Episodios

  • Bipartisan group of Senators ask White House to reconsider cancelation of collective bargaining agreements
    Apr 18 2025
    A group of bipartisan senators is asking President Donald Trump to reconsider his broad cancelation of federal collective bargaining agreements. In a letter sent to the President on Thursday, four senators say they are concerned that his recent executive order will impede efforts to make the government more efficient. Trump eliminated most agencies’ union contracts last month, citing national security concerns. But the lawmakers say collective bargaining has a largely positive effect on the federal workforce, as it improves productivity and efficiency. The two Republicans and two Democrats are urging Trump to reverse course on his decision. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    6 m
  • Infrastructure permitting agencies have 45 days to develop modernization plans
    Apr 17 2025
    Agencies who handle the federal permitting process for roads, bridges and other infrastructure programs are on the hook to modernize the technology that runs these systems and share data more easily. President Donald Trump's latest executive order says the Council on Environmental Quality has 45 days to develop a Permitting Technology Action Plan that will include initial technology and data standards. The action plan also will provide a roadmap for creating a unified interagency permitting and environmental review data system. Agencies then will have 90 days to implement the data and technology standards and minimum functional requirements for the new interagency system. CEQ also will lead an interagency Permitting Innovation Center that will design and test prototype tools that could be implemented as part of the Permitting Technology Action Plan. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    7 m
  • PACT Act makes determining veterans' benefits payments more difficult
    Apr 17 2025
    The PACT Act has reportedly made determining when veterans' benefits payments should be issued more difficult. The Department of Veterans Affairs inspector general says about a quarter of all PACT Act related claims it reviewed over a year were issued incorrect effective dates, resulting in nearly $7 million in improper payments. The IG says a lack of training is mainly to blame and recommended creating a job aid for claims processors. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    6 m
  • VA starts search for new health and benefits leaders
    Apr 16 2025
    The Department of Veterans Affairs is starting its search to fill two leadership roles. The VA is looking for candidates that President Donald Trump can nominate as the next under secretary for health and undersecretary for benefits. VA’s Deputy Secretary Paul Lawrence will oversee the search. Both roles face major projects, from rolling out a new Electronic Health Record, to processing a record volume of disability claims. The under secretary for health will oversee accelerated plans to roll out a new Electronic Health Record. The under secretary for benefits will ensure the VA can continue processing a record volume of disability claims. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    7 m
  • Lawmakers call on National Archives to investigate use of Signal and Gmail by top government officials
    Apr 15 2025
    Lawmakers are calling on the National Archives to investigate the use of unauthorized communications platforms by top government officials. Democrats on the Senate Homeland Security Committee say the reported use of Signal and Gmail by national security officials creates major cybersecurity risks. They also point out that it could violate federal record laws. National Security Advisor Mike Waltz reportedly has used both Signal and Gmail for sensitive discussions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    7 m
  • Trump administration wants to ease foreign arms sales process
    Apr 11 2025
    President Donald Trump seeks to ease the foreign arms sales process for U.S. defense companies. Trump signed an executive order aimed at reducing rules and regulations governing military equipment sales to other countries. Both industry and foreign nations have long complained about the process that has been plagued by bureaucratic delays and lengthy approval procedures. Trump instructed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio to identify top-priority ally nations and the most strategically important weapons and systems for faster delivery to those countries. The executive order also directs Hegseth, Rubio and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick to submit a plan that makes exportability a requirement earlier in the acquisition cycle and consolidates the sales approval process. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    6 m
  • Federal retirements slow in March
    Apr 11 2025
    Just over 7,800 federal employees retired in March, almost 2,000 less than who left in February. The Office of Personnel Management says the claims backlog also dropped to about 16,500, which is the lowest its been in 2025. The time to process retirement claims also ticked back up to average about 50 days in March. But OPM says the average time to process a claim for all of 2025 dropped one day to 54 days. More than 33,500 federal employees have retired so far in 2025, that is about 3,800 more than the number who left in the first three months of 2024. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    8 m
  • Acting head of the IRS steps down
    Apr 9 2025
    The acting head of the IRS is stepping down in the aftermath of a new data sharing agreement between the agency and Customs and Border Protection. Multiple sources tell the Associated Press that Melanie Krause resigned because of the new development on Tuesday. The agreement will allow ICE to submit names and addresses of immigrants inside the U.S. illegally to the IRS for cross-verification against tax records. Krause has served as acting commissioner since February. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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