Oversight
GAO: Trump Administration Violated the Law by Withholding Ukraine Aid
The administration pushed back on the findings, and has said GAO decisions are not binding.
Management
Senate Confirms Trump’s Pick for Regulations Czar
Paul Ray served as the acting head of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs before receiving the nomination.
Management
Senate Committee Advances Paul Ray’s Nomination to Be Regulations Czar
Panel votes 8-4 to send the nomination to the full Senate.
Management
Senate Committee Considers Trump’s Deregulation Crusader for Top Regulatory Role
At the same time, one of the administration's key initiatives to cut red tape is being challenged in court.
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
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.
Management
Former White House Officials Call Trump Administration’s Foreign Aid Process ‘Unconventional,’ But Legal
House Democrats have subpoenaed OMB and the Defense Department for documents related to the decision to withhold funding from Ukraine.
Management
Trump Taps Former Corporate Lawyer to Lead Regulatory Rollbacks
Paul Ray has been the acting head of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs for six months.
Management
OMB Moving Ahead to Steer Agencies on Evidence-Based Policymaking
Acting budget chief’s memo sets up three-year timeline, interagency council.
Tech
DATA Act Collection Effort Worked Better for Grants Than Contracts
Watchdog found documentation gaps in pilot plan for creating central portal.
Tech
Watchdog: Fuzzy Communication Is Hindering Effort to Standardize Agency Data
Amid reorganization OMB lacks clarity on DATA Act, GAO finds.
Management
OMB Reminds Agencies That It Vets Documents Before Roll-Outs
Deputy Director Vought reinforces need for clearance of budget and media materials.
Management
White House Budget Office Draws Positive Reviews for FOIA Portal Guidance
Transparency advocates praised the step, but said the effort lacks a lead agency.
Pay
House lawmakers say new CFC rules could backfire
A bipartisan group House legislators is pushing back at new draft regulations from the Office of Personnel Management that make major changes to the way the Combined Federal Campaign is operated.
Employee Policy
OMB reports agency performance improving
The Office of Management and Budget said recent performance reports indicate that agencies across the government are improving in terms of setting and reaching priority goals.
Pay
Furloughs cost $2.5 billion, OMB says
Taken together, the furloughs of federal employees during the government shutdown totaled 6.6 million days, according to a new report from the Office of Management and Budget.
Pay
Award limits to stay in place in fiscal 2014
Agencies will continue to limit total spending on individual performance awards in fiscal 2014.
Pay
OPM issues post-shutdown guidance on pay and benefits
The Office of Personnel Management in released new guidance to agencies to help them resolve pay and benefits questions in the wake of the government shutdown.
Pay