Workforce
Feds Could Be Fired at Any Time for Any Reason, Under a Bill That Was Just Reintroduced
The bill also would abolish the Merit Systems Protection Board and threatens to reduce former federal employees’ retirement benefits if they file “frivolous” appeals of adverse personnel actions.
Management
Biden's Archivist Nominee is Confirmed
Colleen Shogan will now lead the National Archives and Records Administration.
Pay & Benefits
Congressional Dems Reintroduce Bill to Revamp Federal Firefighter Pay and Benefits
The Tim Hart Wildland Firefighter Classification and Pay Parity Act would ensure federal wildland firefighters make at least $20 per hour, among other things.
Management
Bipartisan Group Looks to Fix ‘Hopelessly Obsolete’ Classification System
Legislation is aimed at reducing over-classification and improving the handling of secrets.
Management
Debt Ceiling Meeting Yields Little Progress, Though Biden and GOP Agree to Spending Talks
The House speaker has given the White House a two-week deadline to come up with a spending plan that would satiate his caucus and allow for a debt limit increase.
Oversight
House Republicans Have Questions About the White House’s Regulatory Update
A staff-level briefing for the House Oversight and Accountability Committee is in the works.
Oversight
Bipartisan Group Projects U.S. Default as Soon as Early June, Citing ‘Quite Low’ Cash Flows
Depending on how long a default lasted, a global recession could be triggered, new analysis finds
Oversight
U.S. Default Could Begin June 8 without Agreement, Top Economist Tells Congress
Congress has eight working days with both chambers in session before Memorial Day, and negotiations appear non-existent.
Defense
Where’d the Money Go? Lawmakers Press Air Force on Planned Radar Plane
Congress approved $200 million last year to get the first E-7s faster. That’s not happening.
Oversight
Asylum Limits, More Border Security Funds Proposed in House GOP Immigration Bill
A spike in the number of migrants seeking asylum in the United States has challenged local, state and federal authorities.
Management
Debt Ceiling Breach Could Occur as Soon as June 1, Treasury Warns
While they had hoped for more time, lawmakers have just a few weeks to avoid a catastrophic default.
Management
Federal Agency Expertise Faces a Challenge at the Supreme Court
The Chevron Deference, established in 1984, says courts should defer to federal agencies’ interpretation of an ambiguous or unclear statute that they administer.
Oversight
The Debt Ceiling Negotiations Begin Again
Eric Katz joins the podcast to discuss how the discussions will affect feds.
Tech
Lawmakers Introduce Bill to Keep AI from Going Nuclear
This week, lawmakers reignited the legislative charge into investigating and regulating how automated and artificial intelligence systems will be implemented in crucial operations.
Management
House GOP Passes Debt Ceiling Bill That Puts Tens of Thousands of Federal Jobs At Risk
Biden vows to veto the measure that would avoid a default but is coupled with steep spending cuts.
Pay & Benefits
The TSP Wouldn’t Be Affected By McCarthy’s Plan to Raise the Debt Ceiling and Cut Spending
The House could vote on the plan later this week.
Oversight
COVID Aid Appears Safe from a Republican Clawback
The House GOP debt limit proposal would dramatically reduce spending and increase SNAP work requirements, but it would not take back the pandemic relief funds already in governments’ hands.
Management
Agencies Would Suffer 'Egregious Harm' Under GOP Debt Ceiling Proposal, Federal Employee Union Says
House Republicans’ plan to raise the debt ceiling in conjunction with a 20% cut in discretionary spending would hurt public services, AFGE says.
Management
Management of the Federal Prisons System Is Added to GAO’s High-Risk List
The federal government made improvements in other areas including veterans health care and the Postal Service’s financial viability.
Management