Federal Newscast

(4/9/24) - In today's Federal Newscast: The General Services Administration is looking to eliminate the use of "forever chemicals" in federal buildings. Meantime, a couple of California Congressmen want to turn empty federal buildings into housing. And Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) is fed up with data breaches and has Big Tech in his crosshairs. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and Califo...

(4/8/24) -  For another year, agencies have likely escaped budget cuts due to sequestration. CISA is preparing to host its biggest biannual cybersecurity exercise called, “Cyber Storm.” And service members are reportedly not getting enough sleep each night to properly do their jobs. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-se...

(4/5/24) - In today's Federal Newscast: New guidance is out to improve the management of more than a trillion dollars in federal grants. The Postal Service is missing more than half its service targets for mail products on which it has a monopoly. And the congressional push continues to guarantee the death of Schedule F. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice...

(4/4/24) - In today's Federal Newscast: The State Department says recent budget cuts will lead to an overburdened workforce. The Department of Homeland Security is on the hunt for fresh cyber talent. And the Justice Department has issued a data challenge to help address the nation’s drug crisis. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/priv...

(4/3/24) - In today's Federal Newscast: The Pentagon's first-of-its-kind Commercial Space Integration Strategy comes out this week. The Office of Personnel Management is offering a webinar to people thinking about entering the federal workforce. And a new chief diversity and inclusion officer is headed to the State Department. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy...

(4/2/24) - In today's Federal Newscast: The Navy is updating its basic training phone call policy. The Census Bureau is looking to roll out a remote-work policy it drafted at the end of last year. And women-owned small businesses won a record $25.5 billion in federal contracts in fiscal 2023. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy...

(4/1/24) - In today's Federal Newscast: The Defense Department has established the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Cyber Policy. There is a new section to the FAR and it may be the most important change in decades. And an OMB working group has added Middle Eastern or North African to federal requirements for collecting race and ethnicity data. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.c...

(3/29/24) - In today's Federal Newscast: The Army has opened a central office to manage the relocation of military families with special needs. A data analytics tool used to fight COVID-19 fraud might be redeployed. And agencies continue to struggle with giving too much money to citizens when doling out benefits. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at http...

(3/28/24) - Federal employees donated more than $68 million to this year’s Combined Federal Campaign. The DoD abortion policy, that Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) objected to, cost about $44,000 last year. And two lawmakers call a recent telework protest "hypocritical." See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

(3/27/24) - In today's Federal Newscast: TSP participants, receiving a full match, is once again on the rise. Senate lawmakers are advancing legislation that aims to bolster the security of government facilities. And in hand-to-phone combat, DoD is turning to social media to battle its recruiting crisis. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19...

(3/26/24) - In today's Federal Newscast: Following a recent ransomware attack, the Senate Homeland Security Committee Chairman is calling on HHS to increase its oversight of cybersecurity in the healthcare sector. More Defense Department organizations are entering the Thunderdome. And hackers have gone phishing at the State Department, targeting paychecks and pensions. See Privacy Policy at https:...

(3/25/24) - In today's Federal Newscast: Vendors likely will have to wait a little longer for the final solicitation of the SEWP VI governmentwide acquisition contract. Congress bumps up the Defense Department's funding for artificial intelligence for this year. And with an eye toward China and Russia, the Senate Intelligence Committee is asking the pentagon for advanced civil nuclear technology o...

(3/22/24) - In today's Federal Newscast: The Defense Innovation Unit could get a major funding boost. A powerful senator is asking the GAO to review the risks the Census Bureau faces, as it prepares for the 2030 count. And a new bill is calling for a more permanent path forward for better relationships between federal unions and management. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and Calif...

(3/21/24) - In today's Federal Newscast: Military families continue to discourage family members from joining the military. Meanwhile, the Army is looking to retirees to fill the ranks. And a judge with the Merit Systems Protection Board is ordering the Army Corps of Engineers to send a whistleblower a "thank you letter." See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notic...

(3/20/24) - In today's Federal Newscast: U.S. spy agencies are doubling down on efforts to harness open-source intelligence. A free, online tax preparation tool run by the IRS is gaining momentum. And a big employees union is warning of big dangers if the Bureau of Prisons fails to receive more funding. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19....

(3/19/23) - In today's Federal Newscast: HHS is launching a probe into the huge cyber attack on Change Healthcare. GSA is ready to take the next step in setting up its new contract for cloud services. And the Coast Guard is improving access to mental health care for its service members. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-no...

(3/18/24) - In today's Federal Newscast: The Defense Department has a new director in charge of security clearances. Wildland firefighters are still fighting for a permanent pay increase. And the Supreme Court has ruled that, in many cases, public officials cannot block their critics on social media, even from their personal accounts. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California...

In today's Federal Newscast, the Biden administration is eyeing more investments for federal early-career hiring in fiscal 2025. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

In today's Federal Newscast, the Secret Service is warming up plans for one of the biggest sporting events in the world. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

In today's Federal Newscast, federal groups and unions are less than pleased with the White House's proposed 2% raise for civilian feds in 2025 See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

In today's Federal Newscast, the White House wants Congress to reverse a big cut to the IRS’ multi-year modernization fund. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

In today's Federal Newscast, agencies and federal unions just got marching orders to re-establish labor-management forums.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

(3/8/24) - In today's Federal Newscast: A new-and-improved effort is underway to sell federal buildings. Agencies and vendors have until Monday to give feedback to the FedRAMP cloud security program on its draft Emerging Technology Framework. And it's not like storming a beach, but the Marines Corps becomes the first military branch in history to pass a financial audit. See Privacy Policy at https...

(3/7/24) - In today's Federal Newscast: The Government Publishing Office has a new CHCO. VA efforts have accelerated to hire and market jobs to military spouses. And the Defense Department is slated to receive over $18 billion for military construction initiatives. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

(3/6/24) - In today's Federal Newscast: When it comes to safety, many federal buildings can't keep up, according to the Government Accountability Office. The National Cyber Director is touting progress on the White House’s cyber efforts. And a new House bill specifies how agencies should buy, use and manage artificial intelligence. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Pri...