Management

House advances spy power reauthorization bill without warrant measure

The bill — which represents a win for Biden administration policy objectives — will now be taken up in the Senate, with a week to go before the authority sunsets.

Tech

New White House policy mandates safeguards for federal AI use

The White House also announced new hiring goals for AI talent, a request for information on the procurement of AI and more.

Management

Rebuilding the collapsed Baltimore bridge ‘will not be quick or easy or cheap,’ Buttigieg says

Reopening the Port of Baltimore is among the Biden administration’s top priorities in the aftermath of the collapse.

Management

Biden vows to rebuild collapsed Baltimore bridge as feds lead emergency response

Six people remain missing after the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed into the Patapsco River early Tuesday when a cargo ship lost control and crashed into a support column.

Pay & Benefits

Public Service Loan Forgiveness passes $60 billion in erased debt

Since a series of tweaks to make the program easier to access, more than 850,000 Americans have had their loans forgiven in exchange for a decade of public service.

Management

$3.3B in federal grants announced for communities split apart by highways

The one-time infusion of cash for highway caps, bike trails and other improvements shows the Biden administration’s priorities for one of its most high-profile infrastructure initiatives.

Tech

Biden's $1.67 trillion budget boosts tech, AI

The Biden administration’s FY2025 budget request provides agencies with $3 billion “to responsibly develop, test, procure and integrate transformative AI applications across the federal government.”

Updated Pay & Benefits

Biden proposes 2% raise for feds in 2025 budget

Following multiple years of multi-decade record pay increases, the White House cited “fiscal constraints” facing agencies to justify smaller raises next year.

Management

Biden uses State of the Union to paint Republicans as barriers

The president scolded former President Trump and House GOP lawmakers for scuttling a bipartisan plan to boost border agency staffing, and frequently touted governmental investments enacted without Republican support.

Management

OPM offers data guidance to help inform new federal executives website

The recent guidance details how agencies are to collect and report data to the HR agency’s new public-facing website detailing the names, roles and pay levels of thousands of federal executives.

Management

White House stalls on digital identity mandate, despite billions in fraud

President Biden previewed an executive order in his 2022 State of the Union meant to address identity theft and fraud in public benefit programs. As Biden gears up for his 2024 address, the order still hasn’t been released.

Management

Biden administration announces new efforts to boost the nation’s housing supply

Federal officials will extend a program that has helped develop or rehabilitate nearly 12,000 affordable rental homes.

Management

White House beefs up child care block grants

A new rule caps the total amount low-income families have to pay for child care at 7% of their income and directs states to pay child care providers more fairly and on time.

Management

The Senate has too many appointees to confirm, and it's hurting agencies

There are too many layers of political officials requiring congressional approval, report finds.

Tech

National Cyber Strategy needs better implementation measures, GAO argues

The White House Office of the National Cyber Director can improve on performance measures and cost estimations, the U.S. federal oversight agency said in a Thursday analysis.

Management

New turmoil over a possible government shutdown

Congress must pass some sort of spending bill before Jan. 19, otherwise the departments and agencies funded by the Agriculture, Energy-Water, Military Construction-VA and Transportation-HUD spending measures would enter a shutdown.

Defense

House Democrat from Pennsylvania calls for defense secretary to step down

Rep. Chris Deluzio, a freshman lawmaker and Iraq war veteran, said in a statement Wednesday that he had “lost trust in Secretary Lloyd Austin’s leadership of the Defense Department.”