Congress
Government shutdown prospects increase after Schumer says Democrats won’t vote for GOP funding bill
Democrats have argued that the shutdown fight is an opportunity to push back on Elon Musk-backed agency spending and staff cuts.
House passes GOP funding bill to avoid government shutdown
The measure now heads to the Senate where it’s uncertain if Democrats will provide the votes needed to avoid a lapse in government funding.
Republicans eye full-year CR, while Democrats look to use shutdown fight to stop Trump's firings
Lawmakers have until March 14 to avert a shutdown as some bipartisan talks continue.
Senior Democrat wants to know who in the Trump White House got Top Secret clearance without a complete background check
Trump issued a memo providing temporary security clearances for certain personnel, arguing delays in their vetting were "unacceptable."
Trump fires multiple agency inspectors general
At least a dozen were removed, including the IGs for the departments of Defense, State, and Energy, the Washington Post reported.
‘I know what I don’t know,’ SecDef pick says at confirmation hearing
Hegseth faced questions about his inexperience and fitness as a leader.
Trump seeks to spike stopgap funding bill, sending Congress into chaos days before shutdown
A short-term spending bill appeared dead less than 24 hours after its introduction and less than three days before agencies must shutter.
Fed employee advocate Connolly to lead Democrats on House Oversight Committee
The Virginia Democrat could be a leading opponent to Trump’s plans for overhauling the civil service.
Federal employees could be more easily removed under new House bill
Rep. Barry Loudermilk’s, R-Ga., MERIT Act proposes radical civil service reforms, including repealing statutes governing unacceptable performance actions, ending union grievances based on adverse personnel actions and prohibiting furlough appeals.
Senators want answers from DOD on quantum sensing efforts
Bipartisan letter wonders whether China’s programs “outstrip the efforts of the United States.”
Lawmakers file discharge petition to repeal controversial tax rule affecting federal retirees
The Social Security Fairness Act has broad bipartisan support both in Congress and among federal employee unions.
Mike Gallagher talks priorities as Palantir’s new defense business chief
The former lawmaker is looking to draw on a decade of national security policy work in the new position.
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Teleworking feds are spending 60% of their time working in person, OMB says
In a congressionally mandated report, the Office of Management and Budget rebuffed many common complaints by congressional Republicans about the popular workplace flexibility.
Cassidy ties proposed 30% pay and benefits cuts to federal telework
The Louisiana Republican has introduced bills to bar federal workers from receiving locality pay if they telework at least once per week and excising locality pay from all future feds’ pensions.
Pentagon’s new cyber rules are ‘stifling’ foreign suppliers, advisors say
The soon-to-be-mandatory cybersecurity certification—and a 2018 OSD reorganization—are slowing vital work, the Defense Innovation Board says.
Why do federal employee background checks take so long? Panel points to delayed IT system
The Defense Department agency responsible for vetting workers at most federal agencies originally planned to have a new background check system fully functional in 2019.
Feds are still slated for a 2% average pay raise in 2025 per House appropriations bill
The House Appropriations Committee advanced legislation Thursday that failed to override President Biden’s 2025 pay plan.
Senators’ latest telework legislation could imperil remote work
A new bill from Sens. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, and Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., would cap all telework at 40% of an employee’s work hours, potentially endangering the federal government’s nascent remote work program.
New bill would greatly expand Defense Department quantum efforts
Proposed legislation would establish a quantum advisor and a new center of excellence.
Congress reaches fiscal 2024 funding deal, new stopgaps in hopes of averting shutdown
Lawmakers must act in a hastened and united fashion to pass the new CR before funding expires this week.
