Oversight

Citing Coronavirus Pandemic, Trump Administration Stops Enforcing Environmental Laws

A Texas environmental protection group said it is "reckless" for the Environmental Protection Agency to waive enforcement of many protections. The federal agency said companies could have trouble complying due to the new coronavirus.

Management

The Trump Administration Is Leaving the Nation’s Emergency Backup Hospital System on the Sidelines

Leaders at the Department of Veterans Affairs say they are ready to answer the call to assist HHS or FEMA. But the call has not come.

Management

Internal Emails Show How Chaos at the CDC Slowed the Early Response to Coronavirus

The CDC fumbled its communication with public health officials and underestimated the threat of the coronavirus even as it gained a foothold in the United States, according to hundreds of pages of documents ProPublica obtained.

Defense

Esper Orders Pentagon into Stricter Health-Related Lockdown

Most of the military installations in the Washington, D.C., area have already been designated HPCON-C, the second-highest level, to protect personnel from the coronavirus.

Defense

Why Trump Isn’t Using The Defense Production Act

He wants to allow corporations to sell vital medical gear to the highest-bidding states. Governors say that’s exactly the problem.

Oversight

Anthony Fauci’s Plan to Stay Honest

He’s never seen a disease quite like COVID-19, nor has he ever worked for a president quite like Trump.

Defense

Leave the National Guard to the States, Says Top General

If Trump federalizes the Guard, they can’t help with law enforcement, says Gen. Lengyel.

Management

Trump Intends to Nominate Russell Vought for Permanent OMB Director

Vought has been the acting director of the Office of Management and Budget since January 2019.

Management

Trump Defended Cuts to Public-Health Agencies, on Video

In a 2018 press briefing, the president said of public-health professionals, “I don’t like having thousands of people around when you don’t need them.”

Pay & Benefits

Federal Judge Dismisses Shutdown Lawsuit

A federal employee union had argued that forcing federal employees to work without pay during a lapse in appropriations constitutes a violation of the Anti-Deficiency Act, but a judge on Monday ruled that with the government open, the case is now moot.

Management

Experts Agree that Trump’s Coronavirus Response Was Poor, but the U.S. Was Ill-Prepared in the First Place

Trump called coronavirus a hoax, and he dragged his feet in addressing it. But the U.S. health care system was ill-equipped from the start to deal with such a crisis. The pandemic shows the flaws.

Management

White House Recommends Telework for Certain Feds

The Office of Management and Budget "encouraged" agencies to sign up federal workers that are members of high-risk populations for telework, and to coordinate with state and local institutions.

Management

Coronavirus Control Measures Aren’t Pointless – Just Slowing down the Pandemic Could Save Millions of Lives

Best case estimates suggest 40 million American adults may come down with COVID-19. But an epidemiologist explains why now is not the time to just give up.

Management

How the State Department Could Be Rebuilt After the Trump Administration

The damage at the State Department is worse than you imagine—but also more reparable.

Defense

Pentagon Suspends Troop Travel in Affected Countries; Trump Limits Travel from Mainland Europe

Defense Secretary orders 60-day ban on troops, civilians, and families traveling “to, from, or through” Germany, South Korea, Italy, France, others.

Oversight

GovExec Daily: Transparency in the Trump Administration

Courtney Bublé and Tom Shoop join the podcast to examine the White House's claim that it is the "most transparent ever."

Defense

Trump Treats the Military as His Own – and the Troops Could Suffer

If President Donald Trump were to start a conflict, many Americans would likely view as it a misguided effort. What would that mean for the troops?

Oversight

EPA Scientists Found a Toxic Chemical Damages Fetal Hearts. the Trump White House Rewrote Their Assessment.

An internal scientific evaluation of TCE obtained by Reveal shows detailed interference by the Executive Office of the President.