Management
OMB Touts Money and Time Saved From Regulatory Cuts, Eliminating Busywork
President’s management agenda update highlights 100 “burden-reducing” initiatives.
Oversight
Federal Judge Threatens Education Secretary With Possible Jail Time
Government blames contractors partly for non-compliance with court orders.
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.
Management
Report: IRS Should Have an Official In Charge of Customer Experience
The agency could also improve its website and share more feedback, analysts conclude in first-of-its-kind report.
Management
What Popular Government Service Providers Could Teach Other Agencies
First of its kind report looks at successful practices that could be replicated governmentwide.
Management
Shutdown’s Damage to IRS Morale and Customer Service Will Linger, Study Finds
The appropriations lapse occurred during filing season, the agency’s busiest time of year, and will affect next year’s filing season as well.
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.
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.
Oversight
Whistleblower is Vulnerable to Retaliation Due to Limited Intelligence Community Protections
Under the law, the president is responsible for ensuring whistleblowers are protected, but experts say the law never accounted for a president leading the attack on a whistleblower.
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
It’s Finally Here: GSA’s New Consolidated Schedule
Tuesday’s solicitation will begin the process of turning 24 award schedules into a single contracting vehicle for products and services.
Oversight
Thousands of IRS Employees Are Working Outside Jobs That Risk Conflicts of Interest
In 2016, 167 employees had potentially prohibited second jobs and 2,196 were at high-risk for conflict of interest.
Oversight
In Act of Defiance, FEC Chair Tweets Memo on Foreign Election Interference Over GOP Commissioner's Objections
Chairwoman Weintraub said a Republican commissioner last week blocked publication of the guidance in a weekly digest of FEC activities.
Pay & Benefits
Study: Shutdown Did Lasting Damage to Federal Recruitment, Retention and Morale
While recovering from the most recent lapse in appropriations, some are fearful there will be another.
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
Senate Confirms Scalia to Be Labor Secretary
The Senate voted along party lines in support of the former Labor Department solicitor under President George W. Bush.
Oversight
Democrats Blast GSA for Lax Oversight of Trump Hotel
The agency should be asking more questions about the lease and its financial terms, lawmakers say.
Management
Senate Committee Advances Scalia’s Nomination To Be Labor Secretary
Panel votes along party lines to send the nomination to the full Senate.
Oversight
HHS Lacked Adequate Staffing in 2017 Hurricane Responses, Watchdog Finds
Coordination with other agencies and patient tracking were also problems.
Management