People
Federal employees would face firings for delinquent taxes
Sens. Tom Coburn and Claire McCaskill have reintroduced a bill that goes after federal employees who are tax deadbeats.
Digital Government
Government shutdown looms as lawmakers debate funding bill
At least one government agency is making plans for a government shutdown -- including employee furloughs -- and lawmakers debate whether such a shutdown is likely.
Digital Government
PolitiFact: Boehner 'cherry-picking' in estimate of workforce increase
According to House Speaker John Boehner, President Barack Obama has added 200,000 new federal jobs since taking office two years ago. But figures from the Bureau of Labor Statistics reveal that Boehner’s calculation is an overestimate, according to PolitiFact.com.
People
GAO updates high-risk programs list
The Government Accountability Office today updated its list of high-risk government programs, removing some programs and adding a new one.
Digital Government
Administration blasts GOP's proposed cuts for rest of 2011
The Obama administration said today that it strongly opposes the continuing resolution legislation introduced by House Appropriations Committee Chairman Hal Rogers.
Digital Government
DOD budget calls for leaner military
The Defense Department's proposed $553 billion budget for fiscal 2012 marks a modest increase.
Digital Government
Solidarity? Or not so much?
If recently proposed federal budget cuts sparked some heated comments from federal employee groups over the last few days, then the subsequent announcement of even deeper cuts likely will inflame things further.
Digital Government
GOP leader ups the ante: $100 billion in spending cuts this fiscal year
House Appropriations Committee Chairman Hal Rogers (R-Ky.) wants to cut $100 billion in spending for the remainder of fiscal 2011, keeping the Republicans' "Pledge to America."
Digital Government
The sound of pencils sharpening ...
Well, today we got the first look at a partial list of the $74 billion in non-defense/non-security budget cuts that the new Republican majority aims to propose in the upcoming continuing resolution to fund the government through the end of the 2011 Fiscal Year.
Digital Government
Jane Harman to leave Congress
Rep. Jane Harman (D-Calif.) is leaving Congress to lead the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars in Washington.
Digital Government
House panel proposes steep funding cuts for agencies
The House Appropriations Committee has mapped out its spending blueprint, including proposing double-digit cuts for some federal agencies.
Digital Government
And around it goes ...
The position of some members of Congress is that insourcing certain work to federal employees somehow “robs” jobs away from the private sector. The Obama administration’s overall policy, on the other hand, has been to insource jobs to the federal workforce when those positions perform “inherently governmental functions”—and to take a hard look at work that is contracted out.
Cybersecurity
'Kill switch' bill returns just as Egypt shuts down Internet
Senators plan to reintroduce a comprehensive cybersecurity bill, but recent events in Egypt have reignited controversy over the purported potential for a presidential “kill switch” for the Internet.
Digital Government
OPM's security clearance reformer retires
Kathy Dillaman, the Office of Personnel Management official in charge of reforming the security clearance process, retired Monday after 35 years of government service, Federal Times reports.
Digital Government
Could pay for performance make an unexpected comeback?
While it’s unclear if feds will be subject to workforce cuts or a longer pay freeze as a result of the administration’s overall belt-tightening, it will be interesting to see if the idea of implementing a pay-for-performance system resurfaces as a way to lower costs and improve the government’s efficiency.
Modernization
Cybersecurity bill is first of several to target federal IT
Earlier this week, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid unveiled a new bill armed with weaponry to safeguard government IT.
People
Federal furloughs: The telework factor
If a proposal to require federal employees to take unpaid leave passes, will you work anyway?
Digital Government
Government reorganization taking first steps
The White House's plan to substantially reorganize the federal government is in its earliest stage, and still needs Congressional approval.
People
Facebook tracks chatter on Obama, Tea Party at State of the Union
Facebook released internal data today showing usage trends during President Barack Obama's State of the Union speech.
Digital Government