Defense

Defense Chief: Expect ‘Trimming, Reducing, Some Eliminations’ in 2021 Budget

Esper touts "good progress" in high-level review intended to cut fat and find funds for projects to counter China and Russia.

Management

Trump Again Refuses to Rule Out a Shutdown

Lawmakers are moving toward another stopgap spending bill, but Trump hasn't pledged support for the plan.

Oversight

Senate Panel Tackles Unauthorized Appropriations, or ‘Zombie Payments’

Unauthorized payments accounted for 23% of the discretionary budget in 2019, compared to 10% in the early 1990s.

Management

Congress Appears Headed for Another Stopgap Spending Bill to Avoid Shutdown

Despite giving themselves seven extra weeks, lawmakers say it would take a "miracle" to avoid a Thanksgiving shutdown through normal appropriations.

Management

More Than 30 Lawmakers Urge Appropriators to Block Funding for USDA Science Agency Relocations

With most employees at the two research agencies declining to move to Kansas City, Democrats in both the House and Senate are urging appropriators to adopt House-passed language prohibiting spending on the move.

Management

President Trump Signs Stopgap Spending Measure, Keeping Agencies Open for 7 Weeks

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said that passing the continuing resolution was the easy part; setting line by line funding will be far more difficult.

Management

Senate’s Election Security Funding Bill Leaves a Key Agency Strapped for Cash

The Election Assistance Commission has struggled with insufficient staff and resources.

Management

Senate Sends Trump Seven-Week Spending Bill to Avoid Shutdown

The president is expected to sign the stopgap measure and avoid an appropriations lapse, but a funding fight still looms.

Management

Senate Panel Advances Spending Bills Blocking OPM-GSA Merger, Allowing USDA Relocations

Democrats say that in conference committee they will endorse House-passed provisions blocking the relocation of science agencies to Kansas City and authorizing an average 3.1% pay raise for federal employees.

Management

Senate Appropriators Join House in Blocking OPM-GSA Merger

Senators go with Trump's latest proposal for a 2.6% civilian pay raise for 2020 but no locality increase, while the House has approved an average 3.1% raise.

Management

Senate Panel Would Not Block USDA Science Agency Relocations in Spending Bill

Democrats vow to continue to fight to stop the Economic Research Service and National Institute of Food and Agriculture from moving to Kansas City later this year.

Oversight

Another Budget Fight Looms This Month in Congress Centering on Border Wall Funding

As lawmakers in Washington prepare a budget for the next fiscal year, funding for the border wall is taking center stage — again.

Management

Leaders Warn of 'Disturbing Signals' As Senate Starts on Spending Bills to Avoid Shutdown

Just days after beginning work, appropriators delay scheduled votes on measures to fund agencies past September .

Management

House Democrats Urge Leadership to Stand Firm on Union Protections in Spending Bills

More than 200 lawmakers insisted that appropriators protect a House-passed provision blocking agencies from implementing union contracts mandated by the Federal Service Impasses Panel.