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SSA wants to reduce workforce by 7,000 through VERA/VSIP

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Already facing a 50-year staffing low as the number of Social Security beneficiaries continuing to rise, the Social Security Administration is seeking to reduce its workforce.

SSA will offer employees voluntary separation incentives and early retirement options as part of a major reorganization.

“Through these massive reorganizations, offices that perform functions not mandated by statute may be prioritized for reduction-in-force actions that could include abolishment of organizations and positions, directed reassignments and reductions in staffing,” SSA stated in a Feb. 27 release. “The agency may reassign employees from non-mission critical positions to mission critical direct service positions (e.g., field offices, teleservice centers, processing centers). Reassignments may be involuntary and may require retraining for new workloads.”

SSA says its looking to shed about 7,000 workers. The latest data from last March says SSA had 56,645 employees, up slightly from 2023 and down from 66,967 in 2010.

Source: President Biden’s 2025 budget request.

SSA says employees who want to take the early retirement can do so between March 1 and Dec. 31 and must leave by the end of calendar year 2025.

“Employees not eligible now or who wish to retire later in the year under early out may do so, but may be subject to restructuring activities,” SSA said. “Employees who are not yet eligible for voluntary early retirement, but who would like to apply later in the calendar year should alert management of their intent to do so and work with their servicing benefits specialists to process their cases as their dates become due.”

Employees qualify for early retirement if:

  • They have been in the government for at least 20 years of creditable service and be at least 50 years of age
  • They have been in the government for at least 25 years of creditable service at any age (this must include 5 years of civilian service).
  • They are serving under a non-time-limited appointment.
  • They have been continuously on SSA’s rolls at least 30 days prior to Jan.17.
  • They are not in receipt of an involuntary separation decision for misconduct or unsatisfactory performance.

At the same time, SSA is offering all employees, including those who retire early, voluntary separation incentive payments (VSIP) starting March 14. This option is not available for anyone who took part in the Deferred Resignation Program.

“Employees must opt in by March 14 and separate from the agency no later than April 19. Employees may be placed on administrative leave through April 19,” SSA stated. “Employees must complete the VSIP sign up as soon as possible, but no later than March 14 at Noon EST. Please let your manager know immediately if you sign up for VSIP. Completing the form does not guarantee VSIP.”

SSA is offering separation payments ranging from $15,000 to $25,000.

  • Up to GS 8 $15,000
  • GS 9–12 $20,000
  • GS 13 and up $25,000

SSA says certain employees are not eligible for VSIP payments, including reemployed annuitants, anyone who has a disability such that the individual is or would be eligible for disability retirement or anyone who received or is slated to receive a recruitment or relocation incentive in the last 24 months.

The agency says if it can’t get down to about 50,000 employees through these tools, a reduction-in-force (RIF) is possible. It has asked the Office of Personnel Management for approval.

Five other offers since 2012

The last time SSA offered voluntary early retirements and VSIPs was in 2021. At that time about 175 employees, or slightly more than 2% of those eligible, accepted the offer.

SSA has offered early outs several times in recent years. The agency usually announces an early-out opportunity once a year. SSA offered early retirements in 2012, 2014, 2017 and 2019. In the past, anywhere from 3-to-4 % of those eligible took the early retirement offer.

These new efforts would wipe out any workforce gains made over the last four years. SSA had planned to hire almost 4,000 new employees in fiscal 2025 as outlined in former President Joe Biden’s 2025 budget request.

Former SSA Commissioner Martin O’Malley told House lawmakers last year that as a result of the staffing problems, customer service has worsened. There are longer wait times on phone lines and longer delays in receiving decisions on disability applications and appeals.

Right now, SSA employees “are understaffed, and they are overwhelmed,” O’Malley said. “Not surprisingly, when somebody’s been on hold for an hour, they come off that call hot. We right now have an attrition rate of about 24% in our teleservice centers.”

SSA eliminates 3 offices

The restructuring and rebalancing comes after years of trying to improve SSA’s workforce. In 2024, the Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey (FEVS) showed SSA’s employee engagement, satisfaction and agency leadership are all trending positively. The agency increased its engagement index score from 65% positive responses in 2023, to 68% positive results in 2024.

