Oversight
Report: DHS, USPS failing in their requirements to screen for opioids in the mail
A 2018 law aimed at preventing drug producers from shipping their goods through the mail is not being implemented, IG says.
News
U.S. House votes to remove Kevin McCarthy as speaker
It isn’t immediately clear how the House will proceed in the coming days.
Workforce
OPM extends flexible hiring of military spouses
Interim regulations will allow federal agencies to hire the spouses of military service members outside of the traditional competitive hiring process through 2028.
Tech
Senators push for USPS identity proofing to thwart AI-generated deepfakes
The U.S. Postal Service already offers identity proofing services for some government agencies.
Tech
New cyber rules aim to standardize requirements for federal contractors
The proposed rules would create new information sharing and incident reporting requirements.
Management
Congress temporarily averts shutdown, but agencies still feel the pain
"Everything just stops," employees say of the devastating impacts of near shutdowns.
Pay & Benefits
The federal firefighter ‘pay cliff’ has been averted, for now
The 45-day continuing resolution preventing a government shutdown also includes language ensuring federal firefighters don’t lose access to recent pay increases whose funding was expected to run out this month.
Pay & Benefits
Report reveals differing federal employee insurance withholding information between USDA, OPM
An OIG audit found differences of federal employee withholding reporting between the two agencies, leading to several employees being charged incorrect life insurance amounts and another wrongly waived from coverage.
Pay & Benefits
TSP funds continued to fall in September
For the second straight month, the vast majority of the portfolios in the federal government’s 401(k)-style retirement savings program declined in value.
Tech
Feds' quantum encryption shift is most 'comprehensive' ever done, official says
Office of the National Cyber Director official Dylan Presman said there has been “nothing like this” effort to move critical assets to quantum-resistant encryption standards.
Defense
Lawmakers, Army headed for a fight over cuts to special operations forces
“It doesn’t pass the smell test,” said one Senate staffer.
Oversight
Disaster recovery projects stall nationwide as FEMA runs out of money
The agency has paused $2.8 billion in spending as it braces for a looming government shutdown.
Oversight
Social Security overpayments draw scrutiny and outrage from members of Congress
SSA recovered $4.7 billion of overpayments during the 2022 fiscal year but ended that year with $21.6 billion of overpayments still uncollected, according to a November 2022 report by department’s inspector general.
Management
Congress averts shutdown with a 45-day stopgap funding bill
Lawmakers passed a bipartisan measure just hours before a funding lapse was set to furlough hundreds of thousands of federal employees.
Defense
How the Pentagon’s big tech bets could suffer if the government shuts down
Anything that needs new money to start or scale could see delays—including the Air Force’s quest to develop robot wingmen.
Pay & Benefits
Federal payroll processor: Oct. 11 is deadline to avert feds’ getting incomplete paychecks
If Congress fails to restore funding to federal agencies, most federal workers will only receive a partial paycheck on Oct. 13.
Management
House fails to advance spending stopgap, pushing government to the brink of a shutdown
Senate will still attempt 11th-hour plan that faces uncertain future.
Workforce
On shutdown eve, the Biden administration adjusts furlough plans at some agencies
Fewer government services will be available during a funding lapse than previously expected.
Management
HASC chair: Space Command's temporary office is insecure. Officials: untrue
After White House scuttles move to Alabama, Rep. Rogers vows to keep SPACECOM from building a permanent HQ in Colorado.
Management