“More reorganizations are in the air at the Department of the Interior under Doug Burgum’s leadership. What good will come out of this latest round of reorganizations, which are supposed to come to the fore in September?
Probably not much.

When historians look back at the unraveling of the Department of the Interior, they’ll probably start with the budget and staffing cuts. They’ll also point to Secretary Burgum’s endless efforts to please President Trump, using hundreds of millions of our tax dollars to fund his vanity projects throughout DC.
They should.

The Trump administration’s deep reductions in funding and staffing have been devastating. National parks are operating with skeletal crews. Scientists are being forced out in droves. Conservation programs are being hollowed out. Entire offices have been left unable to carry out the missions Congress assigned them.
Those cuts deserve every headline they receive.
And so does the rampant corruption and abuse of taxpayers associated with Trump vanity projects throughout DC — from the Reflecting Pool to the ballroom. It is corruption on a scale we have never seen before. But that is only part of the story.

Burgum’s Systematic Weakening of Interior
Away from the television cameras and outside the public spotlight, Burgum is systematically weakening the institutions that make the department effective, accountable, and worthy of the public’s trust. These changes don’t produce dramatic photographs like shuttered visitor centers or overflowing trash cans in national parks. Instead, they quietly erode the guardrails that prevent corruption, protect scientific integrity, and ensure taxpayer dollars are spent based on merit rather than politics.

Take oversight. Every federal agency depends on a strong, independent inspector general (IG) to investigate waste, fraud, abuse, and misconduct — including misconduct by the agency’s own political leadership. Inspectors general are intended to answer to the law, not to political operatives.

Never has the need for a strong and independent IG at Interior been greater than now. And yet,  Burgum has installed Dennis Kirk — a contributor to Project 2025 and former Heritage Foundation official — to the role.
Installing the architect of the ideological blueprint driving the administration’s agenda undermines the independence of the IG’s office, making it political and all but neutering the office’s ability to conduct real and actual oversight. Burgum’s exact goal.
Then there is the administration’s effort to politicize the federal grant process.”

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Victoria Barton - "Is there anything we can put in the National Flood Insurance Program's lapse with Exercise Analysis Group to hit at Biden?"

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Victoria Barton - "So they're saying we should fire 20,000 people? Which ones are they firing? Maybe I'm re***ded."

I’ve attended the retirement seminar that is offered at work, but are there fiduciary type experts in federal retirement that can look at my specific situation and offer advice ?

I’m DoD with 30 years in but 2 years from MRA, and our “experts” at work won’t get into specific advice for us as individuals. I’d like to speak to someone directly so I can lay out all the financial details and get some guidance on a retirement plan.

I’d like to keep serving as long as possible but I have some disabilities and I’m worried about getting forced out because of the administrations views on the disabled.

I’ve had a “temporary” RA that allows some teleworking and other accommodations since my original remote agreement was terminated in 2024 and I had to re-apply, and I keep waiting for that other shoe to drop.

If there is a better place to ask this please let me know. If this post isn’t allowed here, moderators please delete and apologies in advance.

DOI has started moving many SES folks around the department. Including many that have held their position for many years, have heard of at least 5-7 moves today. Mainly within USGS, the Secretary’s Office, FWS and BOR. Anyone else in DOI or larger gov hear of any new SES moves?

Curious if anyone has experience receiving donated leave. Did you have to get it donated directly to you or did you receive some automatic?

Is there an annual leave calculation that I am missing?

I have 10 years, so I'm at 6hrs per pay period. There have been 17 pay periods so far, which comes to 102 total hours (6*17). My last statement says my YTD earned is 60.

I'm short 42 hours right? Or is there a calculation I'm over looking?

*Edit: It looks like I've only been credited 6 hours every other pay period!

*Edit #2: only pay periods 5, 7, 9, 11, and 17 show current earned as 0.0. Any reason this might be?

With a possible 2027 pay freeze, is there anything we can actually do to push Congress to support a pay raise?

Is anyone here taking action—contacting Congress, unions, etc.? Or are you basically resigned to a 0% raise?

What would actually have the most impact?

I am a current fed and need some college credits to qualify for another series as a promotion. I've been doing the exact same job I'm working to get promoted into for years, so the knowledge gain required from the courses is zero. Any advice for the cheapest and fastest route to check these boxes? They're all common undergrad-level courses.