Management
Finally With a Quorum, Federal Election Commission Faces ‘Extensive Backlog of Cases’
The nation’s campaign finance watchdog gets back to work after being hamstrung the last eight and a half months.
Defense
Senate Intel Panel Advances Ratcliffe Nomination In Party-Line Vote
The former Texas prosecutor is a deeply controversial pick for the nation’s top spy.
Oversight
Lawmakers Press GSA on Trump Hotel’s Request for Financial Relief During Pandemic
This comes as a federal appeals court revives an Emoluments Clause lawsuit involving the hotel.
Defense
Fired State IG Was Investigating Saudi Arms Sale
A key House Democrat says that might be why he was fired.
Oversight
Trump’s Decision to Fire the State Department’s Watchdog Draws Bipartisan Concern on Capitol Hill
Some Republicans say the president failed to provide an adequate justification to Congress.
Management
Trump Administration Details Efforts to Support Peaceful Presidential Transition
Watchdog group points to “significant ethics problems” among some of the White House Transition Coordinating Council members.
Oversight
Lawmakers Press the Trump Administration for More Transparency on Coronavirus Drug Distribution
Inquiry comes after reports of a chaotic initial rollout.
Oversight
GOP-Led Committee Advances Nomination of Special Pandemic Recovery IG
Meanwhile, Democrats unleash a slew of proposals related to strengthening IGs and protecting their independence.
Pay & Benefits
House Democrats Urge Leadership to Begin Paid Parental Leave for Feds Early
A group of 12 lawmakers said the new benefit for federal workers, currently slated for implementation in October, should apply retroactively to December.
Management
Good Government Groups Are Skeptical of Republican FEC Nominee
A Senate committee voted along party lines to advance the nomination of Trey Trainor to the agency that enforces campaign finance laws.
Defense
Trump's Intelligence-Chief Nominee Vows to 'Speak Truth to Power'
GOP lawmakers are seeking to speed up Rep. John Ratcliffe’s nomination, but his careful answers did not appear to satisfy skeptics.
Management
Legislation Would Designate a Civilian Official to Oversee Acquisition of Medical Supplies, Bolster Transparency
Process of getting equipment to front-line workers during the coronavirus pandemic has been “absolute chaos” so far, bill sponsor says.
Defense
Pentagon's 'Willingness to Kiss the President's Ass' Worries Top Lawmaker
"I am worried about a culture developing," says House Armed Services Committee Chairman Adam Smith, D-Wash., after the latest delay in Navy captain’s fate.
Oversight
Did He Talk About Her? VA Secretary Changes His Story Amid Allegations He Sought Dirt on House Staffer.
Robert Wilkie is under investigation after a complaint that he sought information to discredit a House staffer who said she was sexually assaulted in a VA hospital. Wilkie denied discussing her with Rep. Dan Crenshaw. But an email indicates he did.
Oversight
House Approves Creation of a Select Panel to Oversee Pandemic-Related Spending and Response
Critics have said the committee will be duplicative, but one transparency expert said that "overlapping oversight jurisdictions can be a good thing if managed correctly."
Oversight
GovExec Daily: Removing Barriers to Innovation in COVID-19 Legislation
Stan Soloway joined the podcast to explain how the pandemic is an opportunity for legislation modernizing some aspects of government.
Workforce
Senate Democrats Propose Creating Hundreds of Thousands of New National Service Jobs
Proposals would expand the public health workforces across federal agencies to deal with the coronavirus outbreak.
Oversight
Congress Is Investigating Whether a Ventilator Company Is Gouging the U.S. — and Why the Government Is Letting It Happen
A congressional subcommittee is questioning a federal decision to pay quadruple the price for the commercial version of a ventilator Royal Philips N.V. had developed with taxpayer funds.
Oversight
GovExec Daily: Overseeing Agencies' Pandemic Response
Katherine McIntire Peters and Courtney Bublé join the podcast to discuss how IGs, agencies and Congress can account for the money in the CARES Act will be
Management