Budget

• That proposed infrastructure bill has a little something for everybody, including your agency

  We now know what's going to be occupying Congress for the next few weeks or months. For a look inside that infrastructure bill and a few other matters, Bloomberg Government Congressional Reporter Jack Fitzpatrick.

  Congress

  April 05, 2021
• Biden eyeing 2.7% federal pay raise in 2022

  The Biden administration is expected to propose a 2.7% federal pay raise for civilian employees in 2022, well above the 1% bump workers received this year.

  Pay

  March 31, 2021
• Will it ever be time for federal employees to return to their regular offices?

  The Senate is out of session for a couple of weeks. So nobody can filibuster, or not filibuster anyone else.

  Congress

  March 29, 2021
• Even as negative audit findings rise, glimmers of progress on DoD’s 2020 financial statement

  On this episode of On DoD, Carmen Malone, the deputy assistant DoD inspector general for audit joins Jared Serbu to discuss the department's 2020 financial audit findings - and why there are glimmers of hope that DoD might eventually pass an audit.

  On DoD

  March 25, 2021
• Biden undoes Trump memo skeptical of agency performance metrics

  The Office of Management and Budget will lead “a coordinated approach" to fold agency strategic plans and priority goals into the Biden administration’s fiscal 2023 budget request and its President’s Management Agenda.

  Agency Oversight

  March 25, 2021
• A USPS of the Woolworths era tries to compete in the age of Amazon

  USPS loses $10 billion a year. Nothing's changed in years, Congress hasn't acted. Maybe they should listen to DeJoy?

  Tom Temin Commentary

  March 24, 2021
• After a decade-long hiatus, earmarks appear to be headed back to the Congressional appropriations process

  Both parties in the House have agreed to participate in the new earmarks process that proponents say include some safeguards to prevent abuses.

  Congress

  March 22, 2021
• Katko calls for $5B CISA budget to reflect its ‘quarterback’ status

  House Homeland Security Committee Ranking Member John Katko (R-N.Y.) says CISA needs “a lot more money and need a lot more resources” to meet its mission, and could easily see Congress giving CISA a $5 billion budget in the coming years.  

  Cybersecurity

  March 22, 2021
• State Dept adds 1,200 to Foreign Service ranks under Democrats’ $12B budget plan

  To keep the State Department staffed and prepared to handle this expanded cyber diplomacy role, House and Senate Democrats are calling for a $12 billion increase in foreign affairs spending.

  Budget

  March 18, 2021
• CISA’s four-part plan to spend $650M on cyber protections

  House Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security members questioned CISA leaders about plans to improve federal cybersecurity efforts.

  Cybersecurity

  March 11, 2021
• GAO’s emerging tech shop developing framework to test reliability of AI algorithms

  A year into the COVID-19 pandemic, the Government Accountability Office still faces a higher demand for its oversight work.

  Agency Oversight

  March 11, 2021
• How the SEC is adjusting to cloud’s ‘pay by the drink’ model

  Dave Bottom, the SEC’s chief information officer, said a new IT cost manager will review and analyze the agency’s spending on cloud services on a day-by-day basis.

  Federal Insights

  March 09, 2021
• Will Congress ever return to the normal budget process? Whatever that is

  Once they're past the extra spending bill that includes pandemic relief, Congress could start to regard the regular old budget - you know, the stuff that keeps your agency going.

  Congress

  March 08, 2021
• Technology Modernization Fund on track to receive biggest pay day ever

  The Senate approved $650 million for agency cybersecurity upgrades, and another $350 million for the U.S. Digital Service and the Federal Citizen Services Fund to address workforce and other modernization needs.

  Reporter's Notebook

  March 08, 2021