Congress
Anti-fraud overhaul clears House despite Democratic concerns over privacy and IG independence
Many Democrats opposed the measure due to fears the Trump administration would exert more political influence on inspectors general as well as concerns about privacy risk.
Ready, fire, aim: Pentagon cut workforce with little analysis before or since, GAO finds
Defense officials concurred that lessons should be drawn—but gave no indication they will be.
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Cyber Force? Senator pushes to create service branch under the Army
Ideas for a cyber service have been floated before. Some experts argue now is the right time.
Watchdog recommends nearly 100 ways for agencies to save tens of billions
Agencies have implemented a majority of previous Government Accountability Office recommendations regarding duplicative federal programs, generating almost $775 billion in financial benefits.
Senators demand OPM withdraw plan to access feds’ medical records
More than a dozen Democratic lawmakers warned that a little-scrutinized proposal to collect claims-level data related to the Federal Employees Health Benefits and Postal Service Health Benefits programs could violate federal law and doctor-client confidentiality.
House Dems: OPM ‘omitted’ employee departures from retirement backlog investigation
In responding to a December 2025 congressional inquiry, the Office of Personnel Management noted the separation of around 35 customer service representatives last year, but failed to mention more than 100 departures from its Retirement Services division.
Bipartisan lawmakers worried about shaky progress on modernized government worker background check system
The IT system undergirding the overhauled background check program is nearly a decade behind schedule and billions over budget.
Dem lawmakers propose 4.1% raise for feds in 2027
The annual reintroduction of the Federal Adjustment of Income Rates Act aims to set a baseline for negotiations around federal employee compensation for the coming year.
Shutdown deal struck after failed Senate vote
Senate Democrats and the White House reached an agreement late Thursday to fund most departments and agencies through Sept. 30 after a previous funding bill was blocked.
Experts see promise, risk in Pentagon’s draft acquisition reforms
A draft memo is circulating ahead of SecDef Hegseth’s Friday speech.
‘We’re closer to the end': Lawmakers signal some progress in bipartisan talks to end shutdown
The funding lapse is set to reach record levels but senators in both parties voice mild hope of progress.
Employees are receiving renewed furlough notices as shutdown enters second month, this time without back pay guarantees
The shutdown is heading into November, sparking new, altered furlough notices to 650,000 employees.
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That time one agency shut down for one day and changed government forever
COMMENTARY | Forty-five years ago, the government shutdown was born.
House Dem demands furloughs end for nuclear security agency
Rep. Dina Titus, D-Nev., called on the Energy Secretary to end shutdown-related furloughs for roughly 1,400 personnel in the National Nuclear Security Administration that began this week.
Dueling plans to pay feds on-time fail in Senate, though a bipartisan path forward appears
Sens. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., and Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., appeared to agree to negotiations Thursday afternoon on a plan to pay federal employees and potentially contractors amid the ongoing government shutdown.
Senate Democrats grill inspector general nominees over their independence from Trump
Lawmakers especially criticized the nomination of former Rep. Anthony D’Esposito, R-N.Y., to lead the Labor Department’s watchdog office.
Shutdown poised to drag into next week as layoff threat looms
Senate once again fails to approve spending bill and the two sides remain far divided.
Hegseth, Vought actions heighten fears about continued inspector general independence
Lawmakers from both parties and good government groups have argued that recent moves by the Trump administration will chill whistleblowing and watchdog offices.
Democrats rally behind hardball strategy to upcoming shutdown fight
House and Senate Democratic leaders say they are united in making policy demands as part of upcoming spending talks.
In partisan letter, Bisignano shifts blame on 1-800 call times, cites dated stats
Current and former Social Security officials said the commissioner at various points blamed his predecessor for problems that did not exist and took credit for Biden-era improvements.
