Category: Congress

Why Park Police back a bill to modernize the Park Police

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Promotions and other career advancements would come faster for members of the U.S. Park Police under a bill in Congress. The U.S. Park Police Modernization Act was introduced in October. It would bring Park Service personnel practices in line with those of other federal law enforcement agencies. One group supporting this legislation: The National Police Association. Spokesman Betsy Brantner Smith joined the Federal Drive with Tom Temin. Interview transcript: Tom Temin And this bill, is it primarily about personnel practices at the park police or does it go beyond that?…

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Why Mike Johnson’s bid to remain House speaker could be a struggle despite Trump’s support

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WASHINGTON (AP) — Mike Johnson is fighting for his political life, again. The Louisiana Republican’s hold on the House speaker’s gavel and his position as second in line to the presidency will be tested Friday when a new Congress convenes and House Republicans weigh whether to reelect him to the post. The challenge, as always, is that Johnson will need almost every Republican vote to win. Johnson has a singular asset in his favor: President-elect Donald Trump endorsed him for speaker in a social media post at the start of…

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Here are key acquisition provisions in 2025 NDAA

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Several key provisions aimed at streamlining the acquisition process made its way into the 2025 defense policy bill President Joe Biden signed into law on Monday. One of the notable provisions included in the 2025 defense policy bill codifies the middle tier acquisition pathway into law under Title 10.  The middle tier acquisition pathway, which Congress created through section 804 of the fiscal 2016 defense policy bill, allows the Defense Department to deliver capabilities within two to five years of an acquisition program’s start.  The provision in the 2025 defense…

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Trump names his nominees for deputy defense secretary, other top DoD positions

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President-elect Donald Trump has announced his picks for key Pentagon positions, including deputy secretary of defense and undersecretaries for the policy, acquisition and sustainment and research and engineering offices.  On Sunday, Trump’s team said in a press email that Stephen Feinberg, the co-founder and chief executive officer of Cerberus Capital Management, would serve as deputy defense secretary in Trump’s second term. Cerberus Capital Management, a private equity firm that has made investments across a wide range of industries, including financial services, real estate, and military and defense,  previously owned the…

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Government shutdown is averted just after deadline as Congress rejects Trump’s debt limit demands

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WASHINGTON (AP) — Facing a government shutdown deadline, the Senate rushed through final passage early Saturday of a bipartisan plan that would temporarily fund federal operations and disaster aid, dropping President-elect Donald Trump’s demands for a debt limit increase into the new year. House Speaker Mike Johnson had insisted Congress would “meet our obligations” and not allow federal operations to shutter ahead of the Christmas holiday season. But the day’s outcome was uncertain after Trump doubled down on his insistence that a debt ceiling increase be included in any deal…

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More federal hiring reforms to come, as Congress passes Chance to Compete Act

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A bipartisan bill to reform the way federal agencies recruit and hire their employees is heading to President Joe Biden’s desk for a signature. Congress has passed the Chance to Compete Act, a bill that will codify skills-based hiring practices for the federal workforce. The House cleared the bill Monday evening by voice vote, following shortly after the Senate’s passage of the companion legislation late last week. Once enacted, the Chance to Compete Act will require agencies to conduct technical and skills-based assessments of federal job candidates, rather than the…

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