Category: Congress

Senators delay federal telework bill to consider adding work-from-home supervision

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A few senators on the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee are digging in their heels on a federal telework bill, calling for more “accountability” of teleworking employees governmentwide. On a list of bills HSGAC considered for advancement Wednesday morning, the Telework Transparency Act aims to paint a clearer picture of telework across agencies. But during the committee’s consideration of the legislation, more questions than answers came up among members. There appeared to be at least some agreement among committee members on the intent of the legislation, but pushback from several…

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Senate bill would require feds to increase the amount of time they spend in the office

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A pair of senators is looking to get feds back to the office even more. If enacted, the Back to Work Act would require federal employees to spend 60% of their work hours in the office. It would mean a slight increase from the current in-person policy at many agencies, right now at about 50% in-the-office. Lawmakers say the bill is a way to address federal office space concerns, while still allowing for *some telework flexibility. Under the legislation, agencies would also have to monitor teleworking employees. They’d also have…

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Lawmakers press agencies on ‘employment barriers’ for federal employees teleworking overseas

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The Biden administration is stepping up plans to make the federal government an employer of choice for military and Foreign Service families. Now lawmakers are pressing agencies for an update on these efforts. Democrats on the House Oversight and Accountability Committee are asking agencies how they’re “eliminating employment barriers and advancing employment opportunities” for military and civilian families who serve overseas. The 11 committee members, led by Ranking Member Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) are specifically asking the 24 largest federal agencies about how many of their employees are holding jobs while teleworking…

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CISA makes significant progress deploying EDR tools on agency systems

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The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency is making progress toward deploying, onto agency systems, Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) tools. CISA Director Jen Easterly said her agency has completed EDR deployments at eight federal agencies, with five more in progress. In testimony before the House Appropriations Committee yesterday, Easterly said the EDR tools allow CISA to identify cyber attacks on agency networks within minutes. Within just the last six months, Easterly said the cyber agency has detected more than 1,900 threats on federal networks using the new tools. (Witness testimony…

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With foreign aid approved, Congress turns to federal agencies

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Now with the issue of giving money to U.S. allies in the rear-view mirror, Congress can return to the task of dishing out cash to federal agencies, as lawmakers are finally able to start work on appropriations for the 2025 fiscal year. However, there are still some rumblings from with the Republican Party that Speaker Mike Johnson may have to worry about down the line. To get an update from Capitol Hill, Federal News Network’s Eric White talked with Maeve Sheehey, Congressional Reporter with Bloomberg Government on the Federal Drive…

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Senator calls out USPS leadership as first-class financial failures

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Senate Democrats are telling the Postal Service to rethink its 10-year reform plan. Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) and six of her colleagues are concerned about USPS mail volume, which has plummeted to a 40-year low. The senators are also skeptical about plans to grow the package business, which is not bringing in enough money to make up the difference. They warn that higher mail prices are also driving away more USPS customers and that the agency is falling short of its break-even goal. The senators are calling on members of…

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