Management
A House Lawmaker Has Proposed Strengthening a Council on Climate-Related Security Threats
The most recent annual threat assessment issued a dire warning about climate change.
Management
Bureau Director To Congress: Federal Prisons Are Not As Badly Understaffed As People Think
Vacancies are concentrated in a small number of locations and will be addressed partly through recruitment incentives, director testifies during a House hearing.
Pay & Benefits
Better Benefits for Families of Feds Who Die on the Job, and Better Pay for TSA Agents
A weekly roundup of pay and benefits news.
Management
Biden’s OMB Nominee Plans to Keep Prioritizing Oversight and Ending Government Shutdowns
Shalanda Young has been acting OMB director for almost a year.
Defense
Lawmakers Ask Biden to Make Sure the Defense Department Follows Climate Rules
The Pentagon has said it will not seek an exemption to the climate goals.
Management
Bipartisan Pair of Lawmakers Considers Reforms to CDC, Other Health Agencies
Making the CDC director a Senate-confirmed position is one provision in a new draft bill on pandemic preparedness.
Defense
Republicans Are Split Over Ukraine, Threatening a Rare Bipartisan Consensus
Some GOPers think Biden is doing too little to counter Russia. The far right thinks he’s doing too much.
Oversight
Expert: ARPA Could Better Fight Racial Wealth Inequality
The American Rescue Plan Act could do more to tackle racial wealth inequality, argues professor Goldburn P. Maynard Jr.
Management
The Hill Gets Serious About Digital Services
The House of Representatives is launching a digital services team, after recommendations from the House Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress.
Pay & Benefits
Hill Proposal Would Give Federal Employees a 5.1% Average Pay Raise in 2023
A bill from Democratic lawmakers would provide federal workers with a 4.1% across-the-board boost, along with an average 1% increase in locality pay.
Defense
Military Chiefs Sound Alarm at Proposal to Hold 2022 Spending to Last Year’s Level
In Wednesday testimony to lawmakers, service leaders decry what would be a record-breaking continuing resolution.
Management
Almost One Year In: Biden’s Track Record on Nominations and Confirmations
The process underscores the challenges with so many positions needing Senate confirmation, the Partnership for Public Service said in a new report.
Defense
One Year After Jan. 6 Attack, Push For Quick Reaction Force Is Dead On Capitol Hill
Experts also warn changes at DoD won’t speed up how quickly Guardsmen could respond to future incidents.
Management
One Year Later: Documenting the Attack on the U.S. Capitol
The Smithsonian Institution shares its archiving efforts as the one-year anniversary of the siege of the Capitol approaches.
Management
OPM Faces Uncertain Funding Prospects
The federal government’s human resources agency is still dealing with budget shortfalls arising from moving background checks to the Defense Department, and the prospect of a full-year continuing resolution could exacerbate existing pressures.
Oversight
Lawmakers Propose Reforms Following ‘Flagrant Mismanagement’ of Trump Hotel Lease
Oversight of the lease has been the subject of controversy for years from lawmakers, government watchdogs and outside groups.
Defense
Congress Had the Votes to Overhaul How the Military Handles Serious Crimes. Why Didn’t It?
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand says that despite rare bipartisan backing, ‘four men, in a closed room’ blocked long-sought changes to how the military handles sexual assault and other major justice issues.
Oversight
Republicans Try to Undo Health Care Worker Vaccine Mandate
This is similar to the attempt to block the private business vaccine rule.
Oversight
Liberals ‘Need to Get On the Defense Committees,’ If They Want Change
“At this point, I think defense is just not that important to progressives one way or the other,” said one expert after Democrats came away from negotiations empty handed.
Management