Senate Holds Hearing on OPM Director Nominee
The U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs (HSGAC) held a nominations hearing on September 9, 2020 for several individuals, including the nomination of John Gibbs to serve as Director of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM). The vote on his appointment is expected to be held on September 16, 2020.
Congress, White House Reach Informal Agreement to Prevent Government Shutdown
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Secretary of the Treasury Steven Mnuchin have reportedly agreed to a stopgap, government-wide funding bill for federal agencies. This informal consensus would avoid a government shutdown in October and extend funding at fiscal year 2020 levels for federal agencies until at least the November 3, 2020 election.
GAO Investigates Handling of Time and Attendance Misconduct in Federal Agencies
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report last month in which they investigated the prevalence of time and attendance misconduct and fraud within federal agencies. The report describes what is known about the extent of time and attendance misconduct and potential fraud across the 24 agencies using reporting controls and technologies under the Chief Financial Officers Act of 1990 (CFO Act) to monitor employee time and attendance.
AFGE Pushes for Federal Workforce Provisions in 2021 NDAA
The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), the largest union for the federal workforce, is pushing for the inclusion of several federal workforce provisions within the FY 2021 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Their primary focuses include securing proper pay and keeping federal jobs.
House Ends Recess Early to Address Postal Service Situation
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is bringing the House back from August recess to vote on emergency postal legislation after concerns that new policies imposed by the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) could cause severe mail delays across the country. She said in a statement, "The postmaster general and top Postal Service leaders must answer to the Congress and the American people as to why they are pushing these dangerous new policies that threaten to silence the voices of millions, just months before the election."
New Whistleblower Bills Would Protect Federal Workers
National Whistleblower Appreciation Day, an annual day of recognition for whistleblowers whose actions protected the American people from fraud and abuse, took place this past July 30th. Surrounding the day, several pieces of legislation have been introduced to protect government whistleblowers, many of whom are afraid to come forward out of fear of retaliation by their agencies.
Senate Holds Hearing on Modernizing Telework for Feds, Using Private Sector Practices
In order to determine the best way to restructure federal work practices and redefine telework eligibility, a Senate Committee Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs subcommittee invited a panel of private sector executives to share their thoughts.
Lawmakers Propose Measures to Curb Spread of Virus in Federal Facilities
Representatives Ted Budd (R-NC), Ralph Norman (R-SC), and John Larson (D-CT) recently introduced the Healthy Skies Act, which would require TSA employees to check the temperature of fliers before they are allowed through security. As federal agencies create reopening plans for their employees, there is pressure on lawmakers to ensure that they do so safely and efficiently. For federal facilities that are open to the public like airports and postal offices, this task is high priority since there is close interaction between employees and members of the public.
Lawmakers Express Concern Over Reopening Plans for Federal Employees
Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Tim Kaine (D-VA), and Mark Warner (D-VA) have issued a letter to the acting directors of the Office of Personnel Management and Office of Management and Budget expressing opposition to plans to require many federal employees in the national capital region to return to their offices.
Lawmakers Introduce Financial Relief Package for U.S. Postal Service
A bipartisan group of lawmakers has introduced the Postal Service Emergency Assistance Act to provide USPS with up to $25 billion to cover revenue lost and operational expenses arising from the COVID-19 pandemic. The legislation has earned the support of postal unions, who have long expressed a need to fund the Postal Service during the pandemic.
Bipartisan Lawmakers Introduce Amendment Combatting Deepfakes in FY 2021 NDAA
Each year, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which authorizes trillions in government programs, is seen as a ‘must pass’ piece of legislation to which lawmakers can add various amendments relating to military and civilian personnel matters. Last week, U.S. Senators Rob Portman (R-OH) and Brian Schatz (D-HI) introduced the Deepfake Report Act as an amendment to the Senate’s FY 2021 NDAA.
Senate Committee Hosts Hearing on National Commission Civil Service Reform Recommendations
The Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs Subcommittee on Regulatory Affairs and Federal Management held a hearing today on the recommendations for reforming the civil service put forth by the National Commission on Military, National, and Public Service.
Senators Introduce Coronavirus Oversight and Recovery Ethics (CORE) Act
A group of Democratic Senators has introduced the Coronavirus Oversight and Recovery Ethics (CORE) Act to enhance oversight, accountability, and transparency related to the federal government’s COVID-19 response. The legislation has gained the support of 57 organizations, 8 Senate original co-sponsors and 18 House co-sponsors.
Democrats Introduce Policing Reform Package with Provisions Impacting Federal Law Enforcement
Congressional Democrats introduced a legislative package this week to address policing issues as law enforcement accountability makes national headlines. The 135-page package entitled the Justice in Policing Act includes a host of changes to federal and state law enforcement practices and increases federal oversight over state and local police departments.
Bipartisan Group Sends Letter on Handling National Debt
A letter from Reps. Scott Peters (D-CA) and Jody Arrington (R-TX), signed by an additional 58 members of Congress, expresses a commitment to continuing to combat the COVID-19 pandemic and the economic downturn impacting millions of Americans but raises concern regarding the increases in national debt. The lawmakers urge leadership to include provisions for future budget reforms in any upcoming pandemic response legislation.
Senate Committee Advances Cyber Innovation Legislation
The Senate Commerce Committee voted to unanimously advance a bill that would offer cash and non-cash prizes for cybersecurity innovations.
Legislators Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Expedite Hiring of Pandemic Recovery Watchdog
Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Banking Committee Chairman Mike Crapo (R-ID), and Senators Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Joni Ernst (R-IA) and Cory Booker (D-NJ) have introduced legislation to boost oversight of trillions of dollars in taxpayer funded pandemic relief by helping the special watchdog quickly onboard oversight staff. The Special Inspector General for Pandemic Recovery (SIGPR) Expedited Hiring Authority Act allows the SIGPR to bypass the current government hiring process to allow the office to quickly ramp up oversight operations.