Quick Hits
*** Reps. Jason Smith (R-Mo.) and Bill Johnson (R-Ohio) are both looking to serve as ranking member on the House Budget Committee. Rep. Steve Womack (R-Ark.), the current ranking member, is leaving the panel at the end of this Congress.
Johnson, who has IT experience in both the Air Force and the private sector, has the edge in seniority and declared his interest in the post in mid-October. Smith threw his hat in the ring with Nov. 8 "Dear Colleague" letter first reported by CQ.
The Budget Committee could have renewed importance in 2021, given the expiration of the Budget Control Act of 2011 and its mandatory budget caps.
*** The Partnership for Public Service’s Center for Presidential Transition released an open letter to the Trump administration on Nov. 8 urging the government to "immediately begin the post-election transition process." Until the General Services Administration recognizes Joe Biden as the president-elect, the Biden transition team cannot access government funds or communicate directly with the federal agencies about transition planning. GSA issued a statement on Nov. 7 promising to fulfill "all requirements under the law," but noting that "an ascertainment [of Biden's status] has not yet been made."
*** Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) is returning to the House of Representatives. The former House Oversight and Government Reform Committee chairman, who represented the San Diego area for nine terms before choosing to to seek reelection in 2018 to the increasingly Democratic 49th congressional district, was elected last week to the neighboring 50th district with more than 53% of the vote.
*** Nominations for the 2021 Fed 100 are now being accepted. The deadline for submissions is Dec. 31.
*** Did you miss FCW's recent Digital Transformation Workshop? Register now for a free encore presentation and learn how IT leaders at DHS, SBA, FCC, the Navy and the Defense Digital Service are driving transformation efforts across government. The presentations cover proven strategies for retooling business practices, building stakeholder consensus, moving to user-centered design and responding rapidly to unexpected crises. Sign up here for an on-demand viewing.