Agency Oversight
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Rulemaking. The government does lots and lots of it. But because the power to regulate is the power to destroy, rulemaking has rules. And like all agency activities, it requires congressional oversight. The Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress asked the Government Accountability Office for ideas on how to improve rulemaking oversight.
January 10, 2024 -
The Internal Revenue Service is answering more calls and providing help to taxpayers at levels not seen since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
January 10, 2024 -
The General Services Administration found agencies that don't dedicate enough staff to Section 508 efforts often struggle to conform with digital accessibility standards.
January 08, 2024 -
Improper payments in retirement services have been gradually escalating for the last several years, but the Office of Personnel Management is taking steps to try to mitigate the problem.
January 05, 2024 -
The Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board has a short but somewhat turbulent history. One chairman was forced out for mismanagement. Another resigned early because the White House proposed getting rid of the board altogether. More recently, things have stabilized. In the latest Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey scores, engagement at the Chemical Safety Board rose by 29%. The Federal Drive with Tom Temin got an update from the new chairman, Steve Owens.
January 03, 2024 -
The IRS has taken several big steps recently on the personnel front. It has brought in people to help improve taxpayer service. And just the other day commissioner, Danny Werfel said he would reorganize management to emphasize service, compliance, technology and operations. But to discuss one missing element, the Federal Drive with Tom Temin talked with long-time leadership professor Bob Tobias.
December 29, 2023 -
That 5% pay raise for GS federal employees comes with a 25 pay cut for one small group of Bureau of Prison employees.
December 28, 2023 -
The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) received some good news as the year closed. It achieved a clean financial audit opinion, with no material weaknesses. It even won praise from its inspector general. For how this happened, the Federal Drive with Tom Temin spoke with Chief Financial Officer Vinay Singh.
December 27, 2023 -
In today's Federal Newscast: If you're in the government, you may or may not see more pay in 2024. Sen. Rand Paul "waste shames" specific programs in his 9th Annual Festivus Report. And agencies have new guidance to promote more public engagement in federal rulemaking.
December 26, 2023 -
In today's Federal Newscast: The National Security Agency issued its cybersecurity year-in-review report. A new document calls on DoD to improve its processes for civilian harm reduction. And the Treasury IG said the IRS needs to do more to enforce the TikTok ban.
December 22, 2023 -
The new White House directive, the first government-wide Section 508 guidance in more than a decade, looks to hold agencies more accountable for meeting digital accessibility requirements.
December 21, 2023 -
The Government Accountability Office recently upheld the protest of a contract award from the Defense Intelligence Agency. DIA was hiring a small business to conduct counterintelligence training. It used a slightly unconventional approach to evaluating bidders.
December 20, 2023 -
The last thing the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) needs is new employees who have a substance use disorder or or felons with access to VA pharmacies. But the agency lacks a consistent procedure for finding out about such people from the Drug Enforcement Administration. According to the Government Accountability Office (GAO), the VHA, in fact, hired thousands of people who might have drug-related convictions.
December 20, 2023 -
The IG substantiated several allegations of misconduct by former DCSA Director William Lietzau, including sexual harassment and misusing his position to provide personal favors.
December 19, 2023 -
The State Department processed over 24 million passport books and cards in fiscal 2023 — a new record. And it's back to processing passport applications within 6-8 weeks for routine service.
December 18, 2023