Federal Newscast

In today’s Federal Newscast, the Postal Service’s inspector general says adults between the ages of 18 and 34 received significantly less mail in 2017 than the year before. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

To listen to the Federal Newscast on your phone or mobile device, subscribe on PodcastOne or Apple Podcasts. The best listening experience on desktop can be found using Chrome, Firefox or Safari. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In today's Federal Newscast, the 2019 National Defense Authorization Act clears the House, bringing servicemembers one step closer to a pay raise. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In today's Federal Newscast, a newly passed House bill would reform the way the Veterans Affairs Department hires human resources people. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In today’s Federal Newscast, the House and Senate could not agree on a provision in the 2019 defense authorization bill calling for $40,000 Voluntary Separation Incentive Payments for federal employees. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In today’s Federal Newscast, the Government Accountability Office says only 15 out of 53 agencies met DATA Act requirements for complete, timely, and accurate spending data reports. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In today's Federal Newscast, the President names Tamara Bonzanto to take over as the new assistant secretary for the Office of Accountability and Whistleblower Protection at the Veterans Affairs Department. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A House bill has been passed out of committee to give agency heads the power to restrict employee access to certain websites, including Facebook and personal emails. Rep. Gary Palmer (R-Ala.) said his bill will improve cybersecurity and cut down on information leaks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

House lawmakers have offered competing bills on the future of a proposal to allow the U.S. Postal Service to allow banking and other financial services. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

FBI employees have reported a sharp drop in their confidence in Director Christopher Wray and his senior leaders. The findings undercut President Trump's claim that the FBI was in turmoil and its agents had lost confidence in James Comey before the president fired him. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Defense industry trade groups are urging the House and Senate armd services committee to reform laws needed to speed up the background checks for mission-critical federal jobs and contractors. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Department of Veterans Affairs has been urged to stem the rise in veteran suicides by streamlining the hiring of mental health professionals. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Senate has confirmed Emory Rounds as the new director of the Office of Government Ethics. Rounds has been at Ethics since 2009, and his nomination was a pleasant surprise for ethics experts because of the high profile clashes the office has had with President Trump. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Senate has announced long-awaited hearings for three nominees to the Merit System Protection Board. The agency that handles appeals from the Civil Service Commission has lack a quorum to do business for more than 18 months. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

House Democrats are increasing their pressure on President Donald Trump to rescind his recent executive orders on official time and collective bargaining. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In today's Federal Newscast, Todd Owen, the Customs and Border Protection executive assistant commissioner in its Field Operations Office, said CBP rarely separates immigrant families at ports of entry. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In today’s Federal Newscast, almost three dozen former military officers and officials say the ban undermines national security. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In today's Federal Newscast, according to an assessment of its own workforce, nearly have of senior leaders at the Food and Drug Administration are eligible to retire in the next two years. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In today's Federal Newscast, the Transportation Department is  letting a “limited number” of young veterans and military reservists who’ve obtained the military equivalent of a commercial drivers license operate commercial trucks on domestic highways. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In today’s Federal Newscast, a DMV Congresswoman introduces legislation to make sure federal employees get at least up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.