Senate
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Nine Republican senators elected in the last round caused a switch in the majority party. But not quite the revolution that many people expected. Their impact on all things federal has been rather nuanced, as a matter of fact. That's according to analysis by CQ Roll Call senior editor David Hawkings, who shares his insight on Federal Drive with Tom Temin.
February 23, 2016 -
Federal wastebooks do make fun reading, and they do manage to portray some of the absurdity that creeps into an organization as vast as the U.S. federal government. My problem is that the effort is froth.
December 09, 2015 -
Beth Cobert has not testified before Congress since becoming acting director of OPM in July. From the data breaches to workforce issues, senators have plenty of material to draw upon.
November 12, 2015 -
The two-year budget deal is inspiring some lawmakers to push for making a biennial budget cycle permanent, with one year focused on appropriations and the second on oversight.
November 05, 2015 -
The big stories that have broken are more about beginnings than conclusions.
October 28, 2015 -
Your federal retirement benefits would be safer if the Representative Payee Fraud Prevention Act of 2015 becomes law. Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.) is one of the sponsors along with Sen. Heidi Heitkamp (D-N.D.). Lankford is also chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs subcommittee on Regulatory Affairs and Federal Management. He explained to In Depth at Francis Rose what the bill will do.
October 13, 2015 -
Senate Democrats want to launch bipartisan budget talks now. Wait any longer, they say, and it could be too late to stave off cuts or even a government shutdown.
August 18, 2015 -
The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee approved legislation Wednesday to enhance agencies' ability to protect themselves from cyber attacks.
July 29, 2015 -
Sen. Jon Tester (D-Mont.) wants the Office of Personnel Management's inspector general to investigate the full-suite of systems OPM uses to store personal background investigation information.
July 06, 2015 -
Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said he thinks negotiators from the House Armed Services Committee and his committee will wrap up their discussions within the next week or so. Language on defense procurement in both bills is part of the negotiation going on right now between the two committees. Jon Etherton, principal of Etherton & Associates, explains the similarities and differences in the two bills on In Depth with Francis Rose.
July 01, 2015 -
The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee has approved legislation that could change how federal employees are hired and managed. Expect tighter controls over agency charge cards, employee bonuses and program management if these bills become law.
June 24, 2015 -
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate voted on Monday to confirm a new leader for the Transportation Security Administration in the wake of reports of startling security gaps at U.S. airports. Coast Guard Vice Adm. Peter…
June 23, 2015 -
The Office of Personnel Management\'s contract for credit monitoring services has come under scrutiny lately. OPM closed the bidding process after only 36 hours, which led several procurement experts to question whether the agency steered the contract toward Winvale. Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) has started looking into the contract, sending a letter to OPM Director Katherine Archuleta last week seeking answers about both the rationale for the contract award, as well as the performance of Winvale and its subcontractor CSID. Sen. Warner joined Tom Temin on the Federal Drive to explain what he wants to know and why he\'s so upset.
June 23, 2015 -
Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) joins a growing number of lawmakers questioning the Office of Personnel Management\'s decision to hire Winvale and CSID to provide credit monitoring services. As Federal News Radio first reported, OPM\'s $21 million award to Winvale raises serious concerns among procurement experts. Now Warner and the American Federation of Government Employees want answers as feds are reporting customer service from the vendor is lacking. Federal News Radio\'s Executive Editor Jason Miller tells In Depth with Francis Rose about the contract, and why some procurement experts question it.
June 19, 2015 -
President Barack Obama named Mary Kendall as his choice to be the permanent inspector general at the Interior Department. The announcement came a day after oversight experts criticized the President for not filling the position, which has been vacant for 2,291 days.
June 03, 2015