James Lankford

Senator thinks preserving secret Parisian butchers’ language was a waste of American tax dollars

In today’s Federal Newscast: One senator thinks preserving a secret Parisian butchers’ language was a waste of American tax dollars. Lawmakers want to…

Federal Newscast

Federal prison system, cybersecurity, human capital and more on GAO’s high risk list

Agency Oversight

‘OPM sent a signal’: Still no final regulations on 2017 administrative leave law

Agency Oversight

OPM wants to help formerly incarcerated people find work in federal government

Federal Newscast

FILE - In this June 17, 2016 file photo, U.S. Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla., speaks to the new Oklahoma Highway Patrol Officers during their graduation ceremony in Edmond, Okla. Lankford and Oklahoma's four incumbent GOP U.S. House members who face challengers in this year's general election all have massive fundraising advantages and are heavy favorites in next month's general election. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki, File)

Senate legislation seeks to expand early-career pipeline for federal service

Hiring/Retention

(Getty Images/iStockphoto/AzriSuratmin)

Senators want to know if federal contractors are actually complying E-Verify rule

Federal Newscast

Delta variant has forced some agencies to adjust return-to-work plans

Federal Newscast

Chairman Sen. Gary Peters., D-Mich., speaks during a Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs & Senate Rules and Administration joint hearing on Capitol Hill, Washington, Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2021, to examine the January 6th attack on the Capitol. (Erin Scott/The New York Times via AP, Pool)

First Look

Senators introduce bill to incentivize agencies to lease space they don’t need

Facilities/Construction

Senators reintroduce bill to end shutdowns, bring awareness to one potentially coming

Federal Newscast

FILE - This May 25, 2021, file photo shows a U.S. Passport cover in Washington. Americans hoping to travel abroad this summer may have to delay their plans if they need new or renewed passports. The State Department said Wednesday that the wait for a passport is now between 12 weeks and 18 weeks, even if you pay for expedited processing. That’s because of ripple effects from the coronavirus pandemic that caused extreme disruptions to the process at domestic issuance facilities and overseas embassies and consulates. (AP Photo/Eileen Putman, File)

State Dept. staffing surge won’t address passport backlog overnight, union warns

Hiring/Retention

Light shines on the U.S. Capitol dome early Monday, Dec. 9, 2019, on Capitol Hill in Washington. The White House endorsed an emerging bipartisan agreement Monday on legislation aimed at curbing rising health care costs, including taking steps to limit “surprise” medical bills that can plague patients treated in emergency rooms. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)

Congress calls for workforce safety plans for agencies, reskilling oversight and more

Congress

Kiran Ahuja, the nominee to be Office of Personnel Management Director, appears before a Senate Governmental Affairs Committee hybrid nominations hearing on Capitol Hill, Thursday, April 22, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)

Ahuja vows to bring stable leadership to OPM after years of turnover at the top

Kiran Ahuja, the president’s nominee to lead the Office of Personnel Management, said the agency isn’t making progress on its biggest challenges, in large…

Workforce

Shalanda Young testifies during a Senate Budget Committee hearing to examine her nomination to be Deputy Director of the Office of Management and Budget on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, March 2, 2021. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)

OMB nominees pledge to break down federal hiring barriers

President Joe Biden’s choices to lead the Office of Management and Budget described several top priorities at their nomination hearing on Thursday, including…

Management

Neera Tanden testifies before the Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs committee on her nomination to become the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), during a hearing Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2021 on Capitol Hill in Washington. (Leigh Vogel/Pool via AP)

IT modernization is a priority for Biden’s OMB pick, but she acknowledges funding challenges

Management

The president also tapped Pam Coleman, the former personnel director for the state of New Mexico, to serve as the Office of Management and Budget’s point person on federal workforce issues.