Oversight

Former DHS employees sentenced for plot to steal government software, databases

The trio wanted to to build a commercial software product that would have been sold to government agencies.

Oversight

House Democrats pen fiery letter to embattled DHS inspector general demanding documents

The ranking members of the House Committees on Oversight and Accountability and Homeland Security demanded documents from the DHS IG related to a court settlement with a former deputy inspector general after repeated requests remained unfulfilled. 

Oversight

NSA illegally purchases Americans’ internet data without a warrant, senator says

The NSA’s purchases of commercial metadata without a court order — revealed in documents exchanged with Sen. Ron Wyden — violate consumer protection laws, the Oregon Democrat claims.

Oversight

GSA used ‘egregiously flawed’ data to clear purchase of Chinese-made cameras, watchdog says

The inspector general's report noted that the acquired video conferencing cameras were not compliant with the 1979 Trade Agreements Act and contained security flaws that, in some instances, had still gone unpatched.

Oversight

GAO: Agencies need to trust each other’s background check processes

An array of technical and cultural challenges plague the federal government’s ability to OK the transfer of federal employees across agencies, the government watchdog found.

Oversight

A surprising history of the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals

Once a leader in expanding civil rights, it's now a leader in limiting government power.

Oversight

House GOP move forward with drive to impeach DHS secretary over immigration policy

Republicans on the Homeland Security Committee argued that Alejandro Mayorkas has not upheld his oath of office because he enforces Biden administration border policies

Oversight

IRS has ‘unconscionable delays’ in helping identity theft victims, taxpayer advocate says

The average wait time for taxpayers trying to resolve fraudulent returns, coupled with legitimate filers being mistakenly flagged as fraudulent, has become a top challenge for the IRS, according to a new report.

Oversight

House subpoenas VA over sexual harassment allegations

The department has asked for time to conduct its own investigation, but in a bipartisan vote, lawmakers declined to wait.

Oversight

Watchdog finds ‘sufficient’ cyber threat sharing at agencies, but barriers remain

The Intelligence Community Inspector General’s biennial update on cybersecurity information sharing noted that progress has been made over the past two years, but some agencies reported running up against roadblocks.

Oversight

In emails, a contractor tries to orchestrate a new federal transplant policy

The documents raise fresh questions about the Health and Human Services Department's ability to effectively oversee its transplant contractors.

Oversight

Conservatives bemoan disappearance of OPM official time docs

Officials at the federal government’s HR agency said a webpage housing sporadic reports on agencies’ official time use did not survive a recent website redesign, but suggested tweaks are ongoing.

Oversight

Key federal agencies mostly followed procedure on Jan. 6, IG finds

The National Park Service could have taken more steps to prevent risks, auditor says, though organizer's lies made the planning more challenging.

Oversight

Senate committee wants VA to ensure providers work to prevent opioid abuse

Sen. Angus King, I-Maine, and other Senate Veterans Affairs Committee members sent a letter to VA Secretary Denis McDonough calling for action after audits found oversight lapses in opioid prescriptions from non-agency providers. 

Oversight

House committee wants FBI headquarters documents outlining Greenbelt decision

The House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure chairman called for more information from the FBI, General Services Administration and the former official charged with selecting the site of the Bureau’s proposed headquarters about how the decision came to pass.  

Oversight

Social Security clawbacks hit a million more people than the agency chief told Congress

At issue is the scope of a problem that has terrified many Social Security beneficiaries and plunged them into financial distress.

Oversight

In Congress, calls mount for Social Security to address clawbacks

The Social Security Administration routinely sends notices to beneficiaries saying they received benefits to which they weren’t entitled — and demanding they pay the government back, often within 30 days.

Oversight

Federal watchdog launches probe into agency leadership that allegedly allowed widespread harassment to fester

Congressional committees and the agency itself is already conducting investigations into the alleged toxic workplace.

Oversight

Diversity in the federal workforce has improved slightly over the last decade

But Latino representation among federal employees continues to lag behind a nationwide benchmark.

Oversight

Still concerned about the Dakota Access pipeline? The feds are asking for comment, 7 years later.

The controversial pipeline near Standing Rock united the climate movement. Now regulators want the public to weigh in on the project’s environmental impact.