Federal Newscast

In today’s Federal Newscast, the Office of Personnel Management is encouraging agencies to let Washington-area employees use telework and other workplace flexibilities for the next two weeks during Metro’s major track work.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 Pentagon officially announces its plans to establish a sixth branch of the military focused on space.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 Government Accountability Office says Customs and Border Protection is not factoring in certain factors when determining the cost for the proposed wall at the U.S. southern border.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 Interagency Suspension and and Debarment Committee's latest report to Congress shows fewer federal contractors were punished in fiscal 2017.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, Ronald Vitello will be nominated as the new permanent director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement.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 new report from the Homeland Security Department’s Inspector General highlights FEMA’s workforce issues during disaster deployments.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, an amendment in the 2019 National Defense Authorization Act calls for investigating whether military or defense leaders found guilty of sexual assault or harassment should retain their security clearances.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, new analysis shows significant regulatory activity has fallen 74% since the new team took office.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 Veterans Affairs field examiner was hoping to steal nearly $700 thousand from a disabled veteran.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 Postal Service’s inspector general says adults between the ages of 18 and 34 received significantly less mail in 2017 than the year before.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

To listen to the Federal Newscast on your phone or mobile device, subscribe on PodcastOne or Apple Podcasts. The best listening experience on desktop can be found using Chrome, Firefox or Safari.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 2019 National Defense Authorization Act clears the House, bringing servicemembers one step closer to a pay raise.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 newly passed House bill would reform the way the Veterans Affairs Department hires human resources people.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 House and Senate could not agree on a provision in the 2019 defense authorization bill calling for $40,000 Voluntary Separation Incentive Payments for federal employees.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 Government Accountability Office says only 15 out of 53 agencies met DATA Act requirements for complete, timely, and accurate spending data reports.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 President names Tamara Bonzanto to take over as the new assistant secretary for the Office of Accountability and Whistleblower Protection at the Veterans Affairs Department.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A House bill has been passed out of committee to give agency heads the power to restrict employee access to certain websites, including Facebook and personal emails. Rep. Gary Palmer (R-Ala.) said his bill will improve cybersecurity and cut down on information leaks. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

House lawmakers have offered competing bills on the future of a proposal to allow the U.S. Postal Service to allow banking and other financial services.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

FBI employees have reported a sharp drop in their confidence in Director Christopher Wray and his senior leaders. The findings undercut President Trump's claim that the FBI was in turmoil and its agents had lost confidence in James Comey before the president fired him.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Defense industry trade groups are urging the House and Senate armd services committee to reform laws needed to speed up the background checks for mission-critical federal jobs and contractors.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Department of Veterans Affairs has been urged to stem the rise in veteran suicides by streamlining the hiring of mental health professionals. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Senate has confirmed Emory Rounds as the new director of the Office of Government Ethics. Rounds has been at Ethics since 2009, and his nomination was a pleasant surprise for ethics experts because of the high profile clashes the office has had with President Trump. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Senate has announced long-awaited hearings for three nominees to the Merit System Protection Board. The agency that handles appeals from the Civil Service Commission has lack a quorum to do business for more than 18 months. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

House Democrats are increasing their pressure on President Donald Trump to rescind his recent executive orders on official time and collective bargaining.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, Todd Owen, the Customs and Border Protection executive assistant commissioner in its Field Operations Office, said CBP rarely separates immigrant families at ports of entry.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, almost three dozen former military officers and officials say the ban undermines national security.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, according to an assessment of its own workforce, nearly have of senior leaders at the Food and Drug Administration are eligible to retire in the next two 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, the Transportation Department is letting a “limited number” of young veterans and military reservists who’ve obtained the military equivalent of a commercial drivers license operate commercial trucks on domestic highways.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 DMV Congresswoman introduces legislation to make sure federal employees get at least up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave.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 State Department plans to spend almost a billion dollars to modernize four key services under the Bureau of Consular Affairs.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, Raphael Sanchez, former chief counsel for Immigration and Custom Enforcement’s Office of Principal Legal Advisor used the identities of undocumented immigrants to open fraudulent lines of credit.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Rep. Barbara Comstock (R-Va.) has offered legislation to give federal employees up to 12 weeks of paid leave for the birth, adoption or foster placement of a child. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

National Taxpayer Advocate Nina Olson reported that changes in the new tax law will create hurdles for IRS in preparing for next filing season.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, women still only make up a fraction of federal law enforcement officials. The Justice Department's Office of Inspector General says it found women accounted for only 16 percent of criminal investigators in DOJ’s law enforcement components and were more likely to be passed up for promotions in their agencies.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In its 2019 proposal, the House Budget Committee wants federal employees to contribute more toward a defined benefit retirement plan. And, it again seeks to end the special Social Security supplement for federal workers who retire before age 62. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Three more Senate Democrats have added their voices to leaders of government worker unions in opposing President Trump's recent worforce executve orders. Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.), Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND), and Jon Tester (D-Mont.) wrote to the president saying they're willing to work with the executive branch to modernize the federal workforce, but they say those orders threaten attempts to build better labor management relationships. At least two unions have filed suit to stop the president's actions. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

All hope is not lost for federal civilian employees looking for a pay raise in 2019. The Senate Appropriations Committee has cleared the Financial Services and General Government bill with a recommendation an increase in pay by 1.9 percent next fiscal year. 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, over 30 veterans service organizations ask Senate and House Veterans Affairs leadership to help secure specific funding for the VA MISSION Act.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 on Federal News Radio, 45 Democratic Senators write to President Trump to express their concern with the White House’s recent trio of federal workforce executive orders on employee accountability, official time, and collective bargaining.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 new study by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission highlights the trouble federal agencies are having recruiting and hiring women to law enforcement positions.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 whistleblower and the Office of Special Counsel say inspectors with the Federal Aviation Administration cleared planes for take off even though they did not have all of the needed safety information.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 Acquisition Regulation Council created a new rule to enforce the Homeland Security Department's ban on the Russian cybersecurity company.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 Veterans Affairs Department publishes the ratings of its 130 community living centers.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 Interior Department's inspector general reported at least two of the nation's largest hydropower dams face a high cyber risk from insider threats.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, House Democrats continued their campaign to oust Environmental Protection Agency administrator Scott Pruitt. This time, Pruitt is the target of a report that suggests he purposely delayed the release of Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) documents.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, National Taxpayer Advocate Nina Olson reports low-income Americans are still being targeted by private debt collectors hired by the IRS, despite her year-old recommendation to stop the practice. 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 on Federal News Radio, former Defense Secretary Ash Carter calls the idea of a separate branch of the military devoted to space is a bad idea. Carter says creating a space force would make the domain even more separated from the military branches than it is now. “We need to head in the direction of integration, he said speaking at Mitre’s 2018 Space Computing and Connected Enterprise Resiliency Conference in Massachusetts. The Defense Department under Carter tried to do that with the creation of the Joint Interagency Combined Space Operations Center, which is now called the National Defense Space Center.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 on Federal News Radio, after winning the four remaining protests holding up the multiple award IT services governmentwide contract, the General Services Administration says agencies will soon be able to order IT services from the more than 60 vendors.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 bill out of the Senate would require all open recommendations from agency inspectors general that are over a year old to posted to a searchable website.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 on Federal News Radio, the Justice Department says a former Defense Intelligence Officer received at least $800,000 to act as an agent for the Chinese government.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.