Bad News for Trump’s Legislative Agenda

The success of President-Elect Donald Trump’s legislative agenda will depend on whether Republicans can close ranks in Congress. They nearly failed on their very first vote. Mike Johnson won reelection as House speaker by the narrowest of margins this afternoon, and only after two Republican holdouts changed their votes at the last minute. Johnson won on the first ballot with exactly the 218 votes he needed to secure the required majority. The effort he expended to keep the speaker’s gavel portends a tough slog for Trump, who endorsed Johnson’s bid.…

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Technology Modernization Fund getting a legislative facelift

The Modernizing Government Technology Act, the most significant federal IT law in the last decade, is on tap to get a renovation. Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.), the chairwoman of the Oversight and Reform Subcommittee on cybersecurity, IT and government innovation, will introduce the MGT Reform Act today, and the full committee is expected to mark it up on Wednesday. Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Va.), has signed on as a co-sponsor of the bill, Federal News Network has learned. “This reauthorization bill is a welcome demonstration of support for the MGT Act…

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Agency in charge of legislative workers hopes to keep things rolling

<p><em>To listen to the Federal Newscast on your phone or mobile device, subscribe in <a href=”https://www.podcastone.com/federal-newstalk?showAllEpisodes=true”>PodcastOne</a> or <a href=”https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/federal-newscast/id1053077930?mt=2″>Apple Podcasts</a>. The best listening experience on desktop can be found using Chrome, Firefox or Safari.</em></p> <ul> <li>Several bills impacting the federal workforce are moving forward in Congress. The House Oversight and Reform Committee passed the <a href=”https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/7376?q=%7B%22search%22%3A%5B%22honoring+civil+servants+killed+in+the+line+of+duty%22%2C%22honoring%22%2C%22civil%22%2C%22servants%22%2C%22killed%22%2C%22in%22%2C%22the%22%2C%22line%22%2C%22of%22%2C%22duty%22%5D%7D&s=1&r=3″ target=”_blank” rel=”noopener”>Change to Compete Act,</a> which would require federal agencies to evaluate candidates based on their skills for a position, rather than on education level. The committee also advanced the <a href=”https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/6967?q=%7B%22search%22%3A%22chance+to+compete+act%22%7D&s=4&r=1″ target=”_blank” rel=”noopener”>Honoring Civil Servants Killed…

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