Horizon cutting-room links: Monday, 31 March 2025

Today is Monday, 31 March 2025. Federal agencies in the Washington, DC area are Open. Isolated rain showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 67. South wind around 12 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

"GSA reopens its Deferred Resignation Program and finalizes location consolidation," Government Executive

"GSA employees will have through April 18 to opt into the program.

"'There are no excluded positions at GSA, and employees are still eligible if they are on RIF lists,' according to a Friday memo authored by acting administrator Stephen Ehikian and obtained by Government Executive. The memo also extended the window for voluntary early retirement and voluntary separation incentives to April 18."

"With RIFs imminent, the Small Business Administration reoffers its Deferred Resignation Program," GovExec

The Small Business Administration is reoffering its Deferred Resignation Program as RIFs loom, providing employees a second chance to accept this opportunity initially presented by the Office of Personnel Management earlier this year. The email announcement came early on a Saturday morning, signaling an urgent response to the impending restructuring within the agency.

"Purchase card freeze paralyzes small business, leaves agencies scrambling," Federal News Network

A recent freeze on government credit cards by the Department of Government Efficiency has halted operations for small businesses and federal agencies alike, creating significant cash flow challenges and procurement inefficiencies. The policy limits spending to just $1, which has left many agencies scrambling to find alternative procurement methods while risking compliance with the Prompt Payment Act.

"Judge Blocks Trump Administration From Dismantling CFPB," New York Times

"Calling the injunction 'an extraordinary step,' Judge Amy Berman Jackson of the Federal District Court in Washington said she imposed it to prevent the agency from being 'dissolved and dismantled.' The lawsuit’s plaintiffs — the bureau’s staff union and a collection of consumer advocates — are likely to succeed in their claim that the administration’s actions to gut the agency were illegal, the judge wrote in a 112-page decision."

"Pete Hegseth Is Bringing His Wife and Brother to Work," New York Magazine

Pete Hegseth's decision to bring his wife and brother to work at the Pentagon has sparked discussions about family dynamics in the workplace, highlighting the complexities of personal relationships within high-stakes environments. This move raises questions about the appropriateness of familial ties influencing professional settings, particularly in government roles.