Congress, White House Address Official Time
In recent weeks, Congress has increasingly begun asking questions about the use of official time within federal agencies, as noted by Federal News Radio’s Nicole Ogrysko.
House Conducts Hearing On PMA’s Federal Workforce Modernization
Late last week, the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee (OGR) held a hearing on federal workforce issues entitled, Workforce for the 21st Century: Analyzing the President’s Management Agenda.
Broad Opposition From The Hill To OPM Retirement Cuts
Republicans and Democrats in Congress sent a letter late last week to Speaker of the House Paul Ryan regarding the U.S. Office of Personnel Management’s (OPM) proposal to cut federal employee retirement benefits.
Hill Fight Brewing Over $15 Billion 'Rescissions' Request From White House
The Trump Administration reportedly has plans to send to Congress a $15 billion “rescissions” request, which the administration outlined on Monday, according to Jennifer Shutt and Lindsey McPherson at Roll Call.
Senators Warner, Kaine Send Letter On Tax Reform Change Harming Relocated Feds
This week, Senators Mark Warner (D-VA) and Tim Kaine (D-VA) sent a letter to GSA Administrator Emily Murphy and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin regarding a recent change to the tax code made pursuant to the recently tax reform overhaul passed by Congress.
Senate Delays VA Confirmation Hearing Amid Allegations
The U.S. Senate announced this week that it had placed on indefinite hold a previously scheduled confirmation hearing for President Trump’s nominee to head the Department of Veterans Affairs, Rear Admiral Ronny Jackson.
Well-Known Moderate Dent Latest Republican To Announce Early Resignation
Congressman Charlie Dent, a Republican from Pennsylvania well-known in D.C. for being a reliably moderate voice within Congressional Republican ranks, announced today that he would be resigning in “coming weeks,” following an earlier announcement that he would retire at the end of his term.
Tax Reform Change Threatens ‘Potentially Ruinous’ Damage To Some Feds’ Finances
The recent passage by Congress of a sweeping tax reform effort is having “potentially ruinous” unintended consequences for some federal employees who have had to relocate for work.
House Republicans Considering Rare Tactic to Roll Back Appropriations
According to Roll Call, House Republicans may employ “lesser-used provisions of the 1974 budget law to roll back spending by impounding some of the appropriated funds” contained within the 2018 omnibus spending bill.
Speculation Swirls around Ryan Resignation
According to Congressman Mark Amodei (R-NV), there is a “rumor” that Speaker of the House Paul Ryan might soon announce his resignation. Rep. Amodei made the statement in an interview with a local news station.
U.S. Accuses Russia of Attacks on Critical Infrastructure and Elections, Imposes Sanctions
Last Thursday, the Trump administration announced the imposition of sanctions against Russia in response to what it deemed an organized effort to hack elements critical to American infrastructure, including aviation systems and the U.S. energy grid.
OPM Receives First Confirmed Director Since July 2015
Late last week, the U.S. Senate confirmed by voice vote Jeff Pon, President Trump’s choice to serve as the new director of the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM), the agency tasked with overseeing the administrative and human resources needs of the federal workforce.
Conservatives Push for Greater Oversight on IRS Rules
Conservative groups and several GOP lawmakers are pushing for more oversight of IRS rules as the agency works to carry out President Trump’s new tax law.
OMB Releases Cost-Benefit Report for Federal Regulations
This week, the U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) released to Congress its annual cost-benefit analysis of federal agency rules and regulations.
House Budget Negotiations Off to Rocky Start
With President Trump’s 2019 budget proposal now released to the public, lawmakers in the House of Representatives have begun hashing out what Roll Call sees as nearly “insurmountable” differences.
Tomorrow: Confirmation Hearing for New OPM Director
President Trump’s nominee to head the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM), Jeff Pon, will receive a confirmation hearing tomorrow in the U.S. Senate’s Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs (HSGAC).
Think Tank: Bring Back Congress’ Nerds
The resurrection of the Office of Technology Assessment (OTA) – an “expert advisory agency that served as a think tank within Congress from 1972 to 1995, and made important contributions to shaping technology policy in the United States and abroad,” but was eliminated in 1995 – could bring about sweeping improvements to Congress’ decision-making on modernization and other emerging technological challenges, according to a new policy paper released by the R Street Institute.
Congress Signs Fourth Continuing Resolution to Delay Shutdown
Nearly three days after the government’s funding lapsed, causing the federal government to shutdown over the weekend and through much of Monday, the U.S. Senate signed another short-term continuing resolution – the fourth such resolution since the Fiscal Year began in October 2017 – that funds the government through February 8th.