Category: Congress

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

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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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Appeals court rules Trump doesn’t have the authority to fire Copyright Office director

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WASHINGTON (AP) — A divided appeals court ruled Wednesday that President Donald Trump doesn’t have the authority to unilaterally remove and replace the director of the U.S. Copyright Office. A three-judge panel from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit voted 2-1 to temporarily block Trump’s Republican administration from firing Shira Perlmutter as the register of copyrights, who advises Congress on copyright issues. Perlmutter claims Trump fired her in May because he disapproved of advice she gave to Congress in a report related to artificial intelligence.…

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From Director Vought to A-11 update, OMB minimizing GAO’s role

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The Office of Management and Budget is making its feelings known about the Government Accountability Office publicly and in regulations. Russ Vought, OMB’s director, said yesterday that GAO, like other independent agencies, doesn’t have a place in overseeing the executive branch. “We are not big fans of GAO. They are a quasi-legislative independent entity. Again, something that shouldn’t exist,” Vought said during a speech at the National Conservatism Conference. Office of Management and Budget director Russell Vought. (AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib) Prior to the speech, OMB also made its stance about…

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With a possible government shutdown looming, contractors are looking for guidance

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 Interview transcript: Terry Gerton Okay, so Congress is back, but limited number of work days before the end of the FY. So with the threat of government shutdown or continuing resolution, what are you advising to your stakeholders? Stephanie Kostro So, I love that you’re bringing this up so early in September, Terry, because the end of September will get here before you know it. And as you pointed out, days in which both the House and the Senate are in session, where they can actually get things out…

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Trump blocks $4.9B in foreign aid Congress OK’d, using maneuver last seen nearly 50 years ago

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WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump has told House Speaker Mike Johnson that he won’t be spending $ 4.9 billion in congressionally approved foreign aid, effectively cutting the budget without going through the legislative branch. Trump, who sent a letter to Johnson, R-La., on Thursday, is using what’s known as a pocket rescission — when a president submits a request to Congress to not spend approved funds toward the end of the fiscal year, so Congress cannot act on the request in a 45-day timeframe and the money goes unspent…

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Lawmaker calls for an independent review of cybersecurity in the U.S. courts system

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After a high-profile hack, Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) is calling for an independent review of cybersecurity in the U.S. courts system. In a letter to Chief Justice John Roberts, Wyden said the federal Judiciary has fallen short in protecting its sensitive IT systems. He pointed to a recent intrusion of the courts’ case management system. Hackers reportedly took advantage of vulnerabilities that were brought to light five years ago, after a separate hack of the case management system. Wyden says Roberts should commission a National Academy of Sciences review of…

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