Congress

Ernst targets D.C.-area federal workers with trio of bills

Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, proposed legislation this week that would force agencies to move 30% of their D.C.-based workforce out of the region, mandate telework tracking, and push agencies to move their headquarters out of the nation’s capital.

Top Oversight Democrat says he’s open to collaborate with the DOGE

The new Department of Government Efficiency — which, despite the “department” referenced in its name, is an advisory effort, not a government department — has aims to trim the federal workforce and hunt efficiencies in tech and fraud reduction efforts.

Energy Dept. watchdog reports that travel expense violations in secretary’s criticized EV road trip caused by lack of oversight and knowledge

House Republicans blasted the trip as “ripe with waste, fraud and abuse,” but the report found that some of the violations cost the federal government less than $100.

Coast Guard is resisting oversight of mishandled sexual misconduct cases, lawmakers say

Congressional inquires were spurred by revelations that the Coast Guard did not disclose an investigation into possible sexual assaults at its service academy.

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Johnson retains speakership, pledges to roll back 'totalitarian' administrative state

Some Republicans were concerned that a contested speaker election could delay implementation of Trump’s agenda.

Musk and Ramaswamy to confront Congress in struggle for control of the public purse

The duo will need to garner support from hundreds of members of Congress for any of their suggested spending cuts as co-chairs of the nongovernmental Department of Government Efficiency, to become law. That is an uphill slog many have failed at before.

Breaking News

Congress averts shutdown with three-month stopgap at 11th hour

The Senate sent the bill to the president's desk after the deadline, but shutdown activities had ceased.

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Agencies begin sending furlough notices as shutdown nears

House Republicans are closing in on a plan C to avert agency closures, but its fate remains uncertain.

Government shutdowns hurt federal worker morale, long after paychecks resume − especially for those considered ‘nonessential’

COMMENTARY | People don’t leave government because of a single event like a shutdown, but negative experiences accumulate over time.

Federal employee unions dismayed—but not surprised—by sudden shutdown threat

President-elect Trump and Elon Musk on Wednesday blew up a bipartisan deal to fund the government past this week, increasing the odds of a government shutdown Saturday.

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Latest Republican plan to avert government shutdown fails with one day until agencies shutter

Republicans had hoped a stopgap measure that suspended the debt ceiling would earn Democratic support and avoid Trump’s wrath, but Congress remains on a shutdown path.

Trump seeks to spike stopgap funding bill, sending Congress into chaos days before shutdown

A short-term spending bill appeared dead less than 24 hours after its introduction and less than three days before agencies must shutter.

Bill to repeal windfall elimination provision clears a key Senate hurdle

The Senate voted 73-27 to invoke cloture on the Social Security Fairness Act, clearing the way for a final vote to pass the bill later this week.

Bill enshrining skills-based hiring heads to Biden’s desk

The Senate last week passed the Chance to Compete Act by unanimous consent, and the House followed suit with a voice vote Monday.

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.