Some | Voter.org

Some agency leaders telling employees to prepare for a government shutdown

September 30, 2023 Some, government, Agency, employees, shutdown, telling, prepare, leaders0 comment

Even though Senate lawmakers are on the cusp of passing a bi-partisan continuing resolution to keep the government open to Nov. 17, agencies are telling their employees to prepare for a shutdown. The departments of Commerce and Homeland Security are among the agencies sending emails to employees today. “Prudent management requires the proper preparation for all contingencies, including the possibility that a lapse could occur. A lapse would mean that certain government activities would cease due to a lack of appropriated funding,” wrote Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo in an email…

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

May 13, 2023 Fire, employees, effort, Feds, Resurrects, ‘atwill’, thus, Easier, Some0 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 need, military, Some, think, sure, Cyber, Isn't, Separate, Service, Lawmakers0 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 Democrats, Biden, from, Some, faces, reelection, Resistance0 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 money, Some, private, travel, planes, Insists, Sec., Buttigieg, Saves, efficient, more0 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 funds, House, Some, shows, them, love, Modernization0 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…