Defense
‘Most Believe’ Beirut Blast ‘Accident,’ Esper Says, Contradicting Trump
The president said “some of our great generals” told him that the blast was “a bomb of some kind.”
Defense
Trump: U.S. To Withdraw 4K Troops From Afghanistan By Election
“It’s already planned,” the president said in an interview with Axios.
Management
White House Orders Federal Contractors to Limit Their Use of Foreign Workers
President Trump signed an executive order that requires agencies to review internally their contracting practices, but experts say there are questions on how it will be implemented.
Management
Trump Administration Issues Guidance on Overhauling Federal Hiring to Emphasize Skills Over Degrees
The guidance will help agencies implement an executive order President Trump signed in June.
Management
White House Objects to Language Preventing OPM-GSA Merger and Other Workforce Provisions in House 'Minibus' Spending Bill
Veto threat also lists objections to provisions that would undermine the White House’s approach to labor-management relations.
Management
GovExec Daily: The State of Federal Law Enforcement and Protests
Eric Katz joins the podcast to discuss the deployment of Federal Protective Service officers.
Defense
National Guard Commander To Testify ‘Excessive Force’ Used on White House Protesters
Officer on the scene saw spent tear gas canisters, contradicting key details of Attorney General Barr’s account of the controversial night.
Defense
Trump Sending ‘Surge’ of Federal Forces Into Chicago; More Cities to Come
Attorney General Barr said Operation Legend would be different than last week’s crackdown on protesters in Oregon.
Management
Senate Democrats Urge Vote on Bill that Would Federalize the Medical Supply Chain, Bolster Transparency
"There is no way for this country to have enough personal protective equipment...without the federal government stepping up," said one senator.
Pay & Benefits
Trump Threatens Veto of Defense Policy Bill Over Base Names, Other Issues
The White House issued a formal veto threat of the House version of the National Defense Authorization Act just hours before lawmakers voted on the must-pass legislation.
Management
Trump Administration Redacts Meeting Minutes on the Presidential Transition
“If there’s anything that needs to be redacted that’s a sign that there’s something that shouldn’t be going on,” said New York University’s Paul Light.
Management
Senate Confirms Acting OMB Chief to Be Permanent Director
Russell Vought has said he will "be as responsive as we possibly can" to Congress and prioritize requests from overseers related to the novel coronavirus pandemic.
Management
Trump Nominates Conspiracy Theorist to Lead OPM
John Gibbs, who currently serves at the Housing and Urban Development Department, in 2016 falsely accused Clinton campaign officials of secretly taking part in satanic rituals.
Management
GovExec Daily: The Cancelled Presidential Rank Awards
Erich Wagner and Tom Shoop join the show to discuss how the scuttled awards fit into the greater Trump administration plans for the civil service and human capital.
Oversight
South Texas Landowners Are Hoping to Use President Trump's Own Words Against Him in a New Border Wall Lawsuit
Landowners are alleging that the construction of the barrier is driven by little more than racism and politics and is therefore unconstitutional, according to a new lawsuit.
Oversight
GovExec Daily: The OPM-GSA Merger and the Threat to the Civil Service
POGO's Nick Schwellenbach joined the podcast to discuss a recent investigation that found that the Trump administration "could not lawfully" go forward with the merger.
Oversight
Lawmakers Seek to Ensure Agencies Comply with Watchdog Review of WHO Funding Halt
They cited the Trump administration’s “history of obstruction.”
Oversight
Trump Friends and Family Cleared for Millions in Small Business Bailout
Beneficiaries of the PPP included a lettuce farming venture backed by Trump’s son, Kushner companies, and a dentist who golfs with the president. The figures were released after a lawsuit by several news organizations, including ProPublica.
Oversight
IG: Hurricane Dorian ‘Sharpiegate’ Report Was ‘Delayed, Thwarted and Effectively Estopped’
The Commerce Department denies it obstructed the process of publishing the watchdog’s full findings.
Oversight