Oversight

Senate Confirms Brian Miller to Be Pandemic Inspector General

The Senate voted 51-40 in favor of putting the White House lawyer and former GSA watchdog in charge of ensuring relief funds are not misspent.

Oversight

Acting HHS Inspector General Outlines Plan To Review the Coronavirus Response

Christi Grimm says the president’s rebuke of a report from her office will not have a chilling effect on her work.  

Pay & Benefits

TSP Announces Upcoming COVID-19 Loans, Withdrawals

New loan and withdrawal options enacted through the CARES Act will become available in June and July, respectively, while officials have noted other options for participants to access their money are already in place.

Oversight

GOP-Led Committee Advances Nomination of Special Pandemic Recovery IG

Meanwhile, Democrats unleash a slew of proposals related to strengthening IGs and protecting their independence.  

Oversight

Trump’s Nominee for Pandemic Recovery IG Draws Mixed Reviews Following Confirmation Hearing

Brian Miller is currently special assistant and senior associate counsel in the Office of White House Counsel.

Oversight

IG Veteran Named Executive Director of Pandemic Oversight Committee 

The $2.2 trillion CARES Act established the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee. 

Oversight

House Approves Creation of a Select Panel to Oversee Pandemic-Related Spending and Response 

Critics have said the committee will be duplicative, but one transparency expert said that "overlapping oversight jurisdictions can be a good thing if managed correctly."

Pay & Benefits

Democratic Lawmakers Want Hazard Pay, Union Protections in Next COVID-19 Relief Bill

Letter to House leadership supports extra compensation, weather and safety leave, and other rights and benefits for frontline federal workers during the coronavirus pandemic.

Pay & Benefits

OPM Issues Guidance on Additional Paid Sick Leave for Feds During the Coronavirus Pandemic

The federal government’s human resources agency confirmed this week that most federal workers are eligible to take up to two additional weeks of paid sick leave this year related to COVID-19.

Management

White House Advises Agencies on COVID-19 Spending and Reporting

“Time is of the essence,” but “spending transparency and regular reporting will provide important accountability mechanisms to help safeguard taxpayer dollars,” the Office of Management and Budget said in a memo.

Management

USPS Requests $75B in Emergency Funds to Keep Agency Alive

Without congressional intervention, Postal Service would "run out of cash" this fall.

Management

Trump Rejects Calls for USPS Stimulus as Agency Sounds Alarm Over Its Future

Lawmakers are pushing for a $25 billion cash injection to the Postal Service as part of another forthcoming stimulus package.