Federal Newscast

In today's Federal Newscast, the troubled Air Force program to modernize aging nuclear missiles survives despite ballooning costs.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In today's Federal Newscast, federal employees and citizens with disabilities will see changes to the areas in front of and around federal buildings in the coming years. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The General Services Administration's EV battery strategy will help it maximize its use of the expensive components.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In today's Federal Newscast, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation is taking several steps in light of recent findings of a workplace culture that was fraught with allegations of sexual harassment and other kinds of misconduct. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In today's Federal Newscast, younger Thrift Savings Plan participants will soon see a new investment option in the TSP. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

(6/28/24) - In today's Federal Newscast: Two Defense Department projects garner Presidential Federal Sustainability Awards. The Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency is managing a surge in security clearance applications. And resolving False Claims Act allegations, DoJ's Civil-Cyber Fraud Initiative chalks up an $11 million win against two contractors.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

(6/27/24) - In today's Federal Newscast: DISA sees an opportunity to get out from under an ever-growing mound of technical debt. A new House bill is designed to build a stronger pipeline of cyber talent. And a recent survey shows satisfaction with the Thrift Savings Plan is at an all-time high.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

(6/26/24) - In today's Federal Newscast: Total federal-acquisition spending might soon hit a trillion dollars. The White House plans to conduct a hiring surge to fill open federal cyber jobs. And we don't know if DeRusha was in a hurry, but this former federal CISO has quickly landed at Google Cloud.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

(6/25/24) - In today's Federal Newscast: The 2024 Sammies People’s Choice Award enters the final round of voting from the public. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has picked a new Pentagon chief of staff. And a House bill locks, loads, and takes aim against Defense Department teleworkers.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

(6/24/24) - In today's Federal Newscast: The Government Accountability Office is raising questions about the cybersecurity of federal background investigation systems. The U.S. Navy has eased up its punishments for failed fitness tests. And GOP Senators slam financially strapped Amtrak for paying $75 million in bonuses.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

(6/21/24) - In today's Federal Newscast: The Pentagon’s Defense Innovation Unit has a new plan for spending nearly one billion dollars. OMB's CX guru Amira Boland is stepping down. And OPM's deadline nears for federal agencies to hand over a list of their politically appointed positions ahead of November's election.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

(6/20/24) - In today's Federal Newscast: DoD has signed a $248 million deal with Duke Energy to deliver solar power to five military bases. Three more agencies are getting nearly $30 million to accelerate their IT modernization projects. And House appropriators have put a target on the back of teleworking and remote-working Defense Department employees.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

(6/18/24) - In today's Federal Newscast: The Biden Administration is contemplating a new acquisition policy that would clear up some confusion. The National Taxpayer Advocate is not impressed with wait times suffered by ID-theft victims to get their tax refund checks. And GAO says wait times of more than a decade are way too long for DoD's major acquisition programs.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

(6/17/24) - In today's Federal Newscast: Army Maj. Gen. Paul Stanton has been nominated by the President to lead the Defense Information Systems Agency. The Republican-controlled House has cleared its version of the 2025 defense policy bill. And Senate Republicans have put a hold on more than 40 of the President's nominees, half of whom are nominees to the federal bench.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

(6/14/24) - In today's Federal Newscast: The VA is staying the course on plans to roll out a new Electronic Health Record. The White House joins a chorus of opposition to the idea of creating a separate Army drone branch. And Maryland Congressman Steny Hoyer warns of freezes, furloughs, and layoffs.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

(6/13/24) - In today's Federal Newscast: Federal agencies have a new tool to make acquisition research a little easier. Phone scammers go low-tech to impersonate high-tech CISA. And rumors targeting Social Security recipients, cause SSA phones to ring off the hook.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

(6/12/24) - In today's Federal Newscast: A just-introduced bill would require the State Department to fill more of its leadership positions with career employees. The Defense Innovation Unit has tapped Maj. Gen. Steve Butow as its military deputy. And a Partnership for Public Service survey indicates trust in government continues to decline.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

