Congressional Spotlight 
Top News
- 5 percent of federal workers to be furloughed Friday
- Congress pressures agencies to speed up office consolidations
- Katherine Archuleta chosen as next OPM director
- Data breach puts DHS workers at risk of identity theft
- DoD chooses interoperability over integration for new e-health record system
- House GOP panel moves on deep budget cuts
- OMB fuels synergy between mobile, open data
- IRS official Lerner: 'I did nothing wrong'
- Accountability breakdown leading factor in DoD sexual assaults
- OMB reworking financial system requirements
- Federal retirement funds temporarily tapped
- VanRoekel to lead OMB management team
- Meet the 2013 Service to America Medal finalists
- Thursday federal headlines - May 23, 2013
Cyber information sharing bill gets new life in House
Despite a veto threat a year ago, House proponents of a cyber information sharing bill say productive talks now are underway with the Obama administration. Reps. Mike Rogers and Dutch Ruppersberger re-introduced the Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act (CISPA) trying to address privacy and civil liberties concerns.
Boehner voices skepticism on budget prospects
House Speaker John Boehner expressed doubts Wednesday that the Republican-led House and Democratic-controlled Senate could reach agreement on a budget and avoid automatic spending cuts that could jeopardize economic growth.
Pay freeze bill heading for House vote
The House Rules Committee voted to fast-track legislation extending the pay freeze for federal employees through the end of the fiscal year. Federal workers are now slated to get a 0.5 percent pay increase in March when a stopgap continuing resolution expired. However, the measure approved by the House Rules Committee, introduced by Rep. Ron DeSantis (R-Fla.), would block that increase.
Sequestration, furloughs, federal pay raise, and more
Colleen Kelley, president of the National Treasury Employees Union, and Federal Times reporter Stephen Losey will discuss sequestration and other issues affecting federal workers.
February 13, 2013
USPS makes case for ending Saturday delivery as postal reform push continues
The U.S. Postal Service's worsening financial situation led Postmaster General Pat Donahoe to announce last week the agency would end Saturday mail delivery beginning in August. But lawmakers on the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee were divided over Donahoe's announcement. The postmaster general told the committee during a hearing Wednesday the decision was necessary to save $2 billion a year and to begin shoring up the service's funding shortfalls.
Federal Drive Interviews -- Feb. 13, 2013
Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.) talks about his plans as the new chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. Greg Kutz of TIGTA discusses new progress being made by the IRS in recruitment and hiring. Jennifer Martinez, staff writer at The Hill newspaper, discusses the new Executive Order on cybersecurity. Don Kettl of the University of Maryland's School of Public Policy offers insight on the State of the Union speech.
Text of Obama's State of the Union address
Text of Obama's State of the Union address
Military issues dire warnings of readiness crisis, decries political gridlock
Among the warnings the military's top uniformed officers delivered to the Senate Tuesday: Half of Marine Corps units will fall below readiness standards by the end of the year, the Army will have to curtail training for 80 percent of its ground forces and shipyards are already becoming short-staffed because of DoD's hiring freeze.
White House issues cyber order, giving NIST, DHS lead roles
Senior administration officials say the Executive Order is not a replacement for comprehensive cybersecurity legislation, but the start of a new conversation for how best to protect the nation's critical infrastructure. NIST released an RFI Tuesday as part of its effort to create a voluntary, flexible framework. And DHS will expand the number of companies the government shares classified and unclassified cyber threat information with through the Defense Industrial Base pilot.
Obama calls on Congress to stop sequestration, pass cyber bill
President Obama used his State of the Union speech Tuesday night to reiterate common management themes that have been part of the administration's push over the last four years.
Top officers issue urgent warning over budget cuts
US military's top leaders says looming spending cuts may leave troops unprepared for combat
Senate Democrats craft bill to avert budget cuts
Senate Democrats craft bill to avert automatic budget cuts to Pentagon, domestic programs
Senate panel to vote Tuesday on Hagel nomination
Senate committee to vote Tuesday on Hagel nomination as Dem chairman rejects GOP demands
Lawmakers consider regulating drone strikes
CIA nominee Brennan defends drone strikes, says he doesn't know if waterboarding is effective
Brennan defends drone strikes, even on Americans
CIA nominee Brennan defends drone strikes, says he doesn't know if waterboarding is effective
Panetta says US at risk of being second-rate power
Defense secretary warns military readiness crisis coming if automatic budget cuts are allowed
Civilian discretionary spending under scrutiny
On this week's Bloomberg Government show, nine programs that make ideal targets for budget cuts.
February 7, 2013
Senate panel postpones vote on Hagel nomination
Senate panel postpones vote on Hagel nomination amid Republican calls for more information
USPS employees to see less overtime, more buyouts under 5-day delivery plan
Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe said the service can no longer afford to delivery first class mail six-days a week. He said cutting back by one day a week would save about $2 billion a year. USPS still would have a $14 billion deficit and needs help from Congress to address other fiscal challenges.
Brennan's CIA bid chance to strike back at critics
Brennan's second bid to lead CIA offers a chance to strike back at critics and defend drones
