Stimulus

Congress Gave OMB $1B for IT Upgrades. Now It Wants to Know How It Will Be Spent

Lawmakers want to know which projects will get prioritized and which will be recused from repaying the fund.

  • By Aaron Boyd

President Biden: COVID Relief Needs ‘Fastidious Oversight’

The American Rescue Plan is the latest in the federal government’s historic pandemic spending. 

  • By Courtney Bublé

Draft Senate COVID Relief Bill Includes $1B for Technology Modernization Fund

The fund gets a second chance at a boost after a $9 billion proposal didn’t make it to the House-passed bill.

  • By Frank Konkel

IG: ‘Tens of Billions’ in Fraudulent Unemployment Claims in 2020

A Labor Department Inspector General memo suggests a massive uptick in fraudulent unemployment claims brought on by COVID-19.

  • By Frank Konkel

Americans Still Need a Lifeline Despite Trillions in Coronavirus Aid

About two-thirds of families that suffered job losses or reduced wages during the pandemic still reported facing serious financial hardship.

  • By Mary G. Findling, John M. Benson and Robert J. Blendon, The Conversation

Biden-Harris Admin Proposes $10B in New IT and Cyber Funding for Federal Agencies

The administration wants to add $9 billion to the Technology Modernization Fund and give CISA a boost.

  • By Aaron Boyd

SBA Relaunches COVID Loan Program As Watchdog Warns About Possible Fraud 

The recent COVID relief package included funding for a third round of the program, which has come under much scrutiny. 

  • By Courtney Bublé

Nine Major Takeaways From the Omnibus and Coronavirus Relief Packages

Funding boosts and hiring pushes are coming for many federal agencies.

  • By Eric Katz

Transportation IG to Examine Security of Financial Systems Dispersing CARES Act Funds

A new audit will hone in on the security controls of systems being used at the Federal Transportation Department. 

  • By Brandi Vincent

Pandemic-Fighting Supercomputer Gains Upgrade through Coronavirus Relief Funds

And boosts to other U.S. supercomputing systems are likely on the horizon. 

  • By Brandi Vincent

IRS Leader Defends Agency’s Stimulus Check Performance

Lawmakers questioned whether lagging IT modernization efforts caused delays or missing financial relief payments for some Americans.

  • By Mila Jasper

Oversight Democrats Want at Least $1B for Technology Upgrades in Next Relief Bill 

Lawmakers make the case that the funding should be included in any coronavirus relief package that comes to a vote to help address IT systems struggling due to surge in demand. 

  • By Mariam Baksh

Industry Group Urges Congress to Extend CARES Clause to Reimburse Government Contractors

The Professional Services Council called on Congress to extend Section 3610 authority in order to sustain the contracting workforce in a letter to leadership Thursday. 

  • By Mila Jasper

Coronavirus Fraudsters Keep Prosecutors Busy

State AGs track millions in false loan and unemployment claims.

  • By The Pew Charitable Trusts
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Senate Passes Bill to End Payments to Dead People

The bill follows an audit that found the IRS sent $1.4 billion in stimulus checks to deceased individuals.

  • By Frank Konkel

Pandemic Oversight Committee Launches Contract Spending Tracker

The committee had stated in its first report that financial management could be a top challenge for agencies. 

  • By Courtney Bublé

Weeding Out Fraudulent Unemployment Claims Just Became More Difficult

Millions of out-of-work Americans are filing for unemployment during the coronavirus pandemic and fraudsters are using the unprecedented crush of filings to take advantage.

  • By Andrea Noble

Senators Make Bipartisan Push to Expedite Hiring for Workers to Oversee Pandemic Response

Measure would ensure special investigator has proper resources in light of Trump's recent IG firing spree, senator says.

  • By Eric Katz

Senators Unveil Bill to Force Airlines to Provide Cash Back for Pandemic-Driven Flight Cancellations

If passed, the bill would also make cash reimbursements retroactive, enabling refunds for existing vouchers that date back to March 1.

  • By Brandi Vincent

New House COVID-19 Bill Includes Hazard Pay for Feds, Strengthens Protections for Telework and Sick Leave

Pelosi on Tuesday unveiled legislation that would provide up to $10,000 in premium pay for federal workers on the front lines of the coronavirus outbreak and would prevent agencies from exempting employees from paid sick leave benefits.

  • By Erich Wagner

Senators Push for $26 Billion in the Next Stimulus Package to Support U.S. Researchers

The growing group hopes to help address the pandemic-induced challenges that research universities, academic medical centers, national labs and others are facing.

  • By Brandi Vincent