Federal Newscast

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.

In today's Federal Newscast, the Office of Personnel Management releases guidance to help employees convert volunteer hours into credit for the CFC.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 Air Force updates its Stripes for Exceptional Performers Program used to promote those who show potential.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, 18 Democratic Senators ask National Security adviser John Bolton to reconsider his decision to absorb the White House cybersecurity coordinator role into other existing positionsSee 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 Congressional Budget Office reviewed how much money the government would save if Congress implements the White House's new proposals for the federal retirement system.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 Air Force said it could recall as many as 1,000 retirees to active duty as it aims to reduce its growing deficit of pilots.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 of the Nation Border Patrol Council tells the LA Times deploying the National Guard to the U.S. southern border has been a waste of time this go around.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 proposal rolls back what the White House deems over-regulation of the commercial space launch industry.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, bipartisan legislation in the Senate would shorten the deadline for the Defense department to pay defense contractors who work with small businesses.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 House Oversight and Government Reform Committee releases the expanded Federal IT Acquisition Reform Act report card today, five agencies saw their grades go up, 11 saw them go down.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 Air Force has started to move some of its pilots back to the U.S. as part of an effort to reduce the strain on those servicemembers and their families.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, following a request from Congressional regulators, the State Department’s Inspector General is looking into whether personnel moves at the agency were politically motivated.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 Pentagon’s inspector general finds the Defense Department routinely reimbursed contractors for the expenses they claimed without examining their supporting documentation.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 House passes the VA MISSION Act which would give the Veterans Affairs Department a long awaited alternative to the Choice program and consolidates all seven community care programs. 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, wary of another last-minute budget deal, seven Republican Senators ask Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) to expedite floor consideration of funding bills and nominees before the end of the 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 on Federal News Radio, the Federal Risk Authorization and Management Program and the Cloud Security Alliance announce the creation of FedSTAR to offer mutual recognition between the two security programs.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, a rule allowing Veterans Affairs providers to administer healthcare across state lines using virtual technology becomes finalized.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 Government Accountability Office finds 75 percent of of the Defense Department’s IDIQ type contracts were only open to a single contractor. 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 House Armed Services Committee kills a proposal aimed at exposing more details about government officials’ travel on military aircraft.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, officials from the Homeland Security Department tell lawmakers the agency is working across government to figure out consequences for not following the binding operational directive.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, President Trump asks Congress for permission to reduce spending by $15 billion, all coming from unobligated funds.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, a policy update from USPS emphasizes its preference for so-called clustered box units in new housing developments, instead of door-to-door.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, responding to a Freedom of Information Act request, the Office of Management and Budget was unable to locate the hundreds of thousands of public comments and recommendations for its reorganization plan.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 Office of Special Counsel found that FCC Commissioner Michael O'Reilly violated the Hatch Act stumping for conservative candidates during a speech.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 Energy Department's Inspector General finds the agency's Chief Financial Officer moved too much money over to the Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability account.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, two organizations are suing the Veterans Affairs Department over the White House’s decision to appoint defense undersecretary Robert Wilkie to be acting VA secretary.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, acting Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert Wilkie urges Congress to take action to permanently fund the Veterans Choice program.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, conservative lawmakers have proposed eliminating all automatic pay raises for federal employees, while creating a workforce that can be removed, demoted or suspended “at will.”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, recently-released documents indicated more than 200 Customs and Border Protection (CBP) employees have been arrested on charges related to corruption in the past 14 years. At least 13 of those arrests have come since the start of the Trump Administration.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.