Senate confirmation

President Donald Trump announced the nomination of a permanent administrator of Federal Aviation Administration as the agency faces new scrutiny over its oversight after a pair of deadly crashes by Boeing’s new aircraft.

The vote now heads to the full Senate, where Barr is expected to be confirmed in a vote as soon as next week. Barr, who previously served as attorney general from 1991 to 1993, would succeed Attorney General Jeff Sessions.

The Senate has confirmed Emory Rounds as the new director of the Office of Government Ethics. The agency veteran was a surprise nominee considering the strained relationship President Donald Trump has had with the office.

Money, human capital and project management all come together in the IRS’ modernization travails.

Megan Brown of Wiley Rein gave her take on why the Senate should confirm Brian Benczkowski as head of the Department of Justice’s criminal division.

The Senate on Wednesday night confirmed both Jeff Pon and Michael Rigas to serve as director and deputy director for the Office of Personnel Management.

The Senate is now in its second week since the firing of former FBI Director James Comey and is still in a bind. David Hawkings, senior editor of Roll Call, joined Federal Drive with Tom Temin to discuss the likeliness that the chamber will be able to get things done regarding confirmations or any other business.

Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) said he’s continuing his hold on Beth Cobert’s nomination to be the Office of Personnel Management’s acting director, because he isn’t satisfied with the agency’s response to his concerns over an exemption for members of Congress in the Affordable Care Act.

Though nominee Beth Cobert passed the first step in becoming the Office of Personnel Management’s permanent director, she could face problems as her nomination moves toward a full Senate vote. Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) said he’s concerned by OPM’s lack of response to two congressional requests for information.

Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) is threatening to hold up Beth Cobert’s nomination to be the permanent director of the Office of Personnel Management. He wants more answers from OPM about a final rule the agency issued two years ago that grants members of Congress a special exemption in the Affordable Care Act.