Defense Department employee apprehended for unauthorized extraction of classified papers from the Missile Defense Agency
In a series of significant moves, the Trump administration has implemented new federal employment rules and reconstituted the Homeland Security Advisory Council.
The report from the Partnership for Public Service reveals that 55% of Americans oppose the administration's recent changes to the federal government, with 55% also believing that the White House's cuts to agencies will negatively impact the U.S. economy. However, the report does not specify the exact federal government changes that 55% of Americans oppose.
One of the key changes in federal employment is the strengthening of probationary periods. President Trump's Executive Order 14284, titled "Strengthening Probationary Periods in the Federal Service," issued on April 24, 2025, establishes Civil Service Rule XI, which replaces previous regulations on probationary periods and grants federal agencies greater discretion in evaluating probationary employees.
Under the new rules, federal agencies are required to actively certify that a probationary employee’s continued employment serves the public interest and advances the efficiency of the Federal service. Without this affirmative certification, probationary employees are subject to automatic termination. The reform also extends probationary periods to employees in the excepted service through newly established trial periods.
These changes aim to raise performance expectations and may introduce variability in decisions, which could raise equity and bias concerns. While these rules apply to federal employment, they may indirectly influence private sector hiring and retention strategies.
Meanwhile, the Department of Homeland Security is reconstituting its Homeland Security Advisory Council with new members, including Governor Henry McMaster (R-S.C.) as the new chairman, Silicon Valley Investor Marc Andreeson, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, and former Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski. The Department of Justice has not issued a statement regarding this reconstitution, and the Department of Homeland Security has not announced any changes in its policies or procedures due to the reconstitution.
In a separate incident, the Department of Justice has arrested a Defense Department employee, Ewa Ciszak, for unlawfully removing classified documents from a Missile Defense Agency office in Huntsville, Alabama. The FBI began investigating Ciszak in February for unauthorized removal of classified documents from MDA facilities. A search warrant on June 18 uncovered multiple secret-level documents at Ciszak's personal residence, vehicle, and backpack. Ciszak, who has been employed at the Missile Defense Agency since January 2023, made her initial court appearance on Monday, June 18.
These developments underscore the ongoing changes and investigations within the federal government, providing a dynamic landscape for political and legal scrutiny. The copyright of the platform is reserved for the year 2025.
The Trump administration's new federal employment rules, as outlined in Executive Order 14284, strengthen probationary periods in the civil service, requiring affirmative certification to continue employment and potentially raising concerns about equity and bias. Simultaneously, the Department of Homeland Security is reconstituting its Homeland Security Advisory Council with high-profile members like Governor Henry McMaster, Marc Andreeson, Rudy Giuliani, and Corey Lewandowski, while a Defense Department employee, Ewa Ciszak, has been arrested for unlawfully removing classified documents. These events highlight the intersection of technology, politics, general news, and crime-and-justice within the federal government.
