patchwork’ of laws governing data sharing | Federal News Network
The field guide outlines the breadth of data the federal government collects and makes available.
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Jory Heckman @jheckman.bsky.social · 14/05/2026
The State Department is directing some managers to go back and revise annual performance evaluations they've already submitted to give employees lower scores. Under a 1-5 scoring system, State is telling managers to “strictly adhere to an average rating cap of 3.25” ⬇️
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Jory Heckman @jheckman.bsky.social · 11/05/2026
NY Times picks up & credits a story I've been following for a few months now: The CDC is top among agencies cracking down on workplace flexibilities as a reasonable accommodation for employees with disabilities ⬇️ www.nytimes.com/2026/05/07/h...
nytimes.com
Employees With Medical Conditions Challenge C.D.C. In-Office Requirement
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Jory Heckman @jheckman.bsky.social · 05/05/2026
One separated Foreign Service officer told me his exact role is up on USAJobs right now. The posting says there are "MANY vacancies" the department is looking to fill
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Jory Heckman @jheckman.bsky.social · 05/05/2026
Today @state-department.bsky.social finalized layoffs for ~250 Foreign Service employees who have been on paid admin leave since July 2025. It rolled out this recruitment campaign last month for new hires. Officials recently told lawmakers that laid-off staff can't compete for these vacant positions
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Jory Heckman @jheckman.bsky.social · 01/05/2026
Most IRS employees (from HR & IT) involuntarily covering frontline filing-season work will remain on their temporary reassignments for 120 more days. Maybe another 120 days after that, depending on how quickly they clear a backlog of amended tax returns ⬇️
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Ben Mullin @benmullin.bsky.social · 20/04/2026
NPR: Employees may NOT bet on the Tiny Desk!!
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Jory Heckman @jheckman.bsky.social · 15/04/2026
IRS Chief Executive Officer Frank Bisignano told @senatefinance.bsky.social this was the "most successful filing season in IRS history," and demonstrated that the agency can have both “less people and better results.” The agency lost 27% of its workforce last year ⬇️
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Greg Folkers @gregfolkers.bsky.social · 08/04/2026
Federal News Network: CDC eases telework restrictions for disabled employees, as HHS faces 9,000-request backlog by Jory Heckman @jheckman.bsky.social bit.ly/4cxZQLF
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Jory Heckman @jheckman.bsky.social · 06/04/2026
Interesting tidbit from the FY 2027 budget proposal: White House says it's eliminated 1,200 "redundant" federal websites so far in the Trump administration.
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Jory Heckman @jheckman.bsky.social · 02/04/2026
NEWS: The Interior Department is giving employees a third opportunity to accept voluntary incentives to leave their jobs or retire early, ahead of a long-awaited department reorganization. federalnewsnetwork.com/reorganizati...
federalnewsnetwork.com
Interior Dept gives employees third shot at voluntary incentives to leave their jobs | Federal News Network
Interior is looking to shrink its headcount ahead of a “strategic initiative to improve resource management and the delivery of critical resources."
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Jory Heckman @jheckman.bsky.social · 01/04/2026
Scoop: The IRS is telling some of its employees, in the final weeks of the filing season, that their overtime wages were miscalculated on tax forms, and that they may need to submit corrected returns ⬇️
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Jory Heckman @jheckman.bsky.social · 30/03/2026
Meanwhile, the IRS tech shop is back in hiring mode, after losing more than 40% of its workforce
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Jory Heckman @jheckman.bsky.social · 30/03/2026
Treasury is about to send reduction-in-force notices to employees at its Office of Financial Research, created by Congress in the aftermath of the 2008 recession to avoid a similar economic crisis. federalnewsnetwork.com/workforce/20...
federalnewsnetwork.com
Treasury prepares RIF for office created to avoid financial crisis, IRS IT resumes hiring after mass reassignments | Federal News Network
The Treasury Department is preparing to send layoff notices to employees at its Office of Financial Research, created in the aftermath of the 2008 recession.
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Jory Heckman @jheckman.bsky.social · 25/03/2026
The Department of Veterans Affairs told a federal judge in Rhode Island yesterday that it complied with a court order to restore its contract covering 300K employees rep'd by @afgenvac.bsky.social, but is under no obligation to carry out its provisions ⬇️
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Jory Heckman @jheckman.bsky.social · 13/03/2026
A federal judge found VA Secretary Doug Collins “favored some unions over others,” by selectively enforcing an executive order that barred collective bargaining at many agencies (including the VA) over national security concerns federalnewsnetwork.com/veterans-aff...
federalnewsnetwork.com
VA ordered to restore AFGE contract under federal judge’s temporary order | Federal News Network
The VA is likely to appeal the decision, and an appeals court recently found similar retaliation claims unconvincing in a separate case.
