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Retired Navy captain says DOGE disruptions could improve efficiency, security

February 7, 2025 DOGE, disruptions, efficiency, could, security, says, Navy, improve, Retired, Captain0 comment

As Elon Musk’s unofficial Department of Government Efficiency shakes up U.S. regulatory bodies and foreign aid organizations, one national security expert says the organization’s efforts to streamline operations could make the U.S. safer and more effective. The Washington Times stories: White House

Purging the Government Could Backfire Spectacularly

February 3, 2025 Purging, Spectacularly, could, government, Backfire0 comment

The U.S. federal government manages a larger portfolio of risks than any other institution in the history of the world. In just the past few weeks, wildfires raged across Southern California, a commercial flight crashed over the Potomac, a powerful Chinese-developed AI model launched to great fanfare, the nuclear-weapons Doomsday Clock reached its closest point ever to midnight, a new strain of avian flu continued its spread across the globe, and interest rates on long-term government bonds surged—a sign that investors are worried about America’s fiscal future. The responsibility of…

Why Mike Johnson’s bid to remain House speaker could be a struggle despite Trump’s support

January 2, 2025 struggle, Speaker, remain, despite, Mike, trumps, Johnson's, could, House, support0 comment

WASHINGTON (AP) — Mike Johnson is fighting for his political life, again. The Louisiana Republican’s hold on the House speaker’s gavel and his position as second in line to the presidency will be tested Friday when a new Congress convenes and House Republicans weigh whether to reelect him to the post. The challenge, as always, is that Johnson will need almost every Republican vote to win. Johnson has a singular asset in his favor: President-elect Donald Trump endorsed him for speaker in a social media post at the start of…

November Could Determine Future of Ranked Choice Voting in US Elections

October 18, 2024 Voting, choice, Future, November, Elections, Ranked, Determine, could0 comment

Arizona and Nevada not only are major battlegrounds in the presidential race, but voters there also will decide Nov. 5 whether the two states will adopt some incarnation of the process known as ranked choice voting. Six western states and the District of Columbia will vote on some form of ranked choice voting or “jungle primary” that includes ranking the final candidates, according to Ranked Vote and Unite America, which advocate the alternate election process. Another state will consider ditching the ranked choice system. In most states, supporters and opponents…

The political battle takes shape: What it could mean for basic governmental operations

August 31, 2024 Political, Takes, shape, battle, mean, operations, basic, governmental, could0 comment

Conventions over, the politicians are hammering away at one another. With the election looking close, questions arise over the next fiscal year budget and the timing for getting it actually enacted. WTOP Capitol Hill Correspondent Mitchell Miller shares details on the Federal Drive with Tom Temin. Interview transcript: Tom Temin Well, we know there’s a CR; that’s a given. Both parties say that, but the shape and tone and timing of it could be really different depending on who wins. Mitchell Miller Yeah, this is going to be a kind…

Federal firefighters could see bigger paychecks next year

July 14, 2024 could, year, Next, federal, Bigger, firefighters, paychecks0 comment

House appropriators are taking steps that could give federal firefighters a permanent pay raise. Fiscal 2025 spending legislation advanced this week, and it includes about 300 million dollars to boost pay for firefighters working at the Interior Department and the Forest Service. Although House Democrats opposed many of the GOP’s proposed spending cuts, they came out in favor of the pay raise for the frontline workers. Federal firefighters currently have a temporary pay boost, but many advocates have been pushing to make the raise permanent. (House Appropriations Committee – Fiscal…