Oversight

CBP chief medical official moved months after whistleblower complaints

Whistleblowers accused Dr. Alexander Eastman of creating a hostile work environment, among other allegations.

Oversight

Fed employee advocate Connolly to lead Democrats on House Oversight Committee

The Virginia Democrat could be a leading opponent to Trump’s plans for overhauling the civil service.

Oversight

Legislation to promote better federal building security set to be signed into law

Multiple watchdogs have recently criticized the effectiveness of security at government facilities.

Oversight

3 key findings on the Trump assassination attempt in Butler, Pa.

The congressional panel investigating assassination attempts on Donald Trump issued its final report this week.

Oversight

OSC questions agencies’ findings from a pair of whistleblower investigations

A CBP whistleblower alleged officials stopped an air unit from performing potentially life-saving missions, while an individual from the FAA accused officials at Detroit’s airport of inadequately safeguarding landings.

Oversight

Despite critical report, Biden hasn’t taken disciplinary action against DHS watchdog

It’s been about two months since an oversight committee substantiated allegations that DHS inspector general Joseph Cuffari abused his authority, with no word of potential White House action.

Oversight

GAO saved the federal government $67.5 billion in fiscal 2024

The watchdog’s open recommendations could be a foundation for the new Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency.

Oversight

Marjorie Taylor Greene to head new government efficiency subcommittee

The panel will work closely with Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy’s advisory Department of Government Efficiency.

Oversight

Senators call for watchdog to investigate TSA’s use of facial recognition

In a letter to the Department of Homeland Security’s Inspector General, 12 senators warned that the deployment of facial biometrics at every U.S. airport could create “one of the largest federal surveillance databases overnight without authorization from Congress.”

Oversight

Intelligence IGs head for the exit before Trump’s return

Trump fired five inspectors general during his first administration.

Oversight

Senator wants info on inspectors general office sexual harassment settlements

Grassley wrote that whistleblowers informed his office that the financial agreements required complainants to sign non-disclosure agreements.

Oversight

FEMA chief calls passing over of Trump supporters isolated incident, requests wider probe

One FEMA supervisor has been fired for directing staff to skip Trump-supporting homes, but administrator says there is so far no evidence of a more widespread issue.

Oversight

Oversight of contract security guards at federal buildings is lacking, OIG says

In one notable example from a recent report, a guard at a federal facility told a visitor to place their firearm in a bush to access the building.

Updated Oversight

Senior White House official violated the Hatch Act, OSC says

A filing with the Merit Systems Protection Board alleges that Biden’s domestic policy advisor shared fundraising messages for Democratic political candidates on social media.

Oversight

GAO: Agency HR offices need better communication with officials in remote posts

Federal officials in Alaska, Hawaii and the United States’ various offshore territories said they struggle to combat high attrition at federal jobs in the non-contiguous U.S., despite some agencies’ efforts.

Updated Oversight

VA whistleblowers honored for uncovering mismanagement of veterans’ personal information

Despite receiving OSC’s Public Servant award, the whistleblowers disagreed with investigators’ conclusions that they could not substantiate all of their accusations regarding the department’s alleged inappropriate use of personally identifiable information.

Oversight

HHS to crack down on providers blocking access to electronic medical records

The Health and Human Services Department has received more than a thousand claims of blocked or stymied access to electronic health record information in recent years.

Oversight

OPM’s retirement backlog has fallen off the agency’s list of top management challenges

The Office of Personnel Management’s inspector general last month reported that the federal government’s dedicated HR agency faces taller tasks in the form of launching a health insurance program for postal workers and verifying enrollees’ eligibility for the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program.

Oversight

OSC praises case resolutions involving alleged retaliation against federal employees

The findings come as the Merit Systems Protection Board makes a change to how it handles OSC petitions.