The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is shifting gears again. After cutting tens of thousands of positions during a 2025 restructuring, HHS is now planning to hire roughly 12,000 employees, according to recent Congressional testimony. Some previously separated employees have already been brought back to help stabilize operations.

The U.S. Forest Service is moving forward with a major reorganization that includes relocating its headquarters, closing regional offices, and shifting to a new leadership structure. Agency officials say the goal is to streamline operations, but the transition will take time and may require employees to adapt to new roles, reporting lines, and locations.

For many years, federal managers have understood that strong performance management is key to a well-functioning government. Setting expectations, evaluating results, addressing underperformance, and rewarding excellence are not peripheral tasks; indeed, they are core leadership responsibilities. Yet the legal complexity and procedural rigor surrounding federal personnel actions have made these responsibilities some of the most difficult aspects of federal management.

The Department of Veterans Affairs has experienced an unprecedented reduction in its workforce, potentially losing an estimated 40,000 employees in fiscal year 2025, according to a report released by members of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee. Lawmakers warn that the losses – especially in clinical and front-line positions – are already impacting care and benefits delivery for millions of veterans.

More Hires, More Scrutiny: Why CBP’s Incentive Surge Raises Potential Training and Oversight Concern

A recent report by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) Office of Inspector General (OIG) found that, while a majority of agency employees who responded to a workplace culture survey feel safe, valued, and respected, employee views of FDIC management and leadership in related to harassment and misconduct were less favorable.

Immigration enforcement has become a major focus under the new administration, a change that affects many federal law enforcement officers and their job duties. The responsibility of managing the more than 7.6 million immigrants in the country without legal status currently falls on about 6,000 ICE deportation agents.

Last month, President Trump signed an executive order continuing his administration’s focus on downsizing the federal workforce. Many of the initiatives have been spearheaded by the newly established Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Agency leaders have been advised to prepare for large-scale reductions in force that have the potential to create serious challenges for federal managers.

In March 2025, thousands of Food and Drug Administration (FDA) employees were ordered to report back into the office, full time. Across the federal government, many agencies have ordered their workforce back into the office, revoking telework status that was often put in place due to the Covid-19 pandemic. However, FDA’s case was unique in that it had been utilizing teleworking practices for more than a decade before the pandemic.

United States government officials have placed an emphasis in immigration enforcement in the new administration. The manpower needed to achieve these immigration enforcement goals is potentially beyond the current federal law enforcement workforce alone.

Congress is considering a set of federal workforce bills that could significantly reshape how supervisors and managers oversee their teams. While the proposals aim to improve transparency and accountability, they also introduce new layers of monitoring and documentation that may leave federal leaders more exposed to allegations of mismanagement, procedural error, or personnel-related disputes.

Workplace Disruptions Are Rising – and So Are the Risks for Federal Managers

We deeply value the service and dedication of our federal community, and want to address FEDS members concerned about their coverage during the ongoing government shutdown. For FEDS members whose policy renewals have been impacted by the government shutdown, we will be ensuring your policies remain in force until the shutdown ends. And for those utilizing our payroll deduction payment method, please be assured that your active FEDS policies will not be cancelled for payments missed during the government shutdown.

We deeply value the service and dedication of our federal community, and want to address FEDS members concerned about their coverage during the ongoing government shutdown. For FEDS members whose policy renewals have been impacted by the government shutdown, we will be ensuring your policies remain in force until the shutdown ends. And for those utilizing our payroll deduction payment method, please be assured that your active FEDS policies will not be cancelled for payments missed during the government shutdown.

Changes within IT Department Could Leave IRS Managers Vulnerable