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Jory Heckman @jheckman.bsky.social · 11/03/2026
House Democrats say 830K taxpayers are waiting up to 2 months to get their tax refunds. The reason? They normally get their refund as a paper check, but the Trump administration phased those out in favor of electronic payments. federalnewsnetwork.com/management/2...
federalnewsnetwork.com
IRS phase-out of paper checks leaves some taxpayers waiting months for refunds | Federal News Network
The National Taxpayer Advocate estimates that over 10 million taxpayers previously received their IRS refund as a paper check.
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Jory Heckman @jheckman.bsky.social · 11/02/2026
Scoop: The Interior Department directed all its bureaus and offices to delete non-English content from their websites by the end of the day Tuesday, according to an internal notice from its IT shop. federalnewsnetwork.com/technology-m...
federalnewsnetwork.com
Interior Dept directs IT shop to ‘scrub’ non-English content from its websites | Federal News Network
A new disclaimer on Interior Department websites states “English is the official language and authoritative version of all federal information.”…
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Jory Heckman @jheckman.bsky.social · 05/02/2026
Scoop: One less job for Marco Rubio. He's no longer serving as the acting head of the National Archives and Records Administration. Still dual-hatted as Secretary of State & acting national security advisor federalnewsnetwork.com/people/2026/...
federalnewsnetwork.com
Marco Rubio out as acting head of National Archives | Federal News Network
Before the end of his tenure, Rubio tapped James Byron, senior advisor to the archivist, to serve and perform the functions of archivist.
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Alt CDC (they/them) @altcdc.altgov.info · 02/12/2025
2/5 HHS is facing a 3,300+ backlog of RA requests, with reviews expected to take 6–8 months. CDC employees with disabilities have been given mixed or incorrect guidance about telework accommodations. ❗ Must read from @jheckman.bsky.social at @federalnewsnetwork.com
federalnewsnetwork.com
HHS faces months-long backlog of reasonable accommodation requests from employees
The Department of Health and Human Services expects it will take six to eight months to clear a backlog of reasonable accommodation requests from employees.
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Jory Heckman @jheckman.bsky.social · 08/05/2025
A VA nurse working in an oncology unit said cuts to support staff mean her coworkers are spending more time on ancillary duties -- at less time with patients.
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Jory Heckman @jheckman.bsky.social · 08/05/2025
11K+ VA employees in health care-related positions -- including 1,300 nurses, 800 medical support assistants & 200 physicians - applied for "deferred resignation," signed up for early retirement, or voluntarily retired. VA says 'very few' are eligible for separation incentives
federalnewsnetwork.com
Over 11,000 VA health care employees apply to leave, but ‘very few’ eligible for separation incentives
According to an internal dashboard, the Veterans Health Administration has about 63,000 more employees than it did in FY 2019.
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Jory Heckman @jheckman.bsky.social · 05/05/2025
Went for a run and made a new friend last week. But I’m back on the clock and ready to do some reporting. News tips on what’s happening in the federal government/workforce are always welcome Signal: Jheckman.29 Email: Jheckman@federalnewsnetwork.com
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Jory Heckman @jheckman.bsky.social · 23/04/2025
NEW: Layoff notices were scheduled to hit several IRS offices last Friday -- but never came. Rumors spread among employees as to why. But the acting deputy COO says "glitches" and "issues" are to blame. federalnewsnetwork.com/workforce/20...
federalnewsnetwork.com
IRS layoff notices to employees delayed by ‘glitches’
IRS employees told Federal News Network that RIF notices slated for several offices didn’t go out last Friday as planned.
