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GOP resurrects effort to make some feds at-will employees, thus easier to fire

May 13, 2023 effort, Feds, Resurrects, ‘atwill’, thus, Easier, Some, Fire, employees0 comment

Republicans have renewed their push to try to make it easier for agencies to fire federal employees. GOP lawmakers in both the House and Senate reintroduced a bill to make feds at-will workers. Proponents of the Public Service Reform Act said it would make it easier to remove poor performers, and create more accountability and efficiency. It is an idea that former President Trump originally touted through a now-revoked executive order that created the Schedule F position classification. Republicans’ new bill would also abolish the Merit Systems Protection Board. Democrat…

Does the military need a separate service for cyber? Some lawmakers think so; DoD isn’t sure

April 3, 2023 think, sure, Cyber, Isn't, Separate, Service, Lawmakers, need, military, Some0 comment

It’s been a little over three years since Congress created a dedicated military service to focus on space. Lawmakers are wondering whether it’s time to do the same thing for cyber. The Defense Department hasn’t yet taken a position on that question — officials say they’re still studying the topic of military cyber force design. But some members of Congress are getting impatient. Lawmakers have asked DoD for its recommendations on whether there ought to be a separate military services just for cyber forces more than once. In the 2020…

Biden reelection bid faces resistance from some Democrats

March 6, 2023 from, Some, faces, reelection, Resistance, Democrats, Biden0 comment

Democrats across New Hampshire are upset with the Democratic president for trying to end the state’s status as home to the first-in-the-nation presidential primary. But their concerns about Biden run much deeper. The Washington Times stories: White House

Sec. Buttigieg insists use of private planes more efficient, saves money, for some DOT travel

December 12, 2022 private, travel, planes, Insists, Sec., Buttigieg, Saves, efficient, more, money, Some0 comment

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg has reportedly taken at least 18 flights on taxpayer-funded private planes since taking office despite his push to curb carbon emissions and criticism of his predecessors for using private travel. The Washington Times stories: White House

House shows love for some IT modernization funds, but not all of them

July 25, 2022 House, Some, shows, them, love, Modernization, funds0 comment

Two of the three governmentwide technology modernization funds received some extra love from House lawmakers in the fiscal 2023 budget. As part of a package of six bills passed by the House on July 20, the IT Oversight and Reform (ITOR) fund managed by the Office of Management and Budget received a $ 5.7 million plus up over its 2022 appropriation. Meanwhile, the General Services Administration’s Federal Citizen Services Fund received an even larger increase of $ 60.7 million over its 2022 budget. House lawmakers, however, didn’t strongly support the…

House advances some key agency spending provisions for 2023

July 21, 2022 House, spending, Some, Agency, provisions, advances, 20230 comment

The House cleared a funding package that included six bills, taking a few small steps forward for civilian agency spending in fiscal 2023. In a 220 to 207 vote on July 20, the House passed a “minibus” spending package with approximately $ 560 billion in government funding. In the full House vote, six out of 12 appropriations bills moved forward, supporting funding for the departments of Agriculture, Energy, Interior and Transportation, as well as the departments of Housing and Urban Development and Veterans Affairs, and several other independent agencies. The…