Don Beyer

Former Defense Department Comptroller Bob Hale wants Congress to learn from the past five years of budgetary turmoil. Congress has about 10 work days when it gets back from recess Sept. 8. – with no immediate sign of a budget deal for fiscal 2016.

If Congress fails to pass an omnibus spending bill before the Dec. 16 deadline and triggers a government shutdown, three Virginia lawmakers want to ensure furloughed federal employees get back pay.

Members of Congress in the Washington area scored highly yet again on this year’s report card put out by Federally Employed Women.

Three recent bills have been introduced in the House and Senate that address issues of administrative leave, Defense acquisition, and federal real property.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives would get new enforcement powers under a bill from Rep. Don Beyer (D-Va.). Among the provisions: Lifting a ban on a national, consolidated database of guns sold. Beyer joins Federal Drive with Tom Temin to share how his bill would change the ATF.

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.

Rep. Don Beyer (D-Va.) told the Federal Drive with Tom Temin that Metro General Manager Paul Wiedefeld’s sudden shutdown of the entire rail system on March 16 for emergency repairs was a “bold stroke” in the right direction, despite the furor it generated from commuting federal employees.

House Lawmakers introduced two bills this week to make rideshare services such as Uber and Lyft reimbursable for federal employees.

Rep. Don Beyer (D-Va.) is putting pressure on government agencies to pay up for transit benefits for federal employees.

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.