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Jory Heckman @jheckman.bsky.social · 17/04/2025
It's hard to overstate how much everyone who worked on IRS Direct File saw it as a new model for government to deliver benefits & services to the public. Almost a 180-degree flip from the 2013 Healthcare. gov crash. federalnewsnetwork.com/management/2...
media.tenor.com
a young man wearing a hat and a jacket looks at something
ALT: a young man wearing a hat and a jacket looks at something
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Jory Heckman @jheckman.bsky.social · 14/04/2025
Scoop: As part of its return-to-office plans, OPM is planning to spend more than $42M to relocate approximately 250 employees — or about $166,000 per employee. That's significantly higher than what the average federal employee makes in a year. federalnewsnetwork.com/workforce/20...
federalnewsnetwork.com
OPM plans to spend nearly $42 million to relocate a few hundred employees
In February, OPM gave remote employees an ultimatum: relocate within commuting distance of its office space or accept termination.
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Jory Heckman @jheckman.bsky.social · 11/04/2025
@wired.com Big fan of all the reporting you're doing on the federal news beat. I always try to give credit when you're first to a story. Probably a simple oversight, but I'm hoping you're able to return the favor on the SSA/X news I broke this morning federalnewsnetwork.com/agency-overs...
federalnewsnetwork.com
SSA shifts to X posts for official messaging after cuts to communications staff
SSA is once again walking back plans that would have limited the agency's level of phone support to beneficiaries.
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Lauren Harper @laurenleharper.bsky.social · 11/04/2025
good thing so many retirees are tech savvy, have X accounts, and are good at spotting misinformation!
federalnewsnetwork.com
SSA shifts to X posts for official messaging after cuts to communications staff
SSA is once again walking back plans that would have limited the agency's level of phone support to beneficiaries.
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The Washington Post @washingtonpost.com · 09/04/2025
Breaking news: The Trump administration asked the Supreme Court to allow the president to remove a pair of independent regulators whose cases have broad implications for at least two dozen other agencies, including the Federal Reserve Board, and for how the federal government operates.
washingtonpost.com
Trump asks Supreme Court to let him fire independent regulators
The Supreme Court’s decision on whether Trump can remove the pair will test the boundaries of presidential power and have broad implications for at least two dozen other agencies.
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Jory Heckman @jheckman.bsky.social · 09/04/2025
GSA's acting administration recently told employees, "There's nobody working for DOGE here." But DOGE officials dominate a list of vetted personnel granted access to restricted parts of the GSA's headquarters federalnewsnetwork.com/agency-overs...
federalnewsnetwork.com
DOGE officials across government appear on GSA’s shortlist of vetted personnel
DOGE officials across the federal government dominate a shortlist of individuals allowed past security on the sixth floor of GSA’s headquarters.
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Jory Heckman @jheckman.bsky.social · 04/04/2025
🚨SSA back at it with plans to require some beneficiaries to verify their IDs online or in person (no more 📞). This time, they want to: 1⃣ Partner with USPS to let people verify ID in person at post offices 2⃣ Roll out facial recognition option federalnewsnetwork.com/benefits/202...
federalnewsnetwork.com
Social Security Administration outlines new plan for stricter ID-proofing options
SSA is looking to partner with the Postal Service and allow beneficiaries to verify their identity in-person at thousands of post offices across the country.
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NPR @npr.org · 04/04/2025
The Department of Veterans Affairs says it will end a mortgage rescue plan that has saved many veterans from needlessly losing their homes, the move could strand thousands of others who need help.
npr.org
Trump's VA is ending a rescue program that's saved 17,000 military veterans' homes
The Department of Veterans Affairs says it will end a mortgage rescue plan that has saved many veterans from needlessly losing their homes, the move could strand thousands of others who need help.
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Jory Heckman @jheckman.bsky.social · 02/04/2025
🚨 IRS is giving about 7K recently fired probationary employees the option to return to their jobs "on full-time duty" by April 14 -- the day before Tax Day. Up until now, they've been "reinstated," but on paid admin leave federalnewsnetwork.com/hiring-reten...
federalnewsnetwork.com
IRS will bring fired probationary employees back to work by mid-April
Acting IRS Commissioner Melanie Krause said Wednesday that the agency will take previously fired probationary employees off paid administrative leave.
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Jory Heckman @jheckman.bsky.social · 01/04/2025
Can confirm WaPo's reporting that Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services employees who got layoff notices today were told to contact EEO Director Anita Pinder to file employment discrimination complaints -- but she died last November. Spoke to a current employee who went to her funeral
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WIRED @wired.com · 31/03/2025
NEW: DOGE demanded full access to a US Department of the Interior system that handles even the Supreme Court's paychecks. When top staff asked questions, they were put on leave.
wired.com
Top Officials Placed on Leave After Denying DOGE Access to Federal Payroll Systems
DOGE demanded full access to a US Department of the Interior system that handles even the Supreme Court's paychecks. When top staff asked questions, they were put on leave.
