Joni Ernst

FILE - In this Saturday, Sept. 19, 2020, file photo, an American flag flies at half-staff over the White House in Washington. A woman suspected of sending an envelope containing the poison ricin, which was addressed to White House, has been arrested at the New York-Canada border. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky, File)

Industry holds its breath on impact of Trump diversity training order

The executive order President Donald Trump signed last week to ban certain types of diversity training carries enormous potential penalties for federal…

DoD Reporter's Notebook

Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, listens during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing examining issues facing prisons and jails during the coronavirus pandemic on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, June 2, 2020. (Erin Scott/Pool via AP)

Sen. Ernst: Telework ‘bolsters’ claim federal agencies don’t need DC headquarters

Workforce

FILE - In this Thursday, April 2, 2020, file photo, workers in hazardous material suits clean inside the Abigail Hotel in San Francisco. The hotel is one of several private hotels San Francisco has contracted with to take vulnerable people who show symptoms or are awaiting test results for the coronavirus. Gov. Gavin Newsom, who made solving the state's homelessness crisis a priority even before the pandemic struck, announced in mid-March his administration was negotiating with 900 hotels to house the homeless. Two weeks ago he announced Project Roomkey, a program in which the Federal Emergency Management Agency will pay 75% of costs associated with housing some homeless, including people who test positive or may have been exposed to the virus, and older homeless people and those with underlying health conditions. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu, File)

AP/Andrew Harnik

Gen. John Hyten appears before the Senate Armed Services Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, July 30, 2019, for his confirmation hearing to be Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)

Gen. Hyten faces concerns about leadership, assault allegations during confirmation hearing

Congress

Senators look to revive program to help small businesses work with the Pentagon

Federal Newscast

Senators on Trump Space Force plan: Not so fast

Defense

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)

Dec. 21 deadline leaves Senate no time to consider recommendations designed to avoid budget mayhem

Budget

Senate bill would make it harder for political appointees to become civil servants

Federal Newscast

Lawmakers, IGs seek upgrade for popular oversight website a year after rollout

One year following the launch of Oversight.gov, a one-stop shop where users can reference more than 10,000 agency inspector general reports, the watchdog…

Agency Oversight

In this July 29, 2017 photo transgender U.S. army captain Jennifer Sims lifts her uniform during an interview with The Associated Press in Beratzhausen near Regensburg, Germany. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Trump administration gets blow back from both sides of the aisle on military transgender policy

Lawmakers, military officials and civil rights groups all slammed the policy barring most transgender people from military service.

Reporter's Notebook

Jon Tester, John Boozman, James Lankford

Lawmakers introduce bill to expand tuition assistance options for military

Defense

The bill will allow troops to use tuition assistance for certifications and licensing.

Joni Ernst

Industry holds its breath on impact of Trump diversity training order

Sen. Ernst: Telework ‘bolsters’ claim federal agencies don’t need DC headquarters

Lawmaker looks to secure hazard pay, extra leave for feds

Senate bill looks to make sure federal contractors actually deserve bonuses

TSP considering fixed 2% COLA for annuity recipients

New bill would allow agencies to fire employees found guilty of sexual assault