Federal Newscast
2,340 episodes — Page 36 of 47
Proposed law would empower FTC to end addictive practices in social media
Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) has introduced a bill that would give the Federal Trade Commission and state attorneys the power to act against social media companies that don't remove addictive features in their websites.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Taxpayer Advocate Nina Olson will continue her fight in retirement
National Taxpayer Advocate Nina Olson is stepping down today, retiring after 19 years of running the Taxpayer Advocate Service at the IRS. Olson said she plans to start a nonprofit to continue advocating for taxpayer rights and fight against IRS bureaucracy. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Postal Service managers suing for higher pay
In today's Federal Newscast, the National Association of Postal Supervisors has filed a lawsuit against US-PS, seeking back pay for managers, postmasters, and other administrative professionals, to match what their counterparts earn in 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.
House Rep. trying again to help federal retirees who saw cuts to Social Security
In today's Federal Newscast, a bill in the House would replace the Windfall Elimination Provision which currently cuts Social Security benefits for federal retirees who worked in a private sector job and also receive a government pension.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Large group of Marines charged with smuggling migrants into the U.S.
In today's Federal Newscast, an investigation into Marines accused of helping smuggle migrants into the United States led to the arrest Thursday of 16 of their fellow Marines at California’s Camp Pendleton, just north of the U.S.-Mexico border.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Interior Dept. facing shortage of firefighters
In today's Federal Newscast, the Department of the Interior fell short of its hiring goal.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
NSA creates new Cybersecurity Directorate
In today's Federal Newscast, the National Security Agency is bringing together its foreign intelligence and cyber defense missions into a new directorate. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
HHS gets recommendations on how to better spend its money
In today's Federal Newscast, Health and Human Services releases 25 ways the agency can improve how it spends taxpayer money.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Former NSA contractor sentenced for hoarding sensitive materials
In today's Federal Newscast, a former National Security Agency contractor who stole nearly 20 years worth of sensitive information finds out his fate.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Esper's nomination for Defense Secretary advances to full Senate
In today's Federal Newscast, Mark Esper's nomination for Defense secretary has won the approval of the Senate Armed Services Committee. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
OPM urges agencies to consider telework and workplace flexibilities during this week's heat wave
In today's Federal Newscast, the Office of Personnel Management is urging agencies to consider telework and workplace flexibilities during this week's heat wave.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Esper vows to fill other Pentagon vacancies if confirmed as Defense Secretary
In today's Federal Newscast, Mark Esper is poised to become the next Defense secretary. If he’s confirmed, one of his first jobs will be to help fill the rest of the vacant politically-appointed positions in the Pentagon.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
New location for BLM headquarters announced
In today's Federal Newscast, the Bureau of Land Management is setting up new headquarters out west.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Trump admin. looking to make it easier for federal employees to stop paying union dues
In today's Federal Newscast, the Federal Labor Relations Authority and Office of Personnel Management are looking for feedback on existing law that governs federal employees' payments to their union. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
More resistance to merge OPM and GSA
In today's Federal Newscast, yet another legislative attempt to block the Trump administration's proposed merger of the Office of Personnel Management with the General Services Administration, passed the House.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
GSA extends deadlines for USDA Kansas City headquarters
In today's Federal Newscast, the General Services Administration extended the deadline for proposals for the Agriculture Department to lease space in the Kansas City region.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Pentagon delaying major change to Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits
In today's Federal Newscast, the Defense Department is putting off the elimination of a major benefit for post 9/11 veterans. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
House Committee chairman wants investigation into Border Patrol Facebook group
In today's Federal Newscast, House Homeland Security Committee chairman Bennie Thompson (D-MS) wants the Inspector General to find out if and when leadership at Customs and Border Protection knew about a secret Facebook group with current and former Border Patrol agents.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Federal contractors could get favorable treatment from regulators for hiring disabled workers
In today's Federal Newscast, the Labor Department is looking to reward four contractors who make an effort to hire qualified disabled people.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Complaints about government imposter scams reach record high
In today's Federal Newscast, the Federal Trade Commission says complaints about scammers pretending to be from the government reached the highest levels on record this spring. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
VA updates policies on religious materials at medical facilities
In today's Federal Newscast, the Veterans Affairs Department is changing its rules regarding religious materials at its facilities.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Negotiations between Social Security and administrative law judges' union, break down
In today's Federal Newscast, there's been another setback in negotiations between Social Security Administration management and its cadre of administrative law judges.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
White House asks agencies to show their work implementing new laws and policies
In today's Federal Newscast, the Office of Management and Budget releases its Circular A-11 update, tasking agencies with showing their progress in complying with new laws and management requirements. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Agencies given deadline to phase out paper records
In today's Federal Newscast, the Office of Management and Budget has given agencies a timeline to switch from paper records, to electronic records.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Senate passes NDAA, includes pay raise for troops
In today's Federal Newscast, the Senate passes its version of the National Defense Authorization Act, which includes a 3.1% pay raise for active duty military.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Many employees at USDA's Economic Research Service may choose to not follow their agency to Kansas City
In today's Federal Newscast, the new local union at the Agriculture Department's Economic Research Service estimate four out of five employees will decline to relocate out of the national capital region.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
At least eight agencies are at risk for major data breach
In today's Federal Newscast, a new report from a Senate committee shows at least eight cabinet agencies are failing to comply with federal cybersecurity standards.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Legislators trying again to get seniors bigger cost of living adjustment
In today's Federal Newscast, legislation in both the House and Senate aims to guarantee every senior a Social Security cost of living adjustment with an annual floor of no less than 3%.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Updated AI plan seeks more public-private partnerships
The Trump Administration's revised national reserach and development plan for artificial intelligence calls for more collaboration between government, academia, non-profits and 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.
