FCW Insider: Jan. 12

Did Trump shrink the government? Not according to the Plum Book

Despite promises to "drain the swamp," the Trump administration did little to reduce the number of political appointments, according to data in the latest iteration of the Plum Book.

DOD does away with diversity training modification for contractors

The Pentagon eliminated a class deviation that implemented the president's executive order purging diversity training across federal grants and contracts.

DOD looks to kickstart 5G competition

The Defense Department is looking to expand its 5G exploration to include a new network of technologies with a competitive challenge.

Quick Hits

*** Chad Wolf, the official acting as Secretary of Homeland Security, resigned on Monday, citing recent events "including the ongoing and meritless court rulings regarding the validity of my authority as Acting Secretary." Peter T. Gaynor, the administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, will step in to serve as acting secretary, according to a statement from Wolf.

*** President-elect Joe Biden named William Burns, a career diplomat and foreign service officer who served in senior positions at the Department of State across multiple administrations, to serve as director of the Central Intelligence Agency.

*** The Office of Management and Budget formally designated the Department of Health and Human Services as the government's key shared services provider or Quality Service Management Organization for grants management.