Oversight
IRS Balks at Public Free-file Suggestion From Government Watchdog
The Government Accountability Office thinks the IRS should identify and create more free-filing options for taxpayers, but the IRS says that it "does not believe a public free-filing option would significantly improve the taxpayer experience."
Oversight
The SEC’s Inspector General Will Retire Next Month
A government watchdog group previously recommended consideration of his removal for misconduct.
Oversight
U.S. Supreme Court Hears Arguments on whether Biden Can Toss Trump’s “Remain in Mexico” Policy
The Biden administration had ended the policy that forced 70,000 migrants to wait in Mexico. But a federal judge in Texas forced the administration to restart the program in December.
Oversight
A Top Lawmaker Wants a Briefing on COVID-19 Vaccines for Young Kids
Separately, the FDA approved the first COVID-19 treatment for kids under 12 on Monday.
Oversight
Texas Sues to Block Biden Administration from Lifting Title 42, a Pandemic-era Health Rule Used to Expel Migrants
Texas has led the legal fight against the Biden administration’s immigration policies, filing numerous lawsuits that have led to judges overturning or altering those policies.
Oversight
Feds Could Accept Donations of up to $10K for Legal Funds Under First-Ever Ethics Rule
Ethics office looks to create tighter oversight of who can donate to pay for federal workers' legal fees, but usual gift restrictions won't apply.
Oversight
USDA Had a Plan for Determining the Best Place to Relocate Two Science Agencies. It Didn’t Follow It.
GAO finds the department's approach to relocating its Economic Research Service and National Institute of Food and Agriculture to Kansas City in 2019 had "significant limitations."
Oversight
Judge’s Ruling on the CDC Mask Mandate Highlights the Limits of the Agency’s Power
A recent court decision that overturns one of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s few pandemic rules — masks required on public transportation — spotlights how little power remains in federal hands to enforce public health protections.
Oversight
GovExec Daily: DHS, Retaliation and Culture
The Project on Government Oversight's Adam Zagorin joins the podcast to discuss his report on the Homeland Security Department.
Oversight
House Panel Launches Probe Into ID.me
The Committee on Oversight and Reform wants information about the identity verification company. At least nine other federal agencies and 30 state governments also use the service, the committee says.
Oversight
DoD Sent a Soldier’s Remains to a Dump. Now It Must Give His Wife a Civilian Job
The new MSPB is taking a wide interpretation of what constitutes whistleblower retaliation.
Oversight
GovExec Daily: Two Years of CARES Act Oversight
Courtney Bublé joins the podcast to discuss her series on COVID-19 oversight
Oversight
New Cybersecurity Bill Authorizes DHS to Ramp up Incident Response Efforts Nationwide
The National Cybersecurity Preparedness Consortium Act gives the Department of Homeland Security a range of opportunities to bolster cybersecurity preparedness at the state and local level, including technical assistance services.
Special Report
Oversight
‘There’s a Large Amount of Fraud Out There’: Special IG for Pandemic Recovery Reflects on Nearly Two Years in the Job
The role is “not a political job in any way, shape or form” and “if we go out of business, then I think you're missing a key element of … oversight,” Brian Miller says.
Special Report
Oversight
The COVID Commission Has Never Been Fully Staffed, But That Hasn’t Stopped it From Issuing Reports
The oversight body has no Democratic members and no chairperson.
Oversight
Ketanji Brown Jackson Will Be the First Black Woman Justice. Here’s How She Will Change the Supreme Court.
The Senate has voted to confirm Jackson, whose history-making confirmation sets up the first all-women liberal wing on the court. The 19th examines what she means to the Supreme Court and the legal profession.
Special Report
Oversight
Two Years of COVID-19 Oversight: A Look Back
The CARES Act of 2020 created three pandemic-related oversight entities, and our series will examine their successes and failures as well as their challenges and goals moving forward.
Special Report
Oversight
The Inspectors General COVID Committee Has an ‘Enormous Responsibility'
“We've really changed the way we as federal IGs do business,” says Michael Horowitz, Justice Department inspector general and chair of the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee.
Oversight
Years After Scandal, the VA Is Still Reporting Misleading Medical Appointment Wait Times for Veterans
The department is not "clearly and accurately presenting" how long patients wait for appointments, IG says.
Oversight