Ron Wyden

NDAA, POGO, 2025 National Defense Authorization Act

NDAA amendment to give more authority to DoD components to buy cyber products

An amendment in the Senate version of 2025 NDAA would “return decision-making power back to DoD components” to purchase cyber products and services.

Defense

IRS seeks $104B for multi-year modernization fund to maintain customer service improvements

Agency Oversight

FILE - Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., speaks during a Senate Finance Committee hearing Oct. 19, 2021 on Capitol Hill in Washington. A major effort to overhaul care for Americans with mental health and drug problems is gaining traction in Washington as Congress and the Biden administration work on overlapping plans to address concerns that cut across political dividing lines. (Mandel Ngan/Pool via AP, File)

Oregon Senator fed up with data breaches, blasts Big Tech, demands mandatory standards

Federal Newscast

Oregon senator urges Biden to fire Social Security IG

Federal Newscast

Now both chambers of Congress are investigating Microsoft email breach

Cybersecurity

Bipartisan bill would bar agencies from denying job applicants over weed use

Hiring/Retention

Senator wants agencies to investigate Microsoft’s ‘lax cybersecurity practices’

Federal Newscast

Two-thirds of USPS rural carriers see significant pay cuts under new system

Pay

Senators push major reforms to government’s security classification process

Intelligence Community

Senate confirms Danny Werfel as IRS commissioner to improve taxpayer service

Agency Oversight

IRS nominee Werfel outlines plan for ‘high-performing’ agency with $80B investment

Agency Oversight

The bud of a cannabis plant stands tall at a farm in Chonburi province, eastern Thailand on June 5, 2022. Marijuana cultivation and possession in Thailand was decriminalized as of Thursday, June 9, 2022, like a dream come true for an aging generation of pot smokers who recall the kick the legendary Thai Stick variety delivered. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

Senator wants former and possibly current marijuana use to not count against clearance-seekers

In today’s Federal Newscast, new legislation would make it easier for security clearance applicants to overcome a history of using marijuana.

Federal Newscast

Internal Revenue Service sign with a traffic signal in the foreground indicating a red light.

IRS plans pivot to Login.gov, lets users create online accounts without facial recognition

The IRS, after weeks of pushback from Congress and the public, is now allowing taxpayers to sign up for an online account without the use of any biometric…

Agency Oversight

IRS creates ‘surge team’ to address backlog, scraps plan to close tax processing center

Workforce

The IRS, already dealing with a significant backlog of tax returns and taxpayer correspondence, is scrapping plans to consolidate the number of facilities that process its paper workload.