Category: Congress

Here’s how many feds would stay on the job – both with and without pay – during an upcoming shutdown

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If Congress fails to pass appropriations bills or a continuing resolution by the end of this week, hundreds of thousands of federal employees will be furloughed. But based on agencies’ shutdown plans, they would actually be in the minority: roughly 65% of the overall federal civilian workforce would continue working through the shutdown, either with or without pay. A Federal News Network analysis of agencies’ publicly-available plans for appropriations lapses shows that out of a total workforce of just over 2.3 million, more than 1.5 million would be either “exempt”…

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How bad would a government shutdown really be?

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There are lots of reasons why its bad when politicians fail to appropriate money to keep the government going at the end of a fiscal year. This year’s shutdown brinksmanship is sharper than ever. So what’s so bad if the government shuts down for a few days or a month? Federal Drive with Tom Temin talked about a list of reasons with Vice President of Research for the Peter G. Peterson Foundation, Jeff Holland. Interview Transcript:  Tom Temin And let’s go through your list, because the very first item on…

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Technology Modernization Fund getting a legislative facelift

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The Modernizing Government Technology Act, the most significant federal IT law in the last decade, is on tap to get a renovation. Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.), the chairwoman of the Oversight and Reform Subcommittee on cybersecurity, IT and government innovation, will introduce the MGT Reform Act today, and the full committee is expected to mark it up on Wednesday. Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Va.), has signed on as a co-sponsor of the bill, Federal News Network has learned. “This reauthorization bill is a welcome demonstration of support for the MGT Act…

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Does the Pentagon skip too many of its congressional reporting duties?

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The Defense Department is under statutory obligation to deliver a thousand reports to Congress each year. One analysis says the department consistently fails at this task and that Congress doesn’t get the information it needs for proper oversight of military affairs. For more on all of that, the Federal Drive with Tom Temin spoke with Brennen Center counsel Katherine Yon Ebright. Interview Transcript:  Tom Temin And you took a look at the situation some FOIA documents will get into. But first of all, just outline the issue. A thousand. Is…

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Biden nominates a former Obama official to run the Federal Aviation Administration

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President Joe Biden on Thursday nominated a former Obama administration official to lead the Federal Aviation Administration after his first choice withdrew in March after running into opposition from Republican senators. The White House said Biden nominated Michael G. Whitaker, a former deputy administrator at the FAA. He is currently the chief operating officer of a Hyundai affiliate working to develop an air taxi aircraft. Whitaker’s nomination had been expected for months, and Biden’s announcement was praised by several industry and labor groups. The FAA, which regulates airline safety and…

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What do congressional minions actually do when they try to reconcile bills, anyhow?

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The detailed work in Congress is done not by members, but rather by the 30,000-odd staff members. Right now, a group of overworked, and probably underpaid, minions are what they call “conferencing” over one of the most important yearly laws: the National Defense Authorization Act. Federal Drive with Tom Temin spoke with on of those former “minions.” Among other things, she was Senior Defense Adviser to Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine). Michele Pearce is currently an attorney with Covington and Burling. Interview Transcript:  Tom Temin And we should say that you…

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