Federal Newscast
2,312 episodes — Page 39 of 47
Senators want more tax help for federal employees who relocate
In today’s Federal Newscast, Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA) and Mark Warner (D-VA) say federal agencies aren’t proactively helping employees understand how or if they should pay taxes on moving expenses for their jobs.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
How one agency cut over $4.5 billion in improper payments
In today's Federal Newscast, The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services says it avoided handing out more than $4.5 billion in improper payments under one of its signature programs in fiscal 2018.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
How IRS Investigations division is coping with smaller workforce
In today’s Federal Newscast, in it’s annual report for 2018, the IRS’ Criminal Investigation division explains how it’s maintaining enforcement despite not having as many agents as it used to.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Another year of financial losses for the Postal Service
In today's Federal Newscast, the Postal Service lost money for the 12th straight year, though a rate increase on stamps could help. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
IG: Still more OPM can do to improve cybersecurity stanadards
In today’s Federal Newscast, the Office of Personnel Management’s inspector general assesses what the agency had done to improve its cybersecurity controls since the 2014 data breach.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
IT problems cause delay in veterans receiving GI Bill benefits
In today’s Federal Newscast, thousands of veterans are waiting for the Veterans Affairs Department to pay their education benefits.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Wilkie says Congress won't go along with VA budget cuts
Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert Wilkie said he is not concerned about the president's request that all agencies cut their budgets by 5 percent next year, adding that he does not think Congress will go along with it where VA is concerned.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Warner presses for DoD action on substandard military housing
Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) is pushing the Defense Department for information on how it will fix derelict homes on several bases in Virginia. The inquiry comes after a report from Reuters that detailed serious hazards in military housing across the country See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Cybersecurity collaboration on mid-terms now being re-focused on 2020
An unprecedented federal and state collaboration to defend election systems against Russian interference ended this week with no obvious voting system compromises.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Democratically-controlled House could have positive effect for feds
In today's Federal Newscast, with Democrats retaking the House, it could have a big effect on federal workforce issues and committee oversight.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
IRS increases amount TSP participants can contribute in 2019
In today’s Federal Newscast, the IRS sets the annual contribution limit for 401k style retirement plans and the Thrift Savings Plan for 2019.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Agencies get some help solidifying their insider threat programs
In today’s Federal Newscast, the National Insider Threat Task Force introduces a new maturity framework to help teach agencies what makes a good program.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Federal employees union wants CFPB official gone
In today’s Federal Newscast, the National Treasury Employees Union files a mass grievance against the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, for keeping on a political appointee who admitted to making racially charged blog posts.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Federal Unions' OPM lawsuits heading back to court
In today's Federal Newscast on the Federal News Network, federal employee unions are heading back to court to pursue their cases against the Office of Personnel Management over the agency's cyber breaches.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Interior IG refers investigation into Sec. Zinke to Justice Dept.
In today's Federal Newscast, the Department of the Interior inspector general has referred one of their investigations into Secretary Ryan Zinke's actions to the Department of Justice for it to take over.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Postal Service hoped downsizing would save more
In today’s Federal Newscast, USPS’ Inspector General finds the agency only saved $91 million in 2016 and 2017 after consolidating more than 200 facilities, well below it’s goal.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
OPM wants to let agency leaders administer direct-hire authorities
In today’s Federal Newscast on the Federal News Network, the Office of Personnel Management is changing regulations on direct-hire authorities.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
CBO: Giving Trump authority to devise re-org plan would not impact budget
In today's Federal Newscast, the Congressional Budget Office assessed a bill which would give the Trump administration expedited authority to reorganize the federal government. The administration would need to report regularly to the Congress on the status, costs, and savings of any such reorganization and CBO would still need to prepare a financial analysis of any plan submitted to Congress under the bill.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
FERC Chairman resigns due to health concerns
In today's Federal Newscast, Neil Chatterjee will take over as chair of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, after Kevin McIntyre announced he was stepping down due to a "health setback."See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
GSA moving forward with automated contract oversight process
In today's Federal Newscast, the General Services Administration is fixing a shortcoming of the acquisition oversight process by using artificial intelligence.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Dozens of states express interest in hosting new locations for two USDA bureaus
In today’s Federal Newscast, 35 states and 136 different groups express interest in hosting the new locations for the Agriculture Department’s Economic Research Service and the National Institute of Food and Agriculture bureaus.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Another Navy Commander sentenced in ‘Fat Leonard’ case
In today’s Federal Newscast, former Navy commander Troy Amundson gets more than two years in prison for accepting gifts from the now infamous contractor Leonard Francis.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
New playbook to help agencies battle fraud
In today’s Federal Newscast, the CFO Council and Bureau of the Fiscal Services creates a new playbook with information to help agencies reduce the risk of fraud.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
White House touts savings from deregulatory actions
In today’s Federal Newscast, the White House says its regulatory reform efforts saved $23 billion in fiscal 2018.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Move to replace Interior Department’s Inspector General leaves some troubled
In today’s Federal Newscast, the Project on Government Oversight calls the move to replace Acting Interior Inspector General Mary Kendall with a political appointee “puzzling.”See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Longtime Senate security director pleads guilty to lying to FBI
