Pay & Benefits

Congressional Dems Reintroduce Bill to Revamp Federal Firefighter Pay and Benefits

The Tim Hart Wildland Firefighter Classification and Pay Parity Act would ensure federal wildland firefighters make at least $20 per hour, among other things.

Management

Bipartisan Group Looks to Fix ‘Hopelessly Obsolete’ Classification System

Legislation is aimed at reducing over-classification and improving the handling of secrets.

Management

Debt Ceiling Meeting Yields Little Progress, Though Biden and GOP Agree to Spending Talks

The House speaker has given the White House a two-week deadline to come up with a spending plan that would satiate his caucus and allow for a debt limit increase.

Oversight

House Republicans Have Questions About the White House’s Regulatory Update

A staff-level briefing for the House Oversight and Accountability Committee is in the works. 

Oversight

Bipartisan Group Projects U.S. Default as Soon as Early June, Citing ‘Quite Low’ Cash Flows

Depending on how long a default lasted, a global recession could be triggered, new analysis finds

Oversight

U.S. Default Could Begin June 8 without Agreement, Top Economist Tells Congress

Congress has eight working days with both chambers in session before Memorial Day, and negotiations appear non-existent.

Defense

Where’d the Money Go? Lawmakers Press Air Force on Planned Radar Plane

Congress approved $200 million last year to get the first E-7s faster. That’s not happening.

Oversight

Asylum Limits, More Border Security Funds Proposed in House GOP Immigration Bill

A spike in the number of migrants seeking asylum in the United States has challenged local, state and federal authorities.

Management

Debt Ceiling Breach Could Occur as Soon as June 1, Treasury Warns

While they had hoped for more time, lawmakers have just a few weeks to avoid a catastrophic default.

Management

Federal Agency Expertise Faces a Challenge at the Supreme Court

The Chevron Deference, established in 1984, says courts should defer to federal agencies’ interpretation of an ambiguous or unclear statute that they administer.

Oversight

The Debt Ceiling Negotiations Begin Again

Eric Katz joins the podcast to discuss how the discussions will affect feds.

Tech

Lawmakers Introduce Bill to Keep AI from Going Nuclear

This week, lawmakers reignited the legislative charge into investigating and regulating how automated and artificial intelligence systems will be implemented in crucial operations.

Oversight

COVID Aid Appears Safe from a Republican Clawback

The House GOP debt limit proposal would dramatically reduce spending and increase SNAP work requirements, but it would not take back the pandemic relief funds already in governments’ hands.

Management

Agencies Would Suffer 'Egregious Harm' Under GOP Debt Ceiling Proposal, Federal Employee Union Says

House Republicans’ plan to raise the debt ceiling in conjunction with a 20% cut in discretionary spending would hurt public services, AFGE says.

Management

Management of the Federal Prisons System Is Added to GAO’s High-Risk List

The federal government made improvements in other areas including veterans health care and the Postal Service’s financial viability. 

Management

Senate Republicans Fail in Bid to Block VA From Providing Abortions

Lawmakers called the rule allowing limited access to the procedure illegal and damaging to workforce morale.

Management

Afghanistan Watchdog to Congress: We Need Help Getting Agencies to Cooperate With Us

White House and agency officials argue that the administration has been responsive to the inspector general.