Defense

Pentagon’s No. 2 Civilians Fire Back in ‘Woke’ Wars

“There's been no detraction from the primary mission,” Navy Undersecretary Erik Raven told dubious GOP senators.

Management

How Many Feds Are Back in DC Offices? A Watchdog Is Finding Numbers.

The Government Accountability Office is studying occupancy rates in federal agencies’ headquarters.

Oversight

Biden Administration Details Potential Cuts in Education, Food Aid and More under GOP Plan

The cuts, according to the letters from Cabinet secretaries and agency heads, could impact dozens of federal programs and quality of life for many Americans.

Oversight

Public Trust in Government is Low. A Congressman Wants to Fix That With More White House Transparency. 

Rep. Mike Quigley, D-Ill., reintroduced bills regarding visitor logs and preservation of presidential records. 

Oversight

House Democrats Release a New Citizen's Guide to the Freedom of Information Act

Journalists, educational institutions, nonprofits, private corporations and members of the public make use of the records law.

Management

Biden’s Nominee to Be Archivist Goes to the Full Senate

The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee advanced the nominee on Wednesday after a Republican senator called for the vote to be postponed.

Management

Team Maryland Champions Its State for the New FBI Headquarters

Both the Maryland and Virginia congressional delegations have meetings with the General Services Administration this week. 

Oversight

How the ‘Holman Rule’ Allows the House to Fast-Track Proposals to Gut Government Programs without Debate or Much Thought at All

House Republicans have adopted a rule used periodically over the past 150 years that allows lawmakers to speed up and streamline votes to dismantle federal programs and fire federal employees.

Pay & Benefits

A Bill to Protect Feds During Shutdowns Is Back, This Time With Debt Default Safeguards Too

The measure would suspend the enforcement of civil penalties related to falling behind on bills until 30 days after the end of a government shutdown or debt ceiling breach.

Defense

Republicans Want a Briefing on the Defense Department’s ‘Lax’ Financial Management

The Pentagon failed its fifth-ever audit in 2022, but department officials say they are making some progress. 

Oversight

In Preview of Debt Limit Fight, House Republicans Target Climate Funds

A House Environment subcommittee voted to claw back $27 billion from President Biden’s climate law, signaling what the GOP may demand in future budget negotiations.

Pay & Benefits

Bill to Boost Federal Firefighters’ Retirement Benefits is Back

Rep. Gerry Connolly’s legislation would include mandatory overtime hours in calculations to determine federal firefighters’ pension benefits.

Oversight

Lawmakers Want Watchdogs to Look Into Their Agencies’ Ethics Policies on Stock Ownership

This follows an investigation by The Wall Street Journal that found thousands of federal officials owned and traded stocks of companies that were affected directly by their agencies’ activity.

Oversight

Senate Democrats Back FAA Nominee, Despite GOP Objections at Confirmation Hearing

Committee’s confirmation hearing for Phil Washington, CEO of Denver International Airport, came more than seven months after Biden first nominated him

Management

Archivist Nominee Pledges to Address a Backlog That Stands in the Way of Veterans Getting Benefits

“Of utmost importance to me” is reducing the pandemic-induced pileup of records requests, Colleen Shogan told lawmakers in her second nomination hearing. 

Workforce

Feds Would Face New Hatch Act Restrictions on Their Interactions With Private Companies Under a Committee-Backed Bill

Republicans say the measure would prevent government censorship, despite testimony that social media companies acted without federal coercion.

Workforce

Cutting Civilian Defense Jobs Won't Eliminate the Real Waste at the Pentagon, Union Says

If lawmakers want to find savings at the Pentagon, they should start with underperforming weapons systems and service contracts, AFGE officials said.

Workforce

Agencies Would Have to Think Harder Before Relocating, Under a New Bill

The legislation comes after a watchdog agency concluded hastily conducted relocations during the Trump administration caused staff exoduses and harmed agencies’ service delivery.

Workforce

Here's How Career Feds Can Avoid Getting Tripped Up by Congressional Investigations

Experts offer tips for civil servants to prevent themselves from becoming collateral damage in battles between the legislative and executive branches.