Oversight

In Preview of Debt Limit Fight, House Republicans Target Climate Funds

A House Environment subcommittee voted to claw back $27 billion from President Biden’s climate law, signaling what the GOP may demand in future budget negotiations.

Oversight

Lawmakers Want Watchdogs to Look Into Their Agencies’ Ethics Policies on Stock Ownership

This follows an investigation by The Wall Street Journal that found thousands of federal officials owned and traded stocks of companies that were affected directly by their agencies’ activity.

Oversight

Senate Democrats Back FAA Nominee, Despite GOP Objections at Confirmation Hearing

Committee’s confirmation hearing for Phil Washington, CEO of Denver International Airport, came more than seven months after Biden first nominated him

Oversight

Federal, State Officials Weigh Plans to Increase Rail Safety

The Rail Safety Act was mentioned as part of a plan to prevent further disasters in Ohio and nationwide.

Oversight

President Biden Issues a Sweeping Anti-COVID Fraud Proposal

One piece would be to give law enforcement and oversight agencies more time and resources to go after fraudsters. 

Oversight

The Ohio Train Crash Happened While The Hazardous Material Regulatory Agency Had No Permanent Leader

Courtney Bublé joins the podcast to discuss the derailment and Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, which has no nominee to lead it.

Oversight

The Spoils System Still Threatens the Civil Service

Donald F. Kettl and Daniel Chenok join the podcast to discuss merit systems and modernization.

Oversight

The Supreme Court Will Review the Consumer Protection Agency’s Funding Structure

An appeals court ruled in October that the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s funding structure was unconstitutional. 

Oversight

A Norfolk Southern Policy Lets Officials Order Crews to Ignore Safety Alerts

In October, months before the East Palestine derailment, the company also directed a train to keep moving with an overheated wheel that caused it to derail miles later in Sandusky, Ohio.

Oversight

A Top House Republican Accuses the Labor Department of Avoiding Oversight

The department “consistently makes a good faith effort to be responsive to their questions,” said a Labor Department spokesperson.

Oversight

What Is a UFO? The U.S. Shot down Three Mysterious Objects as Interest and Concern Increase Over Unidentified Craft

There are thousands of sightings of UFOs – or "unidentified aerial phenomena" as government prefers to call them – every year.

Oversight

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton Sues Joe Biden Over Signing Federal Spending Package

The attorney general argued the House unconstitutionally passed its federal spending bill because not enough members were physically present to vote. Both Republicans and Democrats voted by proxy throughout the pandemic.

Oversight

U.S. Likely to Default on Debt between July and September unless Congress Acts, CBO Says

Congressional Budget Office cautioned that the window is uncertain, since amount of money flowing into federal government from taxes, other revenue fluctuates

Oversight

Transitioning into the New 'Normal' of Post-Pandemic Life

Courtney Bublé joins the podcast to discuss the upcoming end of the public health emergency.

Oversight

OIG Finds Oversight Issues With GSA's Performance-Based Contracts

GSA contracting personnel produced performance reports that were "often incomplete or not available at all," according to a new inspector general's audit. 

Oversight

Era of ‘Free’ Vaccines, Test Kits, and Treatments Is Ending. Who Will Pay the Tab Now?

Insurers, employers, and taxpayers will all be affected as drug manufacturers move these products to the commercial market.

Oversight

New U.S. House Weaponization Panel to Probe FBI, IRS, ATF

Chairman Jim Johnson called on whistleblowers from throughout federal government to come forward to share information with committee

Oversight

Biden’s Plan for Ending the Emergency Declaration for COVID-19 Signals a Pivotal Point in the Pandemic—4 Questions Answered

President Joe Biden’s intention to end the national COVID-19 emergency will have long-lasting ripple effects on federal programs such as Medicare, Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program.

Oversight

Congressional Black Caucus Meets with Biden to Push for Police Accountability

Last year, at least 1,192 people were killed by law enforcement officers in the U.S., and 26% were Black people despite making up more than 13% of U.S. population