Tag: Congress

Congress softens the blow: Here’s how it affects you

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Federal employees and retirees are facing the most significant proposed changes to their benefits in decades. A series of sweeping proposals targeting the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) and associated benefits could reshape the financial future of millions of federal workers. From pension recalibrations to healthcare voucher reforms, and even the potential elimination of core benefits for future hires, the once-stable landscape of federal retirement is facing seismic shifts. While it’s easy to feel both frustrated, angry and overwhelmed, it’s crucial to assess the actual implications. In this article, I’ll…

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As the executive branch slashes foreign aid programs, will Congress step in?

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Interview transcript: Terry Gerton: Foreign aid has probably garnered more headlines in the last two months than it has in the two years. With DOGE’s termination of most of USAID’s grants, and even more recently, the proposed reorganization of the Department of State, we’re seeing a massive realignment of the U.S. strategy when it comes to foreign aid. So Bob, what role has U.S. foreign aid funding played in global humanitarian assistance? Can you give us an idea of the impact? Bob Powers: Yes, certainly it plays a massive role…

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Alcatraz: Should Congress Turn Part of a National Park Back Into a Prison?

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President Richard Nixon, a native Californian, promoted an idea in 1972 to turn an iconic stretch of California’s coastline into a national park. It would include the headlands around the Golden Gate and two nearby islands. One was Angel Island, and the other was Alcatraz—where a federal prison had been permanently closed nine years earlier. On Feb. 8, 1972, Nixon sent a message to Congress. “I propose legislation to establish a Golden Gate National Recreation Area in and around San Francisco Bay,” he said. “Altogether, the area would encompass some…

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Congress struggles to keep up with the Trump cavalcade of action

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The Trump-DOGE-Musk fast-moving agenda prods Congress into action. This week, members reacted to several of the latest administrative executive orders and other moves. Loren Duggan, deputy news director of Bloomberg Government, joined the Federal Drive with Tom Temin to give the rundown. Interview transcript: Tom Temin: And Loren, there is a House vote this week on nationwide injunctions. What’s going on there? Loren Duggan: Right. This is a reaction to what some judges have done in the Trump administration. He’ll put forward an executive order or other action and a…

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

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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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