Digital Government
OMB nomination hits confirmation snag
The top Republican on the Senate Budget Committee says Heather Higginbottom doesn't have the right experience for the OMB job.
Digital Government
Senators want to reduce number of confirmations
A group of senators wants to reduce the number of nominations that require full Senate confirmation.
Digital Government
House passes symbolic bill to spur budget debate
The House passed a bill that would make an earlier House-passed fiscal 2011 appropriations bill law if the Senate does not approve a spending bill by April 6. The new bill would still need Senate approval.
People
First responders want public safety agency control of spectrum block
Fire and police officials urged lawmakers to give public safety agencies direct control of the D Block of radio spectrum rather than have priority access only in emergencies.
Digital Government
Shhh, don't talk about your shutdown plans
The Obama administration has reportedly instructed federal agencies not to share their shutdown plans with Congress or the public.
Digital Government
Continuing resolutions, or 'Buddy, can you spare a dime?'
Now that we've nearly lost count of how many continuing resolutions Congress has passed, here’s a question for you: How has your department or agency been affected?
Digital Government
Shutdown clock ticks toward April 8 deadline
Still far from a compromise on the federal budget, the White House and Democratic lawmakers are assembling a proposal for an additional $20 billion in spending cuts in addition to the $10 billion that Congress has already enacted. But Republicans are seeking to cut $60 billion.
Digital Government
Feds need to go viral
We saw a political cartoon lately that boiled down the current benefits debate to its bare bones. In it, a private-sector worker points at a public-sector worker and says: "I don’t have a pension, so you shouldn’t have one either!"
People
Bill takes aim at retirement benefits
A new bill would end the defined-benefit portion of the Federal Employees Retirement System for new federal hires.
Digital Government
You've got to reach out
In Washington, outreach is critical to any good public affairs effort. But it's not without its risks.
Cybersecurity
Bill would threaten pensions of loose-lipped intell employees
Intelligence employees who leak information would forfeit their federal pension plans under new legislation.
Digital Government
Feds--start making your list
"Average" feds soon may get the chance to provide a key member of Congress with their input, according to one news story.
People
OMB nominee clears Senate committee
A Senate committee approved President Barack Obama's nominee for deputy director of OMB.
People
GAO official calls for stronger IT spending oversight
The federal government must strengthen its oversight of IT spending, a Government Accountability Office official said.
Digital Government
Shutdown deferred for another few weeks
The government could have closed down on March 18, but Congress passed yet another funding extension that gives lawmakers three more weeks to reach a compromise on a long-term bill.
People
Federal IT Dashboard has inaccurate data, GAO finds
The Office of Management and Budget’s IT Dashboard, a website intended to improve transparency by tracking the status of about 800 federal IT spending programs, has data flaws, according to a Government Accountability Office report released today.
Digital Government