Management
Bipartisan IRS whistleblower reform bill gains momentum in Senate after House approval
The IRS said that it has collected around $7.5 billion due to whistleblowers since 2007.
Updated
Oversight
Citing legal requirement, senator wants a designated inspector general to provide oversight of Iran war
The Council of Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency is required to select an IG to oversee reviews when a military “overseas contingency operation” surpasses 60 days.
Defense
House draft of defense policy bill leaves some of Trump admin’s top priorities unfunded
The draft bill doesn’t include reconciliation dollars.
Management
Agency leaders back GSA bid for full access to federal building repair funds
Officials argued that GSA’s deferred maintenance backlog has increased to an estimated $26 billion, in part, because Congress puts annual restrictions on amounts the agency can spend from the Federal Buildings Fund.
Management
FEMA is not ready for hurricane season due to Trump upheaval, House Democrats argue
The administration has recently reinstated some disaster staffers to promote readiness.
Workforce
House GOP probes agency settlements with federal workers
Republican members of the House Oversight and Reform Committee argued agencies should settle less often with feds who allege prohibited personnel practices, but experts say the government acts similarly to private sector litigants.
Defense
Hegseth rethinking Army reforms, cuts to aviation
One year after launching the Army Transformation Initiative, the Defense secretary says he's reviewing the to-do list.
Oversight
Watchdog recommends nearly 100 ways for agencies to save tens of billions
Agencies have implemented a majority of previous Government Accountability Office recommendations regarding duplicative federal programs, generating almost $775 billion in financial benefits.
Pay & Benefits
Dems introduce bill to protect feds’ credit scores during shutdowns
Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., said he was inspired to draft the legislation after hearing from TSA workers whose inability to pay their bills during the 78-day partial government shutdown hurt their credit scores even after they began receiving back pay.
Management
Easing USPS handgun shipping rules will exacerbate crime, warns Democrat
Rep. Maxwell Frost, D-Fla., is challenging the Postal Service’s plan to treat handguns like rifles and shotguns.
Management
Contracting association warns it could take DHS until the end of the year to ‘get back on track’ following record-breaking shutdown
The Professional Services Council also reported that several contracting companies faced the threat of closure due to missed reimbursements from the government as a result of the funding lapse.
Workforce
Coast Guard officer promotion advanced by Senate Republicans despite IG finding of whistleblower retaliation
Commander Jesse Millard was approved in committee on a party-line vote, despite Senate Democrats demanding that his promotion be withdrawn.
Management
IRS whistleblower program set for possible overhaul after bipartisan House vote
The measure would reshape how claims move through the system, how court reviews are handled and how payments are ultimately made. Over its history, the program has recovered about $7.5 billion.
Management
Former civil servants aim to shape policy as members of Congress
Dozens of federal employees who left or were pushed out of government in 2025 are now running for office.
Pay & Benefits
Senators demand OPM withdraw plan to access feds’ medical records
More than a dozen Democratic lawmakers warned that a little-scrutinized proposal to collect claims-level data related to the Federal Employees Health Benefits and Postal Service Health Benefits programs could violate federal law and doctor-client confidentiality.
Management
USDA is moving forward with various reorgs despite legal questions and bipartisan concerns
“This might be the best idea since sliced bread, I don’t know,” one Republican said.
Updated
Management
Vought defends fiscal 2027 budget request, as Democrats criticize OMB for violating spending law
The Trump administration proposed a 10% reduction to spending on non-defense agencies.
Oversight
House Dems: OPM ‘omitted’ employee departures from retirement backlog investigation
In responding to a December 2025 congressional inquiry, the Office of Personnel Management noted the separation of around 35 customer service representatives last year, but failed to mention more than 100 departures from its Retirement Services division.
Workforce
Top Oversight Dem criticizes OPM’s forced distribution plan for federal worker appraisals
Rep. Robert Garcia, D-Calif., said that the federal government’s dedicated HR agency failed to sufficiently grapple with past OPM policy or the wealth of research finding that forced distribution models for performance appraisals is counterproductive to organizational health.
Defense