In addition to the workforce restructuring, SSA is reorganizing its offices.

“SSA has operated with a regional structure consisting of 10 offices, which is no longer sustainable. The agency will reduce the regional structure in all agency components down to four regions,” the agency stated. “The organizational structure at headquarters also is outdated and inefficient. SSA will now have seven deputy commissioner level organizations.”

The reorganization will “prioritize customer service by streamlining redundant layers of management, reducing non-mission critical work and potential reassignment of employees to customer service positions. Also supporting this priority is looking for efficiencies and other opportunities to reduce costs across all spending categories, including IT and contractor spending.”

Additionally last week, SSA said its closing down the Office of Analytics, Review and Oversight (OARO) and moving those functions into other offices. It’s also getting rid of the Office of Transformation and the Office of Civil Rights and Equal Opportunity, altogether, putting those employees on paid administrative leave.

The post SSA wants to reduce workforce by 7,000 through VERA/VSIP first appeared on Federal News Network.

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GOP Senator John Thune Quietly BLOCKS Trump Recess Appointments with Sneaky Procedural Maneuver — Launches Series of Pro Forma Sessions to Keep Senate in Fake “Session” During August Recess

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Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R‑SD) has unveiled a procedural scheme to block President Donald Trump from making any critical appointments during the August recess, effectively aiding the Democrats’ obstructionist agenda.

Under the U.S. Constitution, the president can make “recess appointments,” temporary appointments to federal positions, if the Senate is in recess and not conducting business. These appointments don’t require immediate Senate confirmation and can last until the end of the next session of Congress.

But there’s a loophole: if the Senate holds pro forma sessions, very short, symbolic meetings where no actual business is conducted, then technically, the Senate is still in session. That means the president cannot legally make recess appointments during that time.

John Thune has quietly secured unanimous‑consent for a paper‑thin Senate schedule through the Trump appointee confirmation deadline, ensuring only pro forma sessions on five key dates in early August.

Under the agreement, the chamber will adjourn after today’s business and reconvene without conducting any votes or business on:

  • Tue, Aug 5 – 1:00 p.m.
  • Fri, Aug 8 – 1:05 p.m.
  • Tue, Aug 12 – 8:00 a.m.
  • Fri, Aug 15 – 10:15 a.m.
  • Tue, Aug 19 – 10:00 a.m.
  • Fri, Aug 22 – 9:00 a.m.
  • Tue, Aug 26 – 12:00 p.m.
  • Fri, Aug 29 – 7:00 a.m.

WATCH:

Thune’s pro forma blueprint comes amid mounting pressure from Donald Trump, who has demanded the Senate remain open until all 150+ administration nominees are confirmed.

Under the Recess Appointments Clause, a president may only install nominees without Senate approval if both chambers are in formal recess for at least 10 days. By convening the Senate just long enough every few days, Thune blocks the possibility of Trump making unilateral appointees.

The Senate went into its August recess without confirming all of Trump’s pending judicial and district‑level appointments.

By the time lawmakers left town on Saturday evening, no deal had been reached to move dozens of Trump’s nominees, including U.S. district court picks, through final floor votes.

Only a small handful of nominees (such as Jeanine Pirro to be U.S. Attorney in D.C.) had advanced. Otherwise, nominees remained stalled in committees or waiting for cloture roll‑calls on the executive calendar.

Roughly 150–160 executive and judicial nominations, including over a dozen district court judges and U.S. attorney nominations, remained scheduled but unconfirmed.

The post GOP Senator John Thune Quietly BLOCKS Trump Recess Appointments with Sneaky Procedural Maneuver — Launches Series of Pro Forma Sessions to Keep Senate in Fake “Session” During August Recess appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

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‘That’s What I Call Results!’: Trump Admin Saves Jobs, Kicks 1500 Non-English-Speaking Truckers Off the Road

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Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy revealed that there have been about 1,500 truck drivers who do not speak English taken off the roads as part of a push to ensure foreign truck drivers are not causing accidents.

Back in 2016, the Obama administration stopped enforcing English proficiency requirements for truckers, according to a report from The Daily Signal.

