Barbara Mikulski

Long speeches and piecemeal civil service reform mark the waning days of the 114th Congress.

Election Day can be a whirlwind of campaign signs, crowded polling sites and an avalanche of social media posts. To help cut through the chaos, here’s Federal News Radio’s roundup of congressional races, presidential platforms and Hatch Act reminders.

The General Services Administration pushed back its decision to March on which of the three properties under consideration would be the future home of the FBI.

President Barack Obama signed the continuing resolution Thursday, which Congress passed yesterday. The measure keeps the government functioning through Dec. 9.

The Senate is scheduled to vote on a House bill that will be used as the legislative vehicle for a short-term continuing resolution to fund the government through Dec. 9 on Tuesday, Sept. 27.

In today’s Top Federal Headlines, Maryland’s two Senators write the Office of Personnel Management to express the concern they’re hearing from federal employees about the dramatic premium increases for the program.

Elimination of earmarks, now in its fifth year or so, has drained Congress of the oil that makes legislation turn over.

OPM acting Director Beth Cobert gives agencies initial guidance to deal with the impending closures of the Washington, D.C. area subway system. In the memo, OPM recommended agencies review and expand flexible workplace policies.

Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.) said she is spending at least part of her last year in Congress advocating for more money for science and medical research, and for an overall pay raise for federal employees.

Washington Metro Area Transit Authority General Manager Paul Wiedefeld announced during a press conference March 16 that the D.C. Metrorail will reopen around 5 a.m. on Thursday. He cautioned that some areas may be under single tracking conditions if further need for repairs are discovered.