Oversight
COVID Aid Appears Safe from a Republican Clawback
The House GOP debt limit proposal would dramatically reduce spending and increase SNAP work requirements, but it would not take back the pandemic relief funds already in governments’ hands.
Oversight
The CDC Lacks a Rural Focus. Researchers Hope a Newly Funded Office Will Help.
Advocates for improving rural health pushed for the CDC to extend its rural health focus by creating an Office of Rural Health. They hope the agency will commit to rural health research and provide analyses that lead to good public health policies for rural communities.
Oversight
Login.gov Has a Long Road Ahead of It
FCW's Natalie Alms joins the podcast to discuss the government's SSO option.
Oversight
EPA Sued Over Failure To Set, Update Pollution Limits
The lawsuit, filed last week, centers on the Clean Water Act.
Oversight
A Bill Would Repeal an Expensive Tax Rule For Public Servants
Rep. Abigail Spanberger joins the podcast to discuss her plan to put money in feds' and retirees' pockets.
Oversight
This Agency’s Declassification Work Could Be a Model for Others
A new paper, based on consultations with government officials and others, looks at what the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency has done in recent years.
Oversight
Federal Agencies Lag in Registering Voters Despite Biden Executive Order, Advocates Say
15 Republican secretaries of state sent a letter to the White House, asking president to reverse order, which they said will produce duplicate registrations, confuse citizens
Oversight
Environmental Groups Sue EPA Over Water Pollution Standards
A coalition of environmental groups claims the EPA has failed for decades to update limits on the discharge of some dangerous chemicals into waterways. Most of the worst polluters are in Texas.
Oversight
The EPA Faces Questions About Its Approval of a Plastic-Based Fuel With an Astronomical Cancer Risk
A senator questioned the EPA chief and a group sued the agency after ProPublica and the Guardian revealed that the EPA gave a Chevron refinery approval to make a fuel that could leave people nearby with a 1-in-4 lifetime risk of cancer.
Oversight
The Army Increasingly Allows Soldiers Charged With Violent Crimes to Leave the Military Rather Than Face Trial
A federal watchdog called for ending the practice nearly 50 years ago, but the military pushed back. Now, soldiers leave the Army with a negative discharge, avoiding possible federal conviction and with little record of the allegations against them.
Oversight
DHS Watchdog Alleges Harassment, Chilling Effect and Constitutional Violations
A lawsuit filed this week alleges the Homeland Security inspector general and his office have been harassed by the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency’s investigations, among other things.
Oversight
Following Concerns, Watchdog Advises DOJ on Ending Private Detention Contracts
The department’s inspector general says its recommendations on information sharing and documentation will ensure the proper stewardship of taxpayer dollars and that the department carries out the intent of President Biden’s executive order for the Marshals Service.
Oversight
Trump’s Indictment Stretches U.S. Legal System in New Ways – a Former Prosecutor Explains 4 Key Points to Understand
The Manhattan District Attorney will need to prove several different points in its prosecution of Trump. But securing an unbiased jury will also challenge the execution of this unprecedented case.
Oversight
Another Bipartisan Push for More Financial Transparency and Accountability
“Congress must have a clear understanding of what regulatory and supervisory failures occurred to allow the collapse of both Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank,” said one Republican senator.
Oversight
Social Security Trustees Predict Benefit Cuts in 2033 without Congressional Action
The projections say that, without action, Social Security would have enough money to pay about 77% of the total scheduled benefits.
Oversight
Paying Your Taxes Is Complicated. Here's Why.
OpenSecrets' Anna Massoglia joins the podcast to discuss the influence of tax preparation industry lobbying money on the ways Americans interact with the IRS.
Oversight
House Democratic Women Make a Case Against Cuts to Programs for Women and Families
Members of the House Democratic Women’s Caucus are ‘gearing up for really big fights’ over funding for women’s health as House Republicans plan to propose slashing many areas of federal spending.
Oversight
Trump Indictment Won’t Keep Him from Presidential Race, but Will Make His Reelection Bid Much Harder
With a grand jury indictment of former President and current presidential candidate Donald Trump, a legal scholar explores what the law says about the consequences of such an unprecedented act.
Oversight
Watchdogs: Having the Authority to Hire People Faster Would Strengthen Oversight of Ukraine Aid
The State, Defense and U.S. Agency for International Development inspectors general are also looking to place staff at the U.S. embassy in Kyiv.
Oversight