But in May, Duffy issued a guidance making clear that truck drivers who cannot demonstrate a proficiency in English cannot drive.

The 1,500 drivers were taken off the roads within the first 3o days of the rules once more being enforced, according to The Daily Signal.

“Since I took action to enforce language proficiency requirements for truckers, our state partners have put roughly 1,500 unqualified drivers out of service. That’s what I call results!” Duffy posted on X.

“If you can’t read or speak our national language — ENGLISH — we won’t let your truck endanger the driving public.”

He added, “America First = Safety First.”

Duffy’s concerns were far from unfounded.

In January, there was a truck driver involved in a fatal crash that had to use a language interpreter for the post-crash investigation, according to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.

Another incident from 2019 involved a truck driver who could not proficiently speak English speeding through signs that warned of steep grades and dangerous curves, all at more than 100 miles per hour.

Four people died in that crash, per the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.

President Donald Trump had likewise insisted with an April executive order that the move centered on public safety.

“They should be able to read and understand traffic signs, communicate with traffic safety, border patrol, agricultural checkpoints, and cargo weight-limit station officers,” the order said of truck drivers.

They also “need to provide feedback to their employers and customers and receive related directions in English,” a position the order called “common sense.”

“It is the policy of my Administration to support America’s truckers and safeguard our roadways by enforcing the commonsense English-language requirement for commercial motor vehicle drivers and removing needless regulatory burdens that undermine the working conditions of America’s truck drivers,” the notice added.

“This order will help ensure a safe, secure, and efficient motor carrier industry.”

This article appeared originally on The Western Journal.

The post ‘That’s What I Call Results!’: Trump Admin Saves Jobs, Kicks 1500 Non-English-Speaking Truckers Off the Road appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

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Slovenia Imposes Arms Embargo on Israel, Citing Gaza Conflict

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via Wikimedia Commons

Slovenia has imposed an arms embargo on Israel, banning the export, import, and transit of weapons to and from the country.

This decision was announced by Prime Minister Robert Golob following a government session on July 31, 2025.

Slovenia claims to be the first European Union member to take such a step, citing the EU’s inability to act due to internal disagreements.

The government stated that no permits for military exports to Israel have been issued since October 2023, when the conflict in Gaza began.

Officials emphasized that the embargo is an independent measure to address the humanitarian situation in Gaza. Slovenia has repeatedly called for a ceasefire and increased aid deliveries to the region.

In early July 2025, Slovenia declared two Israeli ministers, Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben-Gvir, persona non grata, barring them from entry.

This action was based on their public statements regarding the conflict. Earlier, in June 2024, Slovenia recognized Palestinian statehood, joining countries like Ireland, Norway, and Spain in this move.

The conflict in Gaza started after the October 7, 2023, attack by Hamas on Israeli territory, which resulted in over 1,200 deaths and the taking of hostages.

Israel responded with a military operation aimed at dismantling Hamas infrastructure. Reports from Gaza’s health ministry indicate significant casualties, with ongoing international efforts to negotiate truces and provide aid.

Several other nations have taken similar diplomatic steps, including France, Britain, and Canada announcing potential recognition of a Palestinian state. Australia has also indicated that recognizing Palestinian statehood is under consideration.

Israel has criticized these declarations, arguing they could reward Hamas for its actions.

Israeli officials dismissed Slovenia’s embargo as insignificant, noting that Israel does not procure any defense materials from Slovenia.

An unnamed official stated that the country buys nothing from Slovenia, not even minor items.

Within the EU, there is growing pressure for measures against Israel, with Sweden and the Netherlands advocating for suspending parts of the EU-Israel Association Agreement.

The European Commission has proposed limiting Israel’s participation in the Horizon research program, though Germany opposes such steps.

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul expressed concerns about Israel’s potential diplomatic isolation during a visit to Jerusalem.

The United States remains a key ally to Israel, with President Donald Trump warning that recognizing Palestinian statehood might benefit Hamas.

U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff recently met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to advance Gaza truce talks. These efforts aim to address the humanitarian crisis and secure a ceasefire.

The post Slovenia Imposes Arms Embargo on Israel, Citing Gaza Conflict appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

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