Oversight

FDA repeatedly rejected safety claims made after recall of a CPAP but waited to alert the public, emails show

Philips Respironics received thousands of complaints about a dangerous defect in its breathing machines but kept them secret for years as stock prices soared.

Oversight

Senate finance chair calls for inspector general’s ouster

Sen. Ron Wyden on Thursday urged President Biden to remove Social Security Administration Inspector General Gail Ennis after a series of controversies and allegations of whistleblower retaliation.

Oversight

No new agency needed for AI regulation, lawmakers say the existing framework can get it done

A single, overarching AI regulation package or a new AI regulatory agency is unlikely to emerge from Congress, members said.

Oversight

Agencies contend with new metrics, another missing hearing for IT acquisition reform

Cracks are showing in the usual, bipartisan buy-in for oversight on 2014 Federal IT Acquisition Reform Act progress.

Oversight

USPS’ feud with its regulator escalates yet again

The Postal Service is so far declining to turn over information related to its operational and workforce reforms, while accusing the watchdog of killing new business deals.

Oversight

The FTC is attacking drugmakers’ ‘patent thickets’

The agency says drugmakers illegitimately use the patents to prevent competitors from offering cheaper generic alternatives.

Oversight

OMB wants public input on privacy impact assessments

A forthcoming request for information includes questions about how agencies procure data about Americans from commercial sources.

Oversight

Former DHS employees sentenced for plot to steal government software, databases

The trio wanted to to build a commercial software product that would have been sold to government agencies.

Oversight

House Democrats pen fiery letter to embattled DHS inspector general demanding documents

The ranking members of the House Committees on Oversight and Accountability and Homeland Security demanded documents from the DHS IG related to a court settlement with a former deputy inspector general after repeated requests remained unfulfilled. 

Oversight

NSA illegally purchases Americans’ internet data without a warrant, senator says

The NSA’s purchases of commercial metadata without a court order — revealed in documents exchanged with Sen. Ron Wyden — violate consumer protection laws, the Oregon Democrat claims.

Oversight

GSA used ‘egregiously flawed’ data to clear purchase of Chinese-made cameras, watchdog says

The inspector general's report noted that the acquired video conferencing cameras were not compliant with the 1979 Trade Agreements Act and contained security flaws that, in some instances, had still gone unpatched.

Oversight

GAO: Agencies need to trust each other’s background check processes

An array of technical and cultural challenges plague the federal government’s ability to OK the transfer of federal employees across agencies, the government watchdog found.

Oversight

A surprising history of the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals

Once a leader in expanding civil rights, it's now a leader in limiting government power.

Oversight

House GOP move forward with drive to impeach DHS secretary over immigration policy

Republicans on the Homeland Security Committee argued that Alejandro Mayorkas has not upheld his oath of office because he enforces Biden administration border policies

Oversight

IRS has ‘unconscionable delays’ in helping identity theft victims, taxpayer advocate says

The average wait time for taxpayers trying to resolve fraudulent returns, coupled with legitimate filers being mistakenly flagged as fraudulent, has become a top challenge for the IRS, according to a new report.

Oversight

House subpoenas VA over sexual harassment allegations

The department has asked for time to conduct its own investigation, but in a bipartisan vote, lawmakers declined to wait.

Oversight

Watchdog finds ‘sufficient’ cyber threat sharing at agencies, but barriers remain

The Intelligence Community Inspector General’s biennial update on cybersecurity information sharing noted that progress has been made over the past two years, but some agencies reported running up against roadblocks.

Oversight

In emails, a contractor tries to orchestrate a new federal transplant policy

The documents raise fresh questions about the Health and Human Services Department's ability to effectively oversee its transplant contractors.

Oversight

Conservatives bemoan disappearance of OPM official time docs

Officials at the federal government’s HR agency said a webpage housing sporadic reports on agencies’ official time use did not survive a recent website redesign, but suggested tweaks are ongoing.

Oversight

Key federal agencies mostly followed procedure on Jan. 6, IG finds

The National Park Service could have taken more steps to prevent risks, auditor says, though organizer's lies made the planning more challenging.