(6/11/24) - In today's Federal Newscast: The IRS is reducing underutilized office space, but the IG says it's not fast enough. Federal agencies processed a record 1.1 million Freedom of Information Act requests last year. And the National Institute of Standards and Technology has a new project to help secure public benefits programs.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

(6/10/24) - In today's Federal Newscast: New House legislation would prohibit DHS from buying batteries made by six Chinese companies. The Energy Department gives agencies another tool to get federal buildings to reach net zero emissions by 2045. And the number of cybersecurity incidents at federal agencies in 2023 grew by almost 10%.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

(6/7/24) - In today's Federal Newscast: The Department of Housing and Urban Development is looking for a new technology leader. Senate Democrats are heightening their push to create better access to in-vitro fertilization treatments and medications. And the U.S. Army is looking to develop and bring nuclear energy to its installations.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

(6/6/24) - In today's Federal Newscast: The Space Force is accepting applications from Air Force Reservists. Quan Boatman is the new director of the Interior Business Center. And an employee advocacy group is calling for better federal health care coverage of infertility treatments.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

(6/5/24) - In today's Federal Newscast: House Republicans are advancing a $64 billion homeland security spending bill. House defense appropriators, take a hatchet to DEI, abortion, and climate change. And House support for the Technology Modernization Fund takes a nosedive.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

(6/4/24) - In today's Federal Newscast: Congressional Republicans are looking at more cuts to State Department funding. OPM has officially made it easier for agencies to hire military spouses. And Congress seems to want a military Drone Corps that Army leaders seem to oppose.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

(6/3/24) - In today's Federal Newscast: The Nuclear Regulatory Commission names a permanent chief information officer. The intelligence community has updated its technology plans. And a 62-year-old retired four-star admiral faces three decades behind bars...on bribery charges.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

(5/31/24) - In today's Federal Newscast: The U.S. Army is re-imagining how it creates-and-maintains the technology that runs its command-and-control networks. The American Federation of Government Employees is still worried about the future of telework at the EPA. And the Golden State is the top dog for postal workers, in the dog-bite category.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

(5/30/24) - In today's Federal Newscast: The Small Business Administration is coming under fire for its use of money collected in its IT working capital fund. Veterans will pay less for VA-covered mental health care over the next few years. And the claims checks from that 2015 OPM data breach are still trickling in.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

(5/29/24) - In today's Federal Newscast: One of the Defense Department’s top IT acquisition executives is departing federal service next month. A new request for proposal from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services is raising alarm bells among services contractors. And the National Archives and Records Administration is preparing agencies for a looming digitization deadline.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

(5/28/24) - In today's Federal Newscast: Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin is back on the job after briefly relinquishing his duties over the weekend. Innovation in federal acquisition gets the spotlight in a new report from OMB. And Congress turns up the heat on what some members are calling the VA's "bonus blunders."See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In today's Federal Newscast, the Office of Special Counsel vows White House officials will now face full consequences for any Hatch Act violations.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

(5/23/24) - In today's Federal Newscast: A former White House official is taking a top job at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. Patrick Space Force Base in Florida will be the permanent home for STARCOM. And pushing a Schedule F alternative plan, a working group warns of the negative impacts of the Trump-era plan.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

(5/22/24) - In today's Federal Newscast: The Technology Modernization Fund is one step closer to getting an extension. The Army’s top cybersecurity official is moving on. And the Postal Service is hitting pause on *some* of its network modernization plans.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

(5/21/24) - In today's Federal Newscast: It looks like a toxic work environment will force the FDIC chairman to resign. House Republicans are trying to roll back the SEC’s controversial cybersecurity rules. And a recent study shows feds in their 30s, are the most unhappy on the job.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

(5/20/24) - In today's Federal Newscast: President Biden has nominated Maj. Gen. Thomas Hensley to lead the Air Force’s information warfare command. OPM is looking to hire a senior technology leader. And the Department of Veterans Affairs has earned a top honor for medical research.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

(5/17/24) - In today's Federal Newscast: A bill has been introduced to require DHS to launch a cyber task force focused on artificial intelligence. The White House has released its blueprint for the use of social and behavioral science in policymaking. And a Virginia Congresswoman thinks the VA has some explaining to do about the millions in bonuses it paid to ineligible executives.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

