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After August recess, Congress still has a full agenda

July 30, 2024 after, Congress, still, agenda, Full, recess, August0 comment

Congress managed to take care of all the spending bills it needed to before heading out the door for August recess. Lots is still on the agenda, though, for when it returns — including a local matter concerning Reagan International Airport. Plus, there’s been some rare bipartisanship as members share in the one thing they can still always agree on: dressing down a federal official. For more on this, Federal News Network executive producer Eric White spoke to WTOP Capitol Hill correspondent Mitchell Miller on the Federal Drive with Tom…

Congress tackles spending, policy and candidate protections on the road to the August recess

July 22, 2024 Policy, Congress, candidate, road, spending, recess, Protections, August, tackles0 comment

Been a hectic week on the political side of government. The 2024 election is in full swing as one party hosts its convention, and with an attempt on a candidate’s life, you know members of Congress are going have questions for the agencies in charge of protection. Meanwhile, there’s other legislation that could have an impact on other federal activities. To help break it all down for the Federal Drive with Tom Temin, Federal News Network Executive producer Eric White welcomes Deputy News Director Loren Duggan. Interview Transcript: Eric White …

WEP & GPO repeal, Schedule F among issues facing Congress

July 6, 2024 schedule, Congress, issues, Among, Facing, repeal0 comment

Debate over Social Security benefit blackouts for certain federal, state and local government employees, it never ends. A recent hearing once again considered what to do about Windfall Elimination Provision and the Government Offset Pension. One observer who listened closely, the staff vice president at the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association, John Hatton. He gives the Federal Drive with Tom Temin an update. Interview Transcript: Tom Temin And John the beat goes on with respect to the Windfall Elimination Provision and the Government Pension Offset for Social Security…

Congress looks to require military drone corps, which Army leaders oppose

June 4, 2024 military, drone, Require, Corps, Army, Congress, oppose, looks, leaders0 comment

The House Armed Services Committee’s draft defense policy bill would require the Army to establish a separate drone branch, but Army leaders continue to push against the idea. A provision in the House Armed Services Committee’s version of the defense bill would require the Army to establish a drone corps as a basic branch of the service. Gen. James Rainey, who leads the Army Futures Command, said it is too early for setting up a separate drone branch. One of the main priorities for the service right now is to…

With foreign aid approved, Congress turns to federal agencies

April 29, 2024 Foreign, federal, turns, Agencies, approved, Congress0 comment

Now with the issue of giving money to U.S. allies in the rear-view mirror, Congress can return to the task of dishing out cash to federal agencies, as lawmakers are finally able to start work on appropriations for the 2025 fiscal year. However, there are still some rumblings from with the Republican Party that Speaker Mike Johnson may have to worry about down the line. To get an update from Capitol Hill, Federal News Network’s Eric White talked with Maeve Sheehey, Congressional Reporter with Bloomberg Government on the Federal Drive…

Dysfunction in Congress spoils the work life of congressional staff

April 5, 2024 Congress, congressional, Life, work, dysfunction, staff, spoils0 comment

Few workforces have been studied and dissected as much as that of the two million-strong executive branch of the federal government. There’s another smaller, if no less crucial workforce. It belongs to Congress. The latest research shows wide-and-deep dissatisfaction among congressional staff members. For details, the Federal Drive Host Tom Temin spoke with the President and CEO of the Congressional Management Foundation, Brad Fitch. Interview Transcript: Tom Temin And you have surveyed members of the congressional staff. What is it? About 30,000 plus or minus. Tell us about the survey…