Congress
Federal employee appeals board gets quorum after Senate confirms new member
Congressional Democrats also introduced legislation that would allow federal employees to file appeals in a civil court if the Merit Systems Protection Board is backlogged.
Revived bill aims to ease financial strain on federal employees during shutdown
Rep. Suhas Subramanyam, D-Va., has reintroduced legislation by former Rep. Jennifer Wexton, D-Va., that would require regulators to issue new guidance to help prevent financial hardship for federal employees and contractors caused by budget impasse.
Trump says he can pick and choose which feds get back pay. Republicans in Congress mostly disagree
Asked if furloughed workers will get retroactively paid, Trump say “it depends.”
Keep Senate confirmation for top intelligence lawyers, civil liberties groups urge
A provision in the 2026 annual intelligence community bill would lift Senate confirmation rules for the chief counsels of the CIA and ODNI. Advocates warn the change would weaken transparency and public oversight of the intelligence community.
Shutdown poised to drag into next week as layoff threat looms
Senate once again fails to approve spending bill and the two sides remain far divided.
Hegseth, Vought actions heighten fears about continued inspector general independence
Lawmakers from both parties and good government groups have argued that recent moves by the Trump administration will chill whistleblowing and watchdog offices.
A developing database of constituent complaints to Congress could help agencies find systemic issues in their public services
While Capitol Hill staffers help constituents when they have trouble getting assistance from an agency, there’s currently no way to track that information across congressional offices.
Your guide to pay and benefits during a shutdown
A lapse in appropriations looked likely after Senate Democrats rejected a plan to keep federal agencies open past Sept. 30, while the House is not expected to return to Washington until next month.
As Delivering for America proceeds, bipartisan lawmakers create caucus focused on improving postal operations
New Postmaster General David Steiner has previously said that he would continue his predecessor’s postal modernization plan, which members of both parties have criticized.
Bill to nullify Trump’s union executive orders introduced by 48 senators
All Senate Democrats and Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, have signed on as sponsors of the Protect America’s Workforce Act, while the measure is just two signatures away from guaranteed floor debate in the House.
House GOP unveils 7-week stopgap funding bill, Dems say it makes shutdown more likely
Congressional Democrats are not backing down from their funding bill demands even as Republicans move forward with a plan to avert a shutdown.
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HUD asked grantees to apply for soon-to-be-expired funding 3 separate times. Democrats want a watchdog review.
President Donald Trump recently replaced the acting head of the Housing and Urban Development Department’s inspector general office, which would look into the matter.
House NDAA would exempt Defense civilians from union ban
Union officials said Friday that a discharge petition Is just two signatures shy of the 218 needed to force a floor vote on legislation to undo President Trump’s executive order barring collective bargaining at most federal agencies.
Trump Education Department to divert grants from colleges serving students of color
Education Secretary Linda McMahon said the department would withhold $350 million in minority-serving institution grants from 800 colleges and universities, saying the grants "discriminate by restricting eligibility to institutions that meet government-mandated racial quotas."
Oversight of contract security guards at federal buildings is the focus of a House-passed bill
The legislation also would require the Federal Protective Service to overhaul the digital system for recording when such personnel are on duty. The Government Accountability Office has warned that the system is not properly functioning.
Democrats rally behind hardball strategy to upcoming shutdown fight
House and Senate Democratic leaders say they are united in making policy demands as part of upcoming spending talks.
Democrats want to know how the Forest Service is funding its deferred resignation program
The Forest Service chief told one Senate committee that the funding came from annual appropriations and another that the agency was dipping into money provided in two Biden-era laws.
Legislation to end government shutdowns returns to Capitol Hill
Rep. Jodey Arrington, R-Texas, and Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla., have brought back a bill aimed at ending the costly budget impasses, a proposal that’s historically had little success in Congress.
Social Security office that helps members of Congress assist their constituents slashed by up to 94%
A spokesperson said that Social Security's congressional affairs work is continuing in offices across the agency.
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Some funding frozen by Trump could soon expire due to new fiscal year, Democrats warn
Congress will need to reach a bipartisan consensus by Sept. 30 to avoid a government shutdown.
