Workforce
Biden nominates OSC deputy to join FLRA
Biden’s previous choice to fill the last spot on the Federal Labor Relations Authority quietly withdrew from consideration last fall.
Defense
More than $1 billion in high-tech military aid sent to Ukraine incorrectly tracked, watchdog finds
Poor interagency coordination and a lack of U.S. staff on the ground meant advanced weaponry was not accurately monitored in Defense Department databases.
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.
Management
New turmoil over a possible government shutdown
Congress must pass some sort of spending bill before Jan. 19, otherwise the departments and agencies funded by the Agriculture, Energy-Water, Military Construction-VA and Transportation-HUD spending measures would enter a shutdown.
Pay & Benefits
OPM reduces the retirement backlog by one-third in 2023
The federal government’s HR agency’s work on improving the retirement application process for federal workers led to the agency shattering yet another longstanding record last month.
Pay & Benefits
New year, new benefit changes
Some 2024 changes that may benefit federal employees and retirees.
Management
Another stopgap spending bill in the works as Congress struggles to avert a shutdown
A few lawmakers have called for shutting down the government in order to get the changes they want on immigration and border policy enacted.
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.
Defense
House Democrat from Pennsylvania calls for defense secretary to step down
Rep. Chris Deluzio, a freshman lawmaker and Iraq war veteran, said in a statement Wednesday that he had “lost trust in Secretary Lloyd Austin’s leadership of the Defense Department.”
Defense
DOD’s AI adoption efforts are starting to pay off, Pentagon official says
The Defense Department considers emerging technologies at “the center of how we think about planning for what the future of the military should look,” according to the head of the Pentagon’s Force Development and Emerging Capabilities office.
Management
House holds initial proceeding in GOP effort to impeach DHS secretary
Democrats, Biden administration call the attempt to impeach a cabinet secretary for the first time in nearly 150 years a politically motivated distraction.
Management
Intelligence agencies need to make SCIFs more accessible for employees with disabilities, GAO says
The watchdog examined the facilities agencies use for processing classified information, finding that some barriers that prohibit access remain.
Defense
Political holds hurt military readiness
COMMENTARY | A veteran contends that a hold on the promotion of an Air Force colonel who urged his peers to talk about racism and its effects on the military is a step backward.
Pay & Benefits
A new rule allows the VA to adjust disability compensation to prevent overpayments
The rule, set to go into effect on Jan. 11, would allow the department to suspend or pause disability compensation for Defense Department servicemembers also receiving active service pay.
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.
Workforce
IRS plans to continue hiring spree despite setback in new budget deal
The agency hopes to hire 20,000 employees in fiscal 2024.
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.
Management
How Space Force is raising its cyber defenses
The newest service is building in-house cyber teams but also needs to work more closely with U.S. Cyber Command, a deputy chief of space operations says.
Management
Congress pivots to full-year funding bills after bipartisan agreement on spending levels
Deal would avoid major cuts but appropriators have just 10 days to avoid a partial government shutdown.
News