The Sneaky Way Government Unions Rake in Taxpayer Money, and How Congress Can Fight It in Reconciliation

While public-sector unions file lawsuits to block President Donald Trump’s reforms to the bureaucracy, federal government workers are getting paid by the taxpayer for time they spend doing work for those very same unions. The little-known practice of “official time” allows bureaucrats to bill the taxpayer for hours they spend doing work for the union. Members of Congress have filed bills to ban the practice, but a budget expert suggests that taxing the practice instead might pose a smaller hurdle for getting it through Congress. While most bills face a…

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A big to do list for Congress as it finishes the first month with a new administration

Congress has a lot to do as it finishes off its first month with a new administration. The branch itself has not impeded any of the White House’s agenda so far. It has its own policy initiatives to consider and there is the matter of funding for the government, which runs out in less than a month. Loren Duggan, deputy news director for Bloomberg Government, joined the Federal Drive with Tom Temin to break down what’s going on. Interview transcript: Eric White: So, yeah, let’s cover those nominations first. We…

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MoveOn Announces “Congress Works for Us, Not Musk” Recess Actions to Hold Lawmakers Accountable

MoveOn Announces “Congress Works for Us, Not Musk” Recess Actions to Hold Lawmakers Accountable AP: The anti-Musk protest movement is expected to ramp up with Congress on recess NEW MEMO: Top Five Questions for Lawmakers in the Upcoming Congressional Recess WASHINGTON – As reported in the AP, MoveOn Civic Action today announced a nationwide “Congress Works for Us, Not Musk” mobilization during the upcoming congressional recess (February 15-23), with rallies and town hall actions aimed at pressuring lawmakers to fight back against the Trump-Musk agenda. With critical budget fights ahead, MoveOn…

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Republicans in Congress propose bill to fast track Trump plans

Two Republican lawmakers want to make any governmentwide reorganization plan an up or down vote by Congress. Rep. James Comer (R-Ky.) and Sen. Mike Lee’s (R-Utah) Reorganizing Government Act of 2025 would fast-track any plan President Donald Trump submitted to Congress. Lawmakers said the bill would help give the president the authority to streamline government operations to better serve the American people. Comer and Lee said this legislation restores a reorganization authority that was last in effect in 1984, aiming to modernize and improve government efficiency. (Bill would restore President’s…

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The Trump opening agenda is taking most of Congress’ time now

Two horses of the so-called government trifecta — the House and Senate — find themselves deep in the business of the new Trump administration. Bloomberg Government deputy news director Loren Duggan joined the Federal Drive with Tom Temin to discuss what’s immediately ahead. Interview transcript: Tom Temin: And really, the agenda of Congress is different than it would have been had a different election outcome occurred. So what can we expect in the immediate future? Let’s talk about confirmations. That seems to be all the Senate is really doing right…

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