Federal Hiring Shift: The Trump administration’s DOGE ended its 18-month workforce cuts push, and agencies are now posting more jobs for targeted hiring and insourcing. Labor Market Reality Check: June’s softer hiring is colliding with a bigger concern—more Americans are giving up and leaving the labor force, with participation falling to a 50-year low outside COVID-era. AI in HR: A new report says AI is moving HR workforce analytics from basic reporting toward “one-click” decision support, changing how companies plan, develop, and manage talent. Skills Gap for Job Seekers: Gallup finds workers who don’t use AI are more likely to be laid off, suggesting AI fluency is becoming a hiring risk factor. Federal Performance Rules: OPM finalized major changes to federal employee performance appraisals, aiming to better separate top performers and increase supervisory accountability. Small Business Hiring Pressure: NFIB’s Washington-specific report calls out labor costs as a top drag and flags hiring plans as a “bright red warning sign.” Local Career Boost: Alpharetta, Georgia ranked among top small cities for careers, tied to tech growth and livability. Workplace/Community: Walmart’s digital price tags are sparking shopper anxiety over “surveillance pricing.” Defense Tech Campus: Bellevue, Nebraska is advancing a REACH hub near Offutt AFB, with major state and private investment planned.