New program lets you meet face-to-face with IRS over the internet

• There will soon be another way to meet with an IRS representative. The Internal Revenue Service’s Office of Appeals is launching a pilot program for taxpayers to have web-based virtual conferences with the agency. Currently, the only options for meetings are by phone, in person, or through video-conference technology that’s only available at a limited number of IRS offices. Under this program, users can video chat from anywhere with an internet connection. The IRS says while phone calls get the job done, some do prefer a face-to-face interaction. (Internal Revenue Service)

• A bill to make most new hires “at-will” federal employees is back in the House. Rep. Todd Rokita (R-Ind.) introduced the Promote Accountability and Government Efficiency (PAGE) Act. The bill would also limit appeals for current federal employees. Agencies would only have to tell employees the reasons for a disciplinary suspension after they serve it. (Federal News Radio)

• Some House lawmakers want to get rid of the salaries of 89 people in the Congressional Budget Office’s Budget Analysis Division. They’ll do it through an amendment to a small package of appropriations bills, under the Holman Rule. It’s the first time the rule would be used since the chamber voted to bring it back in January. Members in the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia denounced the amendment. (Federal News Radio)

• The Environmental Protection Agency expects hundreds of forced employee separations. According to a voluntary early retirement authority request, the EPA expects 405 employees to be separated, downgraded, transferred, or reassigned without choice, as the agency undergoes reorganization. EPA also estimates 195 employees will take early retirement offers, out of the more than 3,600 people eligible to take the offer. (Federal News Radio)

• A bill that would have pumped $2 billion more in the Veterans Choice Fund fell short in a 219- to-186 House vote. The Veterans Affairs Department has two-to-three weeks left until the money dries up in the Choice program. Democrats and veterans service organizations were against it because it only funds private-sector care and doesn’t make investments in VA care. (Federal News Radio)

• Rep. John Ratcliffe (R-Texas) has offered an amendment to prevent the Defense Department from undertaking a new round of base realignment and closures. Both the Senate and House 2018 defense authorization bills keep BRAC at bay. However, Sens. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Jack Reed (D-R.I.) put forward an amendment to allow a tamer version of BRAC in the Senate version. (Federal News Radio)

• The Defense Department is under a congressional mandate to cut its overhead costs by at least $10 billion. It hasn’t done that, according to the Government Accountability Office. The Pentagon said it’s laid out plans to reduce administrative spending by more than $13 billion, but GAO says those plans aren’t reliable. The office poked numerous holes in a new report, citing the “efficiency initiatives” the department has had underway since 2010. Auditors say it’s nearly impossible to track the Pentagon’s progress on initiatives, partly because DoD wasn’t abl to say exactly what it plans to do to achieve the savings it’s promised. (Government Accountability Office)

• President Donald Trump has filled a key position at the Homeland Security Department. Christopher Krebs has been selected to become the assistant secretary for infrastructure protection at DHS. This is an internal hire, as Krebs was Senior Counselor to the Homeland Security Secretary. He was also the director of cybersecurity policy at Microsoft. (White House)

• The General Services Administration’s 18F digital services organization is almost ready to begin cybersecurity testing of its Login.gov platform. 18F released a sources-sought notice trying to identify potential crowdsourced penetration testing providers for Login.gov. Login.gov aims to provide simple and secure access to public-facing federal consumer services and information. 18F is looking for vendors to describe how they’ve done these crowd-sourced pen testing services for at least 50 technology companies, the researchers who took part and the results of those efforts. (FedBizOpps)

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