Author Archive
Digital Government
Records agency to DHS: Look into your watchdog’s use of text messages
This comes after a hearing two weeks ago that raised concerns among some lawmakers about how the IG uses and retains records of electronic messages.
Congress
Bipartisan group looks to fix 'hopelessly obsolete' classification system
Legislation is aimed at reducing over-classification and improving the handling of secrets.
People
Senate confirms Biden's pick to lead NARA
Colleen Shogan will now lead the National Archives and Records Administration.
Workforce
The COVID-19 vaccine mandates for feds and contractors are officially ending
Neither have been enforced due to legal challenges.
Congress
Oversight Chairman Comer: ‘We’re two years behind in oversight’
Meanwhile, Democrats say Rep. James Comer (R-Ky.), the incoming chairman of the newly renamed House Oversight and Accountability Committee, is hypocritical and partisan.
Acquisition
5 states challenged the federal contractor wage increase and lost
But this may not be the end of the dispute, which stems from an April 2021 executive order.
Digital Government
The White House charts a course for open government
The fifth U.S. Open Government National Action Plan builds on many of the Biden administration's previous efforts.
Acquisition
Here’s what the contracting community thinks of the new proposed rule on climate reporting
The proposed rule is part of the Biden administration’s larger environmental agenda, but it comes with costs for contractors.
Congress
Nothing’s decided yet, but we might be headed to a new era of divided government
The Senate is a toss-up and the House is leaning Republican.
Congress
What would a GOP takeover of the House mean for the Oversight Committee?
The chair-in-waiting for the once “sleepy” committee would like to investigate COVID-19’s origins, the Biden administration’s border policies and the president’s family members.
Workforce
Court lifts injunction on contractor vaccine mandate, but OMB tells agencies not to enforce it -- yet
More guidance is expected from the Office of Management and Budget.
The IG Council is investigating Homeland Security watchdog
The council also pushed back on broader claims that it is “failing” in its mission.
Defense
The Pentagon’s watchdog is taking a closer look at DOD's records management and device use after missing Jan. 6 texts
The acting inspector general shared information about the review in response to a letter from a top senator expressing concerns about handling of messages related to the Capitol insurrection.
Workforce
The Biden administration moves to make unions more accessible to federal contractors
This carries out a recommendation from the White House task force on worker organizing.
People
Biden named the next Secret Service director ‘at a critical moment’
Kim Cheatle previously worked at the agency for 27 years and was on Biden’s detail when he was vice president.
Workforce
A former watchdog has ideas on dealing with poorly performing inspectors general
The former acting Pentagon inspector general asks, “Who is watching the watchdogs?”
Congress
A new bill seeks to prevent the Secret Service from withholding records from its watchdog
“While I share the concerns of my colleagues about the actions of the current inspector general, it is also clear the Secret Service tried to impede the inspector general’s investigation into the events of Jan. 6,” said Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn.
Cybersecurity
A top senate democrat asks the defense watchdog to investigate a new batch of missing Jan. 6 texts
“I don’t know whether the failure to preserve these critical government texts from Jan. 6 is the result of bad faith, stunning incompetence, or outdated records management policies, but we must get to the bottom of it,” said Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill.
Cybersecurity
A top senate democrat has asked DOJ to investigate missing Jan. 6 text messages
The Homeland Security watchdog has been under fire for its handling of the matter.
Congress