Oversight
Another Budget Fight Looms This Month in Congress Centering on Border Wall Funding
As lawmakers in Washington prepare a budget for the next fiscal year, funding for the border wall is taking center stage — again.
Oversight
State Has Been Consistently Late Submitting Foreign Assistance Budget Documents, Watchdog Finds
In 2018, delays were partially due to staff shortages following the hiring freeze.
Management
Leaders Warn of 'Disturbing Signals' As Senate Starts on Spending Bills to Avoid Shutdown
Just days after beginning work, appropriators delay scheduled votes on measures to fund agencies past September .
Oversight
Trump Officials Threatened With Fines, Jail Time Over Illegal Spending During Shutdown
Administration says it "will not apologize" or change course, despite warnings.
Management
House Democrats Urge Leadership to Stand Firm on Union Protections in Spending Bills
More than 200 lawmakers insisted that appropriators protect a House-passed provision blocking agencies from implementing union contracts mandated by the Federal Service Impasses Panel.
Pay & Benefits
Trump Endorses 2.6% Across the Board Pay Raise for Federal Workers
In a surprise move Friday, the president abandoned his quest for a pay freeze in 2020, although there will be no locality pay adjustment under his plan.
Management
Lawmakers Expect a Stopgap Spending Measure to Avoid an October Shutdown
Despite the two-year budget deal, agencies are likely to receive a continuation of current spending levels well into the fall, Congressional aides say.
Management
White House Backs Down in Fight Over Foreign Aid Spending Cuts
The move would have raised legal questions and disrupted negotiations over governmentwide funding.
Management
Budget Talks Will Break Down if White House Bypasses Congress to Cut Foreign Aid, Pelosi Warns
The Democratic leader stresses that the State Department must be allowed to continue spending money while Congress considers any rescission request, per a GAO legal analysis.
Workforce
Lawmakers Accuse Trump Administration of Circumventing Congress on Weather Service Staffing
Employees say they are working more overtime on account of vacancies than they are allowed to get paid for.
Management
White House Pauses Some Diplomatic Spending, and the Money Could Eventually Be Cut Off Altogether
The move could provide a path for OMB to circumvent spending levels spelled out by Congress.
Management
Senate Sends 2-Year Budget Deal to Trump, Shifting Focus to Shutdown-Averting Spending Bills
Lawmakers now have through Sept. 30 to pass appropriations.
Management
Analysis: Can Anyone Stop Trump’s Border Wall?
The Supreme Court temporarily allowed the administration to begin construction. That doesn’t mean victory for the president is certain.
Management
House Passes Two-Year Budget Deal to Avoid Big Across-the-Board Spending Cuts
Trump says he will sign the bill to boost spending by $320B, but the Senate must act first.
Workforce
Senator Says He Has Trump and McConnell's Support for Bill to End Shutdowns Permanently
Momentum grows for bipartisan bill to prevent lawmakers from leaving D.C. until they pass spending bills.
Management
Senate Panel Backs Bill Requiring Greater Transparency on Federal Spending
Goal is for taxpayers to have access to more information on where their money is going.
Management
White House and Lawmakers Agree to Two-Year Budget Deal
The agreement would lift spending caps and raise the debt ceiling.
Management
Everyone Dreads Shutdowns, So Why Do They Keep Happening?
The Antideficiency Act is supposed to clarify what happens when Congress fails to pass a budget. But it hasn’t worked out that way.
Management
Viewpoint: The Debt Ceiling And Why We Should Kill It
The U.S. hit the debt ceiling in March and is expected to run out of ways to get around the new $22 trillion limit by September. An economist explains why the ceiling is a dysfunctional relic.
Management