Taxpayer Advocate says IRS still struggles with public service
National Taxpayer Advocate Nina Olson says response times to incoming calls at the IRS remains the biggest challenge the agency has in dealing with the public. In her final report to Congress before retiring, Olson said the IRS is successful in processing most returns, but for those who need more help, the experience is challenging. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Report: Social Security's death records continue to be inaccurate
The Social Security Advisory Board has joined the Government Accounability Office in calling SSA's to share its death records to curb improper payments.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
White House not on board with giving contractors back pay for government shutdown
In today's Federal Newscast, the Trump administration says the idea will be too costly and increase the risk of fraud, waste, and improper payments.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
White House wants at least one-third of federal advisory committees gone
In today's Federal Newscast, President Donald Trump signed an executive order last week directing federal agencies to cut at least one-third of all federal advisory committees.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Federal workers could have benefits protected during future government shutdowns
In today's Federal Newscast, two bills to protect federal employees' health insurance benefits during future government shutdowns advanced to the full House for a vote.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Senate provision calls for review of Pentagon's total IT workforce
In today's Federal Newscast, a provision in the annual Defense bill the Senate Armed Services Committee released this week would order a top-to-bottom review of the contractor, civilian and military IT positions in each military service and DoD agency.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Customers rank federal agencies lower than airlines and car rental services
In today's Federal Newscast, according to new numbers from market research company Forrester, the federal government as a whole was ranked lower than airlines, car rental services, and health care providers. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Bill to create cyber incident response teams at DHS passes the House
In today's Federal Newscast, Rep. Michael McCaul's (R-TX) bill, the DHS Cyber Incident Response Teams Act, would create groups of cyber first responders in the event of a cyber attack on the government or private sector. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
House appropriators say no to another agency's reorganization plans
In today's Federal Newscast, funding to support the Interior Department's plans to reorganize its bureaus and management functions into 12 unified regions across the country is absent from the House 20-20 appropriations bill. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Nuclear Regulatory Commission could face shortage of cyber inspectors
In today's Federal Newscast, the NRC's inspector general finds a third of NRC's inspectors will be eligible to retire in 2020.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Veterans Affairs told it should stop posting disciplinary actions on its website
In today's Federal Newscast, an arbitrator finds the Veterans Affairs Department should take down a public record of employee firings and other punishments from its website. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Congressional VA committee leaders want a better answer on secret wait lists
In today's Federal Newscast, Senate and House Veterans Affairs committee leaders are demanding answers from the VA about claims involving secret wait lists for veterans seeking care. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Bicameral efforts to save nearly 1,000 Forest Service jobs are underway
In today's Federal Newscast, House and Senate lawmakers have taken steps to prevent a White House proposal which would result in about 1,000 layoffs at the U.S. Forest Service.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Government contracting dollars spiked in 2018
In today's Federal Newscast, the Government Accountability Office says agency spending on products and services in 2018 reached its highest level in seven years.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
House subcommittee looks to give federal employees another pay bump
In today's Federal Newscast, the House Appropriations Financial Services and General Government Subcommittee includes a pay raise for civilian employees in its 2020 spending billSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Navy ramping up adoption of new pay and hiring system for cyber employees
In today's Federal Newscast, the Navy’s Fleet Cyber Command started wide-scale implementation of the Cyber Excepted Service this month.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Trump admin. plan to cut DOD workers' rights gets axed from Senate NDAA
In today's Federal Newscast, a White House plan to take away some workers rights from civilian D-O-D employees gets denied support from the SenateSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
CBP creates new position to handle border apprehensions
In today's Federal Newscast, to help ease the administrative burden on Border Patrol agents, Customs and Border Protection is creating a new position assigned with handling the processing of people apprehended at the border.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
First look at new ideas to modernize Congress
In today's Federal Newscast, the House Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress approves its first round of recommendations.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Army ready to open more combat positions to female soldiers
In today's Federal Newscast, Army officials give an update of how many female soldiers are now in combat brigades, and plans to place more in the future.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Trump administration unhappy with House appropriators for not funding Interior reorganization
In today's Federal Newscast, the Office of Management and Budget is expressing its displeasure with the early versions of appropriations bills coming out of the House Appropriations Committee.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.