Management

Hundreds of cities get federal help to make streets safer

The $1 billion funding announcement is the second round of grants this year. To date, the federal government has provided money for safer streets to nearly three-quarters of the country.

Biden’s FEMA director tried to fix the agency. Did she succeed?

Deanne Criswell discusses new reforms at FEMA, funding challenges and how the agency approaches emergency response.

House GOP members unveil $3B VA supplemental funding bill

The legislation is intended to cover a budget shortfall at the department through the remainder of fiscal 2024.

A Management Agenda for 2025 and beyond: Pivoting from outcomes to results

COMMENTARY | When it comes to creating a government that solves the country’s big problems, the people just don’t believe it’s happening. Here’s how to fix that.

Trump vows to establish an 'efficiency commission' with Elon Musk at the helm

The former president said the Tesla CEO has “agreed” to head up a task force aimed at cutting federal programs.

Biden administration seeks more Social Security funding, election and transition provisions in possible CR

The Office of Management and Budget made the requests as part of the process by which the White House and Congress prepare for the potential need to pass a short-term continuing resolution in September.

Transparency and urgency are needed to deter agency misconduct and protect federal workers

COMMENTARY | The head of the Office of Special Counsel, the agency that investigates allegations of government misconduct, has a proposal.

GSA has a backlog of 36,000 open fire, safety and health risk conditions in federal buildings

After a complaint to GSA’s inspector general that the agency was violating employee health and safety regulations, auditors found a database of unresolved risk issues at federal buildings across the nation that dated back a decade. 

Education Department outlines its testing period for a phased rollout of the new FAFSA form

After this year's federal student aid application encountered a series of glitches and errors the department will begin beta testing the 2025-2026 form with community-based organizations in October.

SSI to move its core disability program application online

The initial rollout will be available to adults who have never married and are applying for Supplemental Security Income for the first time.

Federal judge pauses a program that grants protections for undocumented spouses

A Homeland Security Department spokesperson said the agency will defend the program, known as Keeping Families Together, in court. DHS is still allowed to collect applications, but not allowed to approve them.

Both Harris and Trump are historically behind on presidential transition planning

GSA is beginning to provide office space and information technology support to the candidates, who have both just recently named the heads of their transition teams.

ICE struggles to track unaccompanied minors, oversight report says

The agency lacks automated systems to chart the path of underage migrants through the immigration system.

Social Security to finalize rules making expanded phone and video hearings permanent

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, the agency quickly pivoted toward offering disability determination hearings by phone and video, options that remain popular today.

FDA greenlights a new COVID vaccine after a summer of rising numbers of cases

While the death rate from COVID-19 steadily decreased during the first half of the year, it began ticking up slightly in June, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

VA should offer more support for Veterans Crisis Line personnel, watchdog says

VA’s Office of Inspector General found that the Veterans Crisis Line successfully prepared for the launch of the streamlined “988 then press 1” call option for those in crisis but strained supervisors’ ability to guide responders.