Lawmakers press OPM on ‘critical’ staffing, funding issues in Postal insurance program

Less than two months away from this fall’s Open Season, Democrats in Congress are raising concerns that the Office of Personnel Management may not be fully prepared to administer the major health insurance program for millions of Postal Service employees and annuitants. Top Democrats from several congressional committees sent a letter Friday to OPM Director Scott Kupor to push for answers about key issues recently identified in the new Postal Service Health Benefits program. The letter comes a few months after the agency’s inspector general office found “critical” staffing vacancies…

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Lawmakers push to eliminate TRICARE premiums for dependents under 26

A bipartisan group of congressional lawmakers wants to bring TRICARE in line with most civilian health insurance plans by allowing military dependents to remain on their parents’ coverage until age 26 without paying additional premiums. The legislation, dubbed the “Health Care Fairness for Military Families Act,” aims to align TRICARE eligibility with the Affordable Care Act (ACA), which requires most civilian insurance plans to cover dependents until they turn 26 at no extra cost. The bill has bipartisan support in both the House and the Senate. Under current TRICARE rules,…

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House lawmakers eye Coast Guard secretary, personnel increases

House lawmakers have unveiled a bipartisan Coast Guard authorization bill that seeks to address the service’s personnel shortages and aging equipment, while also creating stronger protections for service members from sexual assault and harassment. The Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2025, introduced this week by leaders of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, would authorize funding for the service through 2029. The bill seeks to bolster many aspects of a reform plan called “Force Design 2028,” that was formally unveiled by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem in May.  The bill…

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Lawmakers question Noem over cuts to CISA, FEMA, TSA

House lawmakers left with lingering questions about proposed budget cuts at the Department of Homeland Security after a Tuesday oversight hearing with Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. The hearing, before the House Appropriations Committee’s homeland security subcommittee, was held days after the Trump administration released its proposed fiscal 2026 “skinny budget.” The request would increase overall DHS funding — largely at Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Patrol — it would also cut budgets at several component agencies, including the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, the Federal Emergency…

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Lawmakers urge Defense Secretary not to erase troops’ historic accomplishments

In a letter to President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, a group of lawmakers is urging the Defense Department to ‘immediately reverse policies’ that they say attempt to erase records of troops’ historic accomplishments. The four lawmakers that signed onto the letter are veterans who serve on the Senate Armed Services Committee. The lawmakers said content about record-breaking combat flight hours by female aviators, medal recipients within segregated combat units during the World Wars, and historical contributions of Native American servicemembers is being removed indiscriminately. Chief Pentagon Spokesman…

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MoveOn Announces “Congress Works for Us, Not Musk” Recess Actions to Hold Lawmakers Accountable

MoveOn Announces “Congress Works for Us, Not Musk” Recess Actions to Hold Lawmakers Accountable AP: The anti-Musk protest movement is expected to ramp up with Congress on recess NEW MEMO: Top Five Questions for Lawmakers in the Upcoming Congressional Recess WASHINGTON – As reported in the AP, MoveOn Civic Action today announced a nationwide “Congress Works for Us, Not Musk” mobilization during the upcoming congressional recess (February 15-23), with rallies and town hall actions aimed at pressuring lawmakers to fight back against the Trump-Musk agenda. With critical budget fights ahead, MoveOn…

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