Sour labor relations continue to dot the government

For a group that says it’s committed to the federal workforce, the Biden administration sure is saddled with some lousy labor relations situations. You can’t really blame the administration, though. A couple of long-festering labor-management issues lie only partially within the White House’s control. Specifically, it needs Senate confirmation of a few specific nominees to settle things down. They only number 580 federal employees, but the Justice Department’s immigration judges are upset. The Federal Labor Relations Authority just reaffirmed its 2020 ruling that the judges are management employees and therefore…

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Shift in Congressional majority could drive Democrats’ oversight agenda

<p><em>Best listening experience is on Chrome, Firefox or Safari. Subscribe to Federal Drive’s daily audio interviews on <a href=”https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/federal-drive-with-tom-temin/id1270799277?mt=2″ target=”_blank” rel=”noopener noreferrer”>Apple Podcasts</a> or <a href=”https://www.podcastone.com/federal-drive-with-tom-temin?pid=1753589″ target=”_blank” rel=”noopener noreferrer”>PodcastOne</a>.</em></p> <p>People who track politics say the majority in Congress could switch next year from Democratic to Republican. If that&#8217;s the case, that prospect will drive the Democrats&#8217; oversight agenda for the rest of 2022. Some congressional leaders have laid out their agendas on paper. For what agencies can expect, the <strong><em><a href=”https://federalnewsnetwork.com/category/temin/tom-temin-federal-drive/”>Federal Drive with Tom Temin </a></em></strong>turned to Hogan Lovells attorney and former House Foreign…

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National Guard’s hybrid status makes sexual assault confusing to prosecute

After spending the last year revamping the Defense Department’s sexual assault prosecution avenues, Congressional leaders are now diving into the complex patchwork of legalities surrounding the issue in the National Guard. Lawmakers are concerned that the hybrid nature of the National Guard is leaving gaps in DoD and law enforcement’s ability to oversee and bring legal proceedings against sexual assault offenders. “The individual stories of Guard personnel caught in a web of confusing bureaucracy are harrowing,” Rep. Jackie Speier, chairwoman of the House Armed Services Personnel Subcommittee said during a…

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Langevin pressing on cybersecurity, climate change in final act

Rep. Jim Langevin (D-R.I.), a nearly 22-year veteran in Congress and champion of cyber issues, plans to retire at the end of this term, but there are still some loose ends he wants to tie up before calling it quits. Langevin is chairman of the House Armed Services Cyber, Innovative Technologies and IT Subcommittee and previous leader of the now-defunct Intelligence, Emerging Threats and Intelligence Subcommittee. In those positions he pushed to make cybersecurity a top issue in the Defense Department before it was on many people’s radar. His efforts…

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Steve Bannon released from custody pending trial on contempt of Congress charges

CNN)Steve Bannon won’t be detained before trial on charges of contempt of Congress after he failed to comply with subpoenas from the House committee investigating January 6. Bannon, a former adviser to former President Donald Trump, appeared in federal court for the first time Monday. He will be arraigned on Thursday. Prosecutors did not seek to detain Bannon before trial. Under conditions approved by the judge, Bannon agreed to weekly check-ins, to surrender his passport, provide notice of any travel outside the district and seek court approval for travel outside…

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