Congress

Congressional response to watchdog firings hindered by GOP control, Connolly says

A good government group fears that Trump will ignore rules about who can serve as an acting inspector general.

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Inspectors general’s role as independent government watchdogs in question after Trump firings

Many inspector general offices will be headed by acting leaders in the interim, which could weaken the effectiveness of their oversight.

Trump fires multiple agency inspectors general

Sen. Grassley and a top watchdog said Trump did not adhere to congressional notification requirements about such removals.

Congressional Republicans mull plans to gash feds’ pay, benefits and job security

GOP lawmakers are once again considering a litany of proposals that would require federal workers to pay more in exchange for less retirement and health care benefits.

Congress passes migrant detention bill that DHS said it can’t enforce without more resources

The Laken Riley Act is set to be the first bill Trump signs into law after it passed the House and Senate with bipartisan support.

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Coast Guard leader fired by new DHS officials

Commandant Linda Fagan had received bipartisan criticisms from members of Congress who accused the USCG of resisting oversight.

Democrats introduce bills to provide feds 4.3% average pay raise in 2026, standardize retiree COLAs

Lawmakers have reintroduced annual bills aimed at setting a marker for the upcoming federal pay raise debate and to end bifurcated cost-of-living increases for federal retirees.

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Inspectors general have a new bipartisan caucus in the Senate

The president-elect has a record of removing inspectors general.

House Oversight Republicans open Congress with rants against telework, unions

The first hearing of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee was ostensibly about telework yet frequently devolved into anti-union rhetoric.

Ernst targets D.C.-area federal workers with trio of bills

Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, proposed legislation this week that would force agencies to move 30% of their D.C.-based workforce out of the region, mandate telework tracking, and push agencies to move their headquarters out of the nation’s capital.

Top Oversight Democrat says he’s open to collaborate with the DOGE

The new Department of Government Efficiency — which, despite the “department” referenced in its name, is an advisory effort, not a government department — has aims to trim the federal workforce and hunt efficiencies in tech and fraud reduction efforts.

Energy Dept. watchdog reports that travel expense violations in secretary’s criticized EV road trip caused by lack of oversight and knowledge

House Republicans blasted the trip as “ripe with waste, fraud and abuse,” but the report found that some of the violations cost the federal government less than $100.

Coast Guard is resisting oversight of mishandled sexual misconduct cases, lawmakers say

Congressional inquires were spurred by revelations that the Coast Guard did not disclose an investigation into possible sexual assaults at its service academy.

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Johnson retains speakership, pledges to roll back 'totalitarian' administrative state

Some Republicans were concerned that a contested speaker election could delay implementation of Trump’s agenda.

Musk and Ramaswamy to confront Congress in struggle for control of the public purse

The duo will need to garner support from hundreds of members of Congress for any of their suggested spending cuts as co-chairs of the nongovernmental Department of Government Efficiency, to become law. That is an uphill slog many have failed at before.