Tag: Congress

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

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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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9 GOP bills for federal employees to track in the new Congress

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At the start of the 119th Congress, lawmakers were quick to introduce a flurry of bills that would have lasting consequences for the federal workforce. Much of the GOP-led legislation will be familiar to federal employees — a majority of the bills have been reintroduced for at least the last couple of years. But now that Republicans hold a majority in both chambers of Congress, and with the incoming Trump administration, the prospects for the legislation may be shifting. Here are just a handful of bills from Republican lawmakers in…

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Biden in late push to boost Indo-Pacific ties sends three pacts to Congress

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The Biden administration is seeking to shore up ties with countries in the Indo-Pacific in its waning days in office by sending to Congress three key agreements that would cement relations with critical allies and partners in a region increasingly dominated by China. The Washington Times stories: White House

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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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Chevron decision already leaving Congress, agencies puzzled

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In a landmark decision that will greatly curtail the power of federal agencies, the Supreme Court recently overturned the longstanding doctrine that directs judges to give deference to agency interpretation of ambiguous statutory language. The new ruling means that courts will now only defer to agencies when laws explicitly state the agency can make its own interpretation. It also assigns our legislative branch the added responsibility of crafting even more judicious and well-considered legislation. Given its reputation for allowing disagreements to impede progress, the Chevron decision presents Congress with a…

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