Management
Lawmakers Want the Head of the National Drug Policy Office Back in the Cabinet
A group of bipartisan, bicameral lawmakers is making this push ahead of President Biden’s State of the Union speech next week.
Oversight
Biden and McCarthy Hold ‘Productive’ and ‘Frank’ Debt Limit Talks as Fiscal Cliffs Loom
“I thought this was a very productive conversation,” the Speaker of the House said.
Workforce
House Republicans Vote to Turn Back Time on Telework Policies
The SHOW UP Act would require federal agencies to revert to their telework policies prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Oversight
Watchdogs to Congress: Keep the COVID-Era Data Center
The first hearing of the House Oversight and Accountability for the 118th Congress focused on pandemic money and fraud.
Workforce
IOUs, Furloughs and More: Feds' Concerns About a Debt Default
Eric Katz joins the podcast to discuss the potential effects of a debt ceiling breach on agencies.
Oversight
House Lawmakers Want VA's $20 Billion-Plus Electronic Health Record Program to Improve or Else
Senior Republicans on the House Veterans' Affairs Committee are backing legislation to end the troubled program to replace the Veterans Affairs Department's homegrown electronic health record system with commercial software from Oracle-Cerner -- unless the program can hit performance targets and satisfy top hospital officials.
Oversight
The New House Accountability Committee Chairman: ‘We’re Two Years Behind in Oversight’
Meanwhile, Democrats say Comer and his fellow Republicans are hypocritical and partisan.
Oversight
Legislators Renew Efforts to Protect Consumers from an Eavesdropping Fridge
The reintroduced bill asks the Federal Trade Commission to establish disclosure guidelines for smart devices and appliances that consumers would not expect to be recording them.
Defense
Left in Limbo, a Handful of Biden’s Defense Picks Await Senate Action
Four nominees—all people of color—received committee approval months ago but have yet to get a Senate vote.
Pay & Benefits
Congressional Democrats Propose an 8.7% Pay Raise for Feds in 2024
The annually introduced bill would provide a 4.7% across-the-board increase in basic pay and an average 4% increase to locality pay.
Workforce
The Debt Limit Fight May Have Long-Term Budget Consequences
Doug Criscitello joins the podcast to discuss the effects of a prolonged fight and how it will affect government operations.
Defense
CEOs Downplay Anticipated Gridlock on Capitol Hill, Defense Spending Cuts
Lockheed, Raytheon chiefs also say pandemic-era supply-chain woes are subsiding.
Oversight
Biden, Democrats to U.S. House Republicans: Show Us Your Debt Limit Plan
The Treasury Department has been using accounting maneuvers to continue paying all of the country’s bills in full and on time.
Management
The House Wants Agencies to Reveal the Deals They Cut to Avoid Lengthy Legal Battles
The settlement agreements federal agencies enter into would become more transparent under a bill passed Tuesday.
Workforce
Agencies Are Emphasizing Skills and Experience in Hiring. The House Has Voted to Make it Official.
The measure would bring civil service law in line with initiatives already underway to improve how the federal government recruits and hires new workers.
Pay & Benefits
Oversight Republicans Demand Answers from OPM on FEHBP Fraud Risk Report
House Oversight and Accountability Chairman James Comer claimed, without evidence, that the insurance program for federal employees is “riddled” with ineligible participants.
Defense
Defense Industry Decries Possible GOP-led Spending Cuts
AIA letter begs lawmakers to avoid another sequestration deal.
Management
House Republicans Take a Big Swing at Regulations
But the likelihood of home runs isn’t high due to the Democrats controlling the Senate and the White House.
Workforce
New Parental Leave Policy Could Help Retention, Recruiting
Mandated change gives 12 weeks’ leave to all new parents.
Oversight