Monday - Friday, 3-7 p.m.

Francis Rose keeps you updated on all the federal news happening during your workday. Don't leave the office without seeing what's on the show.

Dude, Where's my refund? IRS website overrun

IRS website overwhelmed by people checking status of tax refunds; agency pleads for restraint

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Democrats to unveil bill to replace budget cuts

Senate Democrats to unveil bill to replace automatic budget cuts

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OMB to Congress: Sequestration impact 'real,' but furloughs not immediate

Obama administration officials are painting a bleak picture of how federal agencies would fare under sequestration, the automatic budget cuts slated to go into effect in two weeks. The Senate Appropriations Committee heard testimony from several Obama administration officials about the consequences of the cuts, which are set to take effect March 1. However, Danny Werfel, controller of the Office of Management and Budget, emphasized to the committee that employee furloughs would not be immediate.

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Social Security head: Program fraying from neglect

AP Interview: Outgoing Social Security commissioner says benefit cuts, tax hikes inevitable

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IRS program, interagency contracting finally removed from High-Risk list

A total of 30 programs, once again, are considered troubled, including two new areas. But, the Government Accountability Office removed the IRS' Business Systems Modernization program after 18 years on the list, and interagency contracting after 8 years.

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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.

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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.

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In Depth interviews - Feb. 13

On the In Depth show blog, you can listen to the interviews, find more information about the guests on the show each day and links to additional resources.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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In Depth interviews - Feb. 12

On the In Depth show blog, you can listen to the interviews, find more information about the guests on the show each day and links to additional resources.

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Top officers issue urgent warning over budget cuts

US military's top leaders says looming spending cuts may leave troops unprepared for combat

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Are contractors exaggerating sequestration impact?

As sequestration draws nearer, contractor groups have pointed to alarming studies that show the 9 percent in across-the-board Defense cuts would throw at least 1 million people out of work and potentially cripple the defense and aerospace industries. But in a new report, the Center for International Policy, a nonprofit group which advocates reducing military spending, presented evidence that far fewer defense-sector jobs would be lost than industry has claimed and that defense companies would likely be able to absorb the defense cuts.

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Military benefits extended to same-sex partners

Pentagon extends benefits to same-sex partners of service members; not healthcare, housing

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In Depth interviews - Feb. 11

On the In Depth show blog, you can listen to the interviews, find more information about the guests on the show each day and links to additional resources.

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Senate Democrats craft bill to avert budget cuts

Senate Democrats craft bill to avert automatic budget cuts to Pentagon, domestic programs

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Senate panel to vote Tuesday on Hagel nomination

Senate committee to vote Tuesday on Hagel nomination as Dem chairman rejects GOP demands

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Inside the Reporter's Notebook: 2014 IT budget passback is much ado about nothing

News and buzz from the last two weeks includes a new legislative proposal from Rep. Darrell Issa on suspension and debarment and round two of the Presidential Innovation Fellows program.

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Could cutting service contracts avert sequestration furloughs?

In an analysis prepared for the American Federation of Government Employees, contracting expert Charles Tiefer said that agency managers have a number of tools at their disposal to legally scale back service-contract spending and that doing so would be preferable to federal furloughs.

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