Congress
Trump watchdog nominees draw congressional scrutiny for political histories
Labor inspector general nominee and former Rep. Anthony D’Esposito, R-N.Y., praised President Donald Trump during his confirmation hearing, while Veterans Affairs IG nominee Cheryl Mason, who was a senior advisor to VA Secretary Doug Collins, said she wasn’t involved in any decisions at the department.
U.S. senators call for security funding boost after Minnesota assassination
Following shootings in Minnesota, senators called for more funding for the U.S. Capitol Police to provide member security.
Senate reconciliation bill would give Trump ‘carte blanche’ to reorganize agencies, lay off feds
The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee authorizes a $100 million war chest for OMB to reorganize government without congressional oversight.
Senate strips most retirement cuts from reconciliation, but anti-civil service provisions remain
Under language released by a Senate panel Thursday night, new federal workers who decline to serve as at-will employees will pay nearly 15% of their paycheck toward their pension benefit.
House GOP clears measure to claw back billions from foreign assistance and public media programs
The Senate will take up this initial effort to codify some Department of Government Efficiency cuts after it finishes work on the budget reconciliation package.
Lawmakers rip into defense secretary over flat Pentagon budget
The Pentagon is counting on one-time funds from a reconciliation bill to fund investments in shipbuilding and missile defense.
Air Force says Qatar jet retrofit will cost less than $400M
Other defense officials have estimated it could be over $1 billion.
Small Business Administration would have to relocate field offices from ‘sanctuary jurisdictions’ under House-passed bill
The agency previously said it would move six of its regional offices from cities that have laws limiting their cooperation with federal immigration agents.
Education Department is stonewalling inspector general investigation into staff cuts, Democrats allege
The department’s inspector general informed congressional leaders that officials weren’t turning over requested information and are putting conditions on interviews with staff.
Oversight Dems: Commerce reneged on probationers’ health benefits
Some recently fired probationary workers have also been unable to access their personnel records to show to insurance companies and prospective employers.
DOGE reorganization of nuclear regulator prompts concerns about the agency’s continued focus on safety
President Donald Trump wants the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to lay off workers, while the agency has fallen short of its recruitment goals in recent years and struggled to replenish its aging workforce.
Democratic bills would rehire axed National Parks and Forest Service employees
Both agencies have already undergone workforce reductions with more layoffs still planned.
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House passes reconciliation bill that cuts federal employee retirement benefits
Though Democrats were able to excise a plan to base federal retirees’ annuity payments on their highest five years of salary, rather than the current high-3, proposals to eliminate the FERS supplement and to charge employees for their civil service protections remain on the table.
Pentagon accepts Qatari jet to use as Air Force One
The Air Force is preparing to award a contract to modify the luxury jet.
Gerry Connolly remembered for his passion and bipartisanship
The long-time representative from Northern Virginia has died at 75 following a battle with cancer. He is being remembered for his advocacy of federal workers and the contractor community as well as championing initiatives to improve how the government buys goods and services.
Government oversight employees detail fears of retaliation under Trump administration in new Senate report
President Donald Trump has, so far, fired 19 inspectors general, who are independent watchdogs that investigate waste, fraud and abuse in federal agencies.
Staffing cuts will improve government services, agency leaders say
Trump administration officials defend their ongoing workforce reductions to lawmakers amid some bipartisan concerns.
Hegseth to Air Force: Figure out how to modify Qatari jet
Converting the luxury plane into Air Force One could cost more than $1 billion, one senator said.
Retirement cuts tweaked in House reconciliation package
The latest draft of the GOP’s plan to cut federal spending to pay for tax cuts and increased immigration enforcement no longer un-grandfathers federal workers hired before 2014 from increased retirement contribution rules passed in the 2010s and delays implementation of the FERS supplement.
House GOP’s law enforcement ‘exemption’ from retirement cuts is illusory, groups say
A pair of organizations representing federal law enforcement officers urged lawmakers to strengthen carveouts of an array of proposed cuts to federal workers’ retirement benefits but stopped short of calling for their withdrawal.
End of pandemic inspector general's office could hurt ongoing efforts to enforce accountability
A former senior official for the Special Inspector General for Pandemic Recovery said there were about 40 unfinished cases when the office’s authority lapsed, some of which were referred to other agencies and others closed.