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Jory Heckman @jheckman.bsky.social · 31/03/2025
🚨 Institute of Museum and Library Services is putting all its employees on paid administrative leave, after a brief meeting between DOGE & IMLS leadership. Employees must turn in all govt property before leaving. Email accounts are also being disabled. federalnewsnetwork.com/workforce/20...
federalnewsnetwork.com
Agency funding libraries and museums puts all employees on leave ahead of major cuts
The Institute of Museum and Library Services is one of seven agencies President Donald Trump is looking to cut "to the maximum extent."
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Jory Heckman @jheckman.bsky.social · 26/03/2025
The Federal Mediation & Conciliation Service is terminating nearly all 220 of its employees by COB today. It'll keep a "skeleton crew" of ~12 employees to manage work required by law. It's 1 of 7 small agencies targeted for elimination in a recent EO federalnewsnetwork.com/workforce/20...
federalnewsnetwork.com
Federal labor mediation agency cuts staff down to ‘skeleton crew’
The Federal Mediation & Conciliation Service will cut its workforce from about 220 employees down to a dozen.
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Jory Heckman @jheckman.bsky.social · 07/03/2025
GSA terminated nearly 1K leases last week — the first of six waves of federal office space downsizing planned for FY 25. But according to multiple sources, the agency is now walking back ~300 of those lease terminations for 'public-facing' govt buildings. t.co/vHgKmqZnXB
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Jory Heckman @jheckman.bsky.social · 01/03/2025
VA withdrew at least dozens of Veterans Crisis Line job offers - after canceling remote positions, but not having enough office space to put them in. After our reporting, a VA spokesperson says they're "in the process of reissuing" these jobs offers federalnewsnetwork.com/veterans-aff...
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Jory Heckman @jheckman.bsky.social · 27/02/2025
"There is sheer panic about GSA cutting cards," a VA employee tells me. GSA plan would give all of VA <500 authorized cardholders to manage $6B+ in spending. That's less than what many VISNs have right now. VA's the largest integrated health system in the U.S.
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Jory Heckman @jheckman.bsky.social · 27/02/2025
NEWS: VA is being asked to severely limit the number of employees who can make purchases through a governmentwide charge card program — a decision that could impact billions of dollars in annual spending. federalnewsnetwork.com/veterans-aff...
federalnewsnetwork.com
VA gets GSA request to slash total number of employees who hold purchase cards
GSA has asked 15 other agency heads “to reduce their agency charge card limits, and the number and usage of cards.”
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Jacob Bogage @jacobbogage.bsky.social · 21/02/2025
📬🚨 HUGE NEWS 📬🚨 Trump plans to fire the USPS governing board, merge the Postal Service into the Commerce Department. It would disrupt 55 years of non-political mail service, and threatens to upend trillions of dollars of ecommerce and the 250 year-old US mail system.
washingtonpost.com
Trump expected to take control of USPS, fire postal board, officials say
The move threatens to upend trillions of dollars in ecommerce business and the 250 year-old Postal Service.
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Jory Heckman @jheckman.bsky.social · 13/02/2025
BREAKING: OPM is advising all federal agencies to fire their probationary employees with less than a year on the job, after it stopped accepting new offers for its “deferred resignation” program last night. federalnewsnetwork.com/workforce/20...
federalnewsnetwork.com
OPM advises agencies to fire probationary employees after ‘deferred resignation’ deadline
OPM stopped accepting new offers for its deferred resignation offer, as of 7:20 p.m. on Wednesday night.
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Jory Heckman @jheckman.bsky.social · 12/02/2025
Current and former GSA employees -- anonymous news tips are always welcome via Signal (jheckman.29) and email (JHeckman@federalnewsnetwork.com)
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Jory Heckman @jheckman.bsky.social · 12/02/2025
GSA is pushing major cuts to personnel, real estate and contracts in pursuit of its -50% spending goal. According to folks inside the building, agency leaders say they may need to slow workforce reduction efforts, “because they’re losing too many key people." federalnewsnetwork.com/workforce/20...
federalnewsnetwork.com
GSA ‘losing too many people,’ as leaders pursue cuts to personnel, office space and contracts
About 2,000 GSA employees — approximately 15% of its workforce — live more than 50 miles from the nearest GSA regional office amid return-to-office push.
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