Federal Newscast

Senators urge majority leader for vote on Cobert nomination

Senators from Maryland and Virginia urged Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) to allow a vote on making acting Officer of Personnel Management Director Beth...

Eric White@FEDERALNEWSCAST

June 10, 2016 11:27 am

7 min read

The Federal Headlines is a daily compilation of the stories you hear discussed on the Federal Drive.

Senators from Maryland and Virginia urged Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) to allow a vote on making acting Officer of Personnel Management Director Beth Cobert the permanent director. They said Cobert has been in limbo for 17 weeks since the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee approved her nomination. Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) currently has a hold on Cobert’s nomination. (Sen. Mark Warner)

An amendment to add $18 billion to the defense budget failed in the Senate by four votes. It would have bumped the military pay raise to 2.1 percent. Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) argued for his amendment to the 2017 defense authorization bill, accusing those who rejected it of not supporting the military. It would have stopped a Army draw-down. (Federal News Radio)

Defense Secretary Ash Carter proposed major changes to the way the Pentagon manages its military and civilian personnel. Most of the reforms would require congressional approval, though some are already under consideration by the Senate. They include adding flexibility to the military’s Up or Out promotion system, the timing of officer’s promotions to the next rank could be based on performance rather than just seniority, and they’d be able to stay in their current pay grades for longer if they’re not immediately competitive for promotion. On the civilian side, employees would get paid maternity leave, and DoD would be allowed to recruit highly qualified applicants directly from college campuses, rather than funneling them through the USAJobs process. (Federal News Radio)

A big Navy contracting scandal has claimed its first admiral. The Justice Department said Navy Rear Adm. Robert Gilbeau pleaded guilty to lying about gifts he had received from ship services contractor Leonard Francis. Gilbeau was the supply officer on the USS Nimitz, and is the highest ranking Navy officer to be charged in the investigation so far. (Justice Department)

The Navy named its 14th master chief petty officer. Chief of Naval Operations Adm. John Richardson said Fleet Master Chief Steven Giordano will take charge in September from current Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy Michael Stevens. Giordano is currently the senior enlisted leader for U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa. (Navy)

A congressionally appointed commission wants to create a single personnel system for all employees at the Veterans Health Administration. The VA Commission on Care said it would hold all employees and executives to a similar pay for performance and disciplinary system. The commission also suggested creating an 11-member board that would oversee VHA. This board would also suggest a candidate to serve as the VA undersecretary for health who the commission said should serve a five-year term. (Federal News Radio)

The General Services Administration’s 18F organization isn’t bringing in enough federal business to pay for its operating costs — to the tune of a more than $10 million shortfall. Federal News Radio obtained a draft report from GAO that shows just how much 18F is struggling financially. GAO said 18F will not bring in enough revenue to cover its operating expenses until at least 2019. 18F must repay millions of dollars it received from the Acquisition Services Fund to begin operations. The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee is looking into 18F and the U.S. Digital Service today. (Government Accountability Office)

A big piece of the Homeland Security Department would be reorganized under a bill in the House. The Homeland Security Committee is rolling out a bill to transform the DHS National Protection and Programs Directorate. It would be renamed the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Protection Agency. It would coordinate federal and private sector responses to cyber attacks, gaining new operational responsibility. It would retain cybersecurity policy. Its boss would be called the director of national cybersecurity. (House Homeland Security Committee)

Officials at the Census Bureau said preparations for the 2020 count are on time. Director John Thompson told a House committee Census planning on a redesign that uses commercial technology and could save $5 billion. But federal auditors are concerned the agency is leaving no room for error. (Federal News Radio)

A cyber oversight committee accused the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation of interfering with an investigation into recent cybersecurity incidents at the agency. Leaders of the House Science Committee send a letter to FDIC Chairman Martin Gruenberg expressing concern. They said while the FDIC was obtaining documents requested by the committee as part of its investigation, it also pulled several internal communications from its Office of Inspector General. Committee members are worried FDIC is doing this to hunt down potential whistleblowers. (House Science, Space, and Technology Committee)