Horizon Cutting-room Links: Tuesday, 4 February 2025

"20,000 federal workers take 'buyout' so far, official says," Axios

"It's a significant number of people — about 1% of the federal workforce — but still substantially less than the White House's target of 5% to 10%."

"Federal Workers Ordered to Remove Gender Identity From Email Signatures," New York Times

"The instructions to medical staff at some Veterans Affairs facilities also articulated how references to gender would have to be excised on forms: 'The use of GENDER is not allowed on any form. We can only use SEX, and there should be only 2 options — MALE and FEMALE.' At the Environmental Protection Agency, all-gender bathrooms were also closed ...

"The directives come after the White House’s Office of Personnel Management distributed instructions on Wednesday to department and agency heads, ordering them to remove references to gender ideology from all official materials, including emails. They were also ordered to take down any websites or other public-facing materials that reference gender identity, and ensure that bathrooms in federal buildings were designated for biological males and females."

"Trump administration directs OPM career leaders to prepare for 70% cut to staffing, programs," FedNewsNetwork

"During an internal meeting Friday morning, Trump administration officials directed OPM senior career staff to begin making plans to cut the agency’s workforce and programs by 70%. Multiple sources with direct knowledge of the meeting confirmed the details of the meeting to Federal News Network. Sources who provided information to Federal News Network on the condition of anonymity said the political leadership at the agency also directed OPM leaders to stop work on anything that is not statutorily required."

"Hotel CEOs Navigate Trump's DEI Crackdown," Skift

"'It is ultimately a business imperative,' said Hilton CEO Chris Nassetta, referring to how the hotel industry serves about a quarter billion people annually. Nassetta's comments were echoed by leaders of Marriott, IHG Hotels & Resorts, and Wyndham Hotels, who addressed the topic at the Americas Lodging Investment Summit in Los Angeles."

"New United Airlines Filing Signals Headquarters Move To Denver—Is Chicago On the Way Out?" View from the Wing

"A year ago United filed a 'large development review' plan with the City of Denver that did include adding 12 flight simulators for pilot training, but also allow for a new corporate campus that would support 5,000 employees, enough to move all the workers at the current Chicago Willis Tower headquarters. ... The new Master Plan filed with the city says that they 'may build more than 1 million gross square feet of office space..to accommodate over 6,000 employees there, building that include data center space, fitness centers and parking garages for over 5,000 cars.'"