Oversight
Agencies Are Relying More on Alternatives to Contractor Suspension and Debarment
Annual report shows that exclusions from doing business with the government have decreased in recent years, yet are still up from 2009.
Oversight
What’s at Stake If Sen. Rand Paul Names the Ukraine Whistleblower
While there might not be legal implications, the move could hurt national security and have a chilling effect on future whistleblowers.
Oversight
Senate Panel Tackles Unauthorized Appropriations, or ‘Zombie Payments’
Unauthorized payments accounted for 23% of the discretionary budget in 2019, compared to 10% in the early 1990s.
Management
Could Congress Reverse Trump’s Decision to Pull Troops Out of Syria?
Since the 1940s, Congress has largely let the president make decisions, while members of the House and Senate endorse or condemn those actions from the sidelines.
Management
Interior Department Says It Has Made Great Strides in Eliminating Systemic Harassment
Lawmakers applaud efforts, but say the progress is unproven as IG is still investigating harassment cases.
Pay & Benefits
Democratic Senators Renew Push for Contractors to Receive Shutdown Back Pay
The House previously approved a similar measure, but the White House opposed it.
Management
More Than 30 Lawmakers Urge Appropriators to Block Funding for USDA Science Agency Relocations
With most employees at the two research agencies declining to move to Kansas City, Democrats in both the House and Senate are urging appropriators to adopt House-passed language prohibiting spending on the move.
Management
Republican Senators Introduce Bill to Relocate Major Federal Agencies Outside of D.C.
Ninety-percent of positions in 10 departments would be moved to economically distressed areas.
Oversight
Cummings’ Leadership on Federal Employee Issues, Bipartisanship Could Be Hard to Replicate
The impeachment inquiry against President Trump is likely to dominate the next Oversight and Reform Committee chair’s agenda, observers say.
Oversight
Federal Employees Lose a Powerful Advocate With Death of Democratic Rep. Elijah Cummings
The Oversight and Reform chairman was a “fierce advocate for the public interest,” one observer says.
Workforce
'The Worst Period of My Life': Career Fed Reflects on Being Caught Between Congressional and Agency Demands
"I don't envy them," former official says of current employees in the middle of the Trump administration's standoff with Congress.
Management
Top Commerce Officials Played Key Role in Drafting Hurricane Statement Supporting Trump, NOAA Chief Says
The White House chief of staff was also involved, the administrator told Congress.
Pay & Benefits
Advocates: Congress 'Very Close' to Passing Paid Family Leave for Feds
Union officials and members are hopeful a Defense policy bill provision providing 12 weeks of paid leave for the birth or adoption of a child and other medical issues will make it into law.
Management
Report: Executive Branch Should Establish an Interagency Task Force to Combat Foreign Election Inference
Bipartisan Senate report recommends a media literacy initiative and a system for alerting people targeted with disinformation.
Oversight
Federal Election Commission Faces Growing Backlog in Enforcement Docket
A long-standing problem is exacerbated by the FEC’s recent loss of a quorum.
Oversight
Grassley Deviates From Other Senate Republicans and Supports Ukraine Whistleblower
Senator says he believes the whistleblower followed the law and should be protected.
Management
Citing Need to Protect Career Employees, Pompeo Says State Won't Comply With Initial Impeachment Inquiry Requests
Congress is seeking to "intimidate, bully and treat improperly" career staff, says President Trump's top diplomat.
Oversight
Trump’s Intelligence Chief Didn’t Make Anyone Happy
Joseph Maguire did not endorse the explosive allegations of an anonymous whistleblower, but neither did he rise to the president’s defense.
Management
Senate’s Election Security Funding Bill Leaves a Key Agency Strapped for Cash
The Election Assistance Commission has struggled with insufficient staff and resources.
Management