Defense

Army Mulls 10-20% Cut to Special Operations Forces

Lawmakers and Army officials have discussed cuts through decade’s end, including to Green Berets, psyops, and enablers.

Oversight

ATF Misclassified Jobs. A Senator Wants the Justice Department to Dig Deeper.

Citing concerns by the whistleblowers who triggered the investigation that found that the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives had systematically misclassified administrative jobs as law enforcement-related, Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, asked the Justice Department to do a more thorough investigation.

Management

Lawmakers Have Questions About Online Passport Renewal

Members of Congress are hearing it from constituents on long waits to renew passports and want more info about an online option.

Oversight

Biden and McCarthy Strike Positive Tone After Debt Limit Talks, But No Deal Yet

"We don’t have an agreement yet, but I did feel the discussion was productive in areas that we have differences of opinion,” McCarthy said Monday.

Workforce

Forcing Feds Into the Office Is a Mistake. Here's Why.

An arbitrary reduction in telework is likely to drive an exodus of qualified federal workers seeking flexibility to the private sector.

Workforce

Rehiring Federal Retirees 'Makes Sense,' If Agencies Can Get the Go-Ahead

Ron Sanders joins the podcast to discuss bringing back feds to federal service.

Workforce

GOP Lawmakers Demand Telework Stats from Federal Agencies

Congressional Republicans argued that the Biden administration’s recent efforts to scale back the use of telework are insufficient.

Oversight

Top Postal Regulator Calls for Expanded Reach Amid Feud With DeJoy

As USPS management says its regulator is standing in its way, the commission's chairman seeks to grow to keep pace with DeJoy's changes.

Workforce

New Hiring Methods Help FBI and CIA Combat Cyber Talent Shortage

Officials at the intelligence and law enforcement agencies say they’re facing the national cyber talent shortage head-on, from implementing a new approach to hiring top cyber talent to new training programs and incentives.

Workforce

A Default on the U.S. Debt Would Be Far Worse Than a Government Shutdown. Here’s How

National security, transportation, Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid would be impacted.

Workforce

The Racial Gap in the Financial Industry

Jim Casselberry, CEO and co-founder at Known, joins the podcast to discuss DEI in the banking sector.

Oversight

Overhaul Federal Permitting as Part of the Debt Limit Deal? Not as Easy as It Sounds.

Time is running out for a deal on permitting legislation to be included in a debt limit bill.

Workforce

Federal Labor Law Applies to Civilian Technicians in State National Guards, Supreme Court Affirms

The state of Ohio had argued it did not fall under the jurisdiction of the Federal Labor Relations Authority, despite the fact that “dual status technicians” are federal employees.

Workforce

Union and Alaska Army Posts Resolve Differences Over Official Time and Illegal Contract, But Other Fights Remain

Despite agreeing to drop the illegal contract the agency unilaterally imposed on AFGE employees in 2019, union officials say management continues to resist the Biden administration’s pro-labor policies.

Management

Talks on a Spending and Debt Deal Come to a Halt

As negotiators look to avoid delaying paychecks for feds, Republicans say they hit pause on negotiations.

Management

Coronavirus Roundup: The Future of the OSHA Standard to Protect Healthcare Workers from COVID is Unclear

There’s a lot to keep track of. Here’s a list of this week’s news updates and stories you may have missed.

Workforce

EEOC Alerts Employers to AI Discrimination Risks

The agency explains how existing civil rights protections apply to artificial intelligence applications in the workplace.

Management

It’s Time to Rethink Degree Requirements for Federal Contractors

Outdated mandates that job candidates have 4-year educational degrees create barriers to getting the best people on the job.

Workforce

There is No Firm Plan Yet for Feds' Pay in a Debt Ceiling Breach

GovExec Senior Correspondent Eric Katz joins the podcast to discuss the ongoing negotiations as a default looms.