In today’s Federal Newscast, James Wolfe, who was the head of the security for the Senate Intelligence Committee for almost 30 years, pleads guilty to making false statements to the FBI about his interactions with a news organization.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
VA appoints new permanent director for DC medical center
In today’s Federal Newscast, Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert Wilkie appoints a new permanent director for the DC medical center.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Florida Air Force Base severely damaged by Hurricane Michael
In today’s Federal Newscast on the Federal News Network, base officials are the describing the damage at Tyndall Air Force Base in the Florida panhandle as “catastrophic.”See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
DoD and VA both commit to one, interoperable, Electronic Health Record
In today's Federal Newscast, the departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs sign an official joint statement, containing provisions to hold both agencies accountable during the project.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
GSA requiring two-step verification for all federal agency websites
In today’s Federal Newscast, the General Services Administration announces starting this month, all federal domains ending in .gov or .fed will require the use of Google authenticator when logging in.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
DHS: Agro Industry also facing cybersecurity challenges
In today’s Federal Newscast on the Federal News Network, a new report from the Homeland Security Department says large agricultural operations face cyber threats like data theft, and even destruction of large-scale farm equipment.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Tropical Storm Michael nears hurricane strength, alerting federal responders in Florida
Federal responders and support units are keeping their eyes on Tropical Storm Michael that rapidly formed off Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula over the weekend. The National Hurricane Center says the storm is expected to gain hurricane status tonight and could become a dangerous Category 2 hurricane with an expected midweek strike on the Gulf Coast in the Florida Panhandle.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Voice of America fires 15 staffers for accepting bribes from a foreign officia
The Voice of America announced Thursday it has fired or proposed to terminate more than half the members of its Hausa language service following an investigation that found the individuals had accepted improper payments from a foreign official in West Africa.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
IRS questionned about the accuracy of its customer satisfaction reports
National Taxpayer Advocate Nina Olson has questioned the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) method for reporting customer service satisfaction, calling it misleading. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Pentagon pulls back performance-based contract payment rule
In today’s Federal Newscast on Federal News Radio, the new rule revising progress payments and performance-based payment policies for defense contracts is said to have been released prematurely.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
GAO: USPS' retiree health benefits fund could be depleted by 2030
In today's Federal Newscast on Federal News Radio, the Government Accountability Office said the Postal Service's retiree health benefits fund has over $60 billion in unfunded liabilities.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
GSA hires Ad Hoc, Fearless to upgrade search.gov portal
The General Services Administration has hired Ad Hoc and Fearless to upgrade the search.gov platform. The platform supports nearly 2,000 search boxes on Federal websites, free of charge. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Federal employees may not be able to access social media, personal e-mail if Senate bill becomes law
In today’s Federal Newscast, the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee forwards the the Federal Information Systems Safeguards Act, which gives agency leaders the authority to prohibit certain websites.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Senior Executives Association reminds members of role in stopping workplace harassment
In today's Federal Newscast, the SEA wants its members to think about their roles in leadership positions, and play an active part in quickly stopping harassment at their agencies.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Second agency joins the Centers of Excellence initiative
In today’s Federal Newscast, the Department of Housing and Urban Development becomes the second agency to get help in upgrading its technology and financial management systems under the White House’s marquee IT modernization effort.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
U.S. soldier gets over 11 years in prison for building and detonating chemical weapon
In today’s Federal Newscast, the soldier detonated the device near Fort Polk in Lousiana, after which two investigators were severely injured analyzing the materials.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Senators hope DOJ IG will audit GSA’s decision on FBI headquarters
In today’s Federal Newscast, six Democratic Senators ask the Justice Department’s Inspector General to look into how the General Services Administration came to its decision to leave the FBI headquarters in D.C.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Senators want to block Trump’s hopes of privatizing the Postal Service
In today’s Federal Newscast, 28 Senators sign on to a resolution to keep the U.S. Postal Service a federal entity.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
State Dept. alerts employees about security breach of e-mail system
In today's Federal Newscast, the State Department says the breach potentially exposed the personally identifiable information of about 1 percent of its employees.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Air Force has plan to grow its force, but not how to pay for it yet
In today’s Federal Newscast on Federal News Radio, Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson lays out plan to add 74 squadrons, but says they do not have specifics for what kind of aircraft it may need to buy.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
USDA launches new website for Centers of Excellence
In today’s Federal Newscast on Federal News Radio, the Agriculture Department’s progress under the Centers of Excellence initiative can now be tracked through a new website.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Labor Dept.’s OFCCP to visit hundreds of contractors in the coming months
In today’s Federal Newscast on Federal News Radio, the Labor Department’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs sent letters to 445 vendors alerting them about an upcoming review.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Status of the Technology Modernization Fund remains unknown
In today's Federal Newscast on Federal News Radio, federal technology officials continue to wait to see if the Technology Modernization Fund will receive a second year of funding.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
DEA closer to getting new headquarters
In today's Federal Newscast, the General Services Administration signs a 15-year lease for the Drug Enforcement Administration's new headquarters.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Another DMV lawmaker looks to halt USDA move
In today’s Federal Newscast, Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton wants a joint session to analyze the legality of the Agriculture Department’s proposal to move the Economic Research Service and the National Institute for Food and Agriculture out of the nation’s capital by the end of 2019.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.