(5/16/24) - In today's Federal Newscast: GAO lets agencies know how they could save millions of dollars, by making better use of federal buildings. The Defense Department is gearing up to hold a virtual career fair for military spouses. And OPM just issued guidance to agencies on how to handle time off for feds experiencing domestic violence.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

(5/15/24) - In today's Federal Newscast: Telework bills are being marked-up in the Senate today. Feds convicted of sex crimes, might someday lose their pensions. And the Defense Department has another recruitment problem on it hands: child care workers.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

(5/14/24) - In today's Federal Newscast: A draft version of the House defense policy bill would raise junior enlisted pay by 15%. The Postal Service is looking to raise prices on more than just mail. And the first chief digital and AI officer at the Defense Department is headed to the private sector.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

(5/13/24) - In today's Federal Newscast: The Navy is offering big money to keep its pilots from flying the coop. The 2023 numbers are in about how the U.S. Digital Service impacted agencies. And two leaders on the House Homeland Security Committee want to put Microsoft on the hot seat about "cybersecurity failures."See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

(5/10/24) - In today's Federal Newscast: The FDIC is in need of "cultural and structural change," according to a special review committee report. A watchdog report says breakdowns in leadership led the VA to pay nearly $11 million in bonuses to ineligible executives. And the Army's Chief Information Officer continues his march to revamp technology policy.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In today's Federal Newscast, federal prosecutors are wrapping up one of the biggest counterfeit postage cases in years. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In today's Federal Newscast, a pair of senators is looking to get feds back to the office even more. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

(5/7/24) - In today's Federal Newscast: The Defense Department has secured funding for the Replicator initiative. Fourteen Senators want to press the pause button on facial-recognition-use at airports. And a Virginia Congressman is troubled by the lack of information on postal accidents and fatalities caused by trucking contractors.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

(5/6/24) - In today's Federal Newscast: The Army will discontinue its temporary promotion policy for non-commissioned officers. In April, TSP posts negative returns for first time this year. And a long-serving official at Office of Management and Budget is taking on a new role at the Social Security Administration.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

(5/3/24) - In today's Federal Newscast: A permanent under secretary of Defense for policy, remains elusive. OPM prepares to launch its HR career-growth website. And DISA's new five-year plan will consolidate support for the warfighter.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

(5/2/24) - In today's Federal Newscast: Expanded data on the federal workforce is opening the door for better planning and hiring. Republican Senators are squeezing the Education Dept for higher telework numbers. And pro-Russian hacktivists have broken into American and European critical infrastructure networks.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

(5/1/24) - In today's Federal Newscast: The Defense Innovation Unit gets a new deputy director of commercial operations. The GSA's effort to "right size" the inventory of federal office space continues. And CISA makes major progress deploying Endpoint Detection and Response tools on agency systems.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

(4/30/24) - In today's Federal Newscast: Members of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee have introduced a bill to authorize new VA facilities in eight states and Puerto Rico. CISA has identified more than 150 beneficial use cases for AI in critical infrastructure. And the Navy defends itself in court over the health impact of a Honolulu fuel spill.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

(4/29/24) - In today's Federal Newscast: GSA is looking for members to serve on its new Open Government Federal Advisory Committee. Senators are raising concerns about Homeland Security's practice of searching through phones at U.S. border checkpoints. And by Friday, agencies are required to name a senior career official to lead their presidential transition efforts.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

(4/26/24) - In today's Federal Newscast: OPM advises agencies on how they should consider a job candidate's criminal background. Staffing shortfalls will likely mean the Coast Guard will shut down about two dozen small-boat stations across the country. And Sen. Chuck Grassley is underwhelmed by DoD's oversight of the government purchase card.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

(4/25/24) - In today's Federal Newscast: Assistant U.S. attorneys at DOJ are calling for more flexibility and consistency in their telework options. The Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration helped stop a $3.5 billion fraud scheme targeting pandemic relief funds. And GSA will release a new buying guide this week to help agencies purchase generative AI capabilities.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.