Federal News Network

A year after mass layoffs, Education Dept keeps handing off its programs to other agencies An Education Department spokeswoman said the FY 2026 appropriations bill “does not preclude the department" from moving core programs to other agencies.

A year after mass layoffs, Education Dept keeps handing off its programs to other agencies

OPM’s Kupor defends Schedule Policy/Career, as finalization nears In an interview with Federal News Network, the OPM director also detailed the Trump administration's perspective on coming performance management overhauls.

OPM’s Kupor defends Schedule Policy/Career, as finalization nears

DoD to evaluate ‘external’ CMMC risks A new GAO report found the Pentagon hasn't fully fleshed out the risks of relying on the private sector to implement the CMMC program.

DoD to evaluate ‘external’ CMMC risks

National security acquisition overhaul: Industry can play a positive role Moving forward, it’s not just the government’s job to ensure reform success — industry has a shared responsibility to make it work.

National security acquisition overhaul: Industry can play a positive role

DPAA’s family update mission searches for answers worldwide "Our mission is to provide the fullest possible accounting for our missing personnel to their families and the nation," Col. Derek Rankin said.

DPAA’s family update mission searches for answers worldwide

Americans seeking a way out of the Middle East are once again turning to Congressional caseworkers "Hopefully this type of crisis situation is a little bit of a nudge to Congress to say we can play this role, we should play this roll," Anne Meeker said.

Americans seeking a way out of the Middle East are once again turning to Congressional caseworkers

How new law enforcement pay rates affect federal retirees "A lot of times the payroll offices are not updated with the new pay adjustment by the time they mail out or deposit those ... payments," Tammy Flanagan said.

How new law enforcement pay rates affect federal retirees

DHS nominee gets his day in the Senate next week The Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee has scheduled Sen. Markwayne Mullin’s confirmation hearing for the morning of March 18.

DHS nominee gets his day in the Senate next week

A kaleidoscope of global threats—and an underprepared U.S. public health agency "I can't emphasize enough: You don't want to be figuring this out during the emergency. You need to move quickly and save lives," Mary Denigan-Macauley said.

A kaleidoscope of global threats—and an underprepared U.S. public health agency

After weeks of delay, OPM mails remaining tax forms to federal retirees OPM told federal retirees who requested paper 1099-R forms that the remaining documents were being mailed this week, and should arrive within five days.

After weeks of delay, OPM mails remaining tax forms to federal retirees

Social Security watchdog opens probe into alleged misuse of data by ex-DOGE employee SSA’s inspector general informed the leadership of four congressional committees that it was launching the probe after receiving an anonymous complaint.

Social Security watchdog opens probe into alleged misuse of data by ex-DOGE employee

EOs likely to drive cyber strategy actions The new national cyber strategy is short in length and on details, leaving many speculating what comes next for cyber policy actions.

EOs likely to drive cyber strategy actions

CMS’s two-pronged approach to crushing fraud, waste, abuse Kim Brandt, CMS’s chief operating officer and deputy administrator, said AI tools are helping the agency stop money from going out the door to fraudsters.

CMS’s two-pronged approach to crushing fraud, waste, abuse

A sudden change to how VA evaluates disabilities triggers swift backlash "There are people who believe if you have this advanced prosthetic, you're no longer disabled," Carl Blake said. "That's something we certainly cannot abide."

A sudden change to how VA evaluates disabilities triggers swift backlash

Army launching first operational makerspace in Europe "When we say innovation, we mean soldiers solving our biggest problems," said Maj. Ron White. "This is about driving tangible readiness for the warfighter."

Army launching first operational makerspace in Europe

Microsoft backs Anthropic, urging a judge to halt Pentagon’s actions against AI company Microsoft, in a legal filing, is challenging Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's action last week to shut Anthropic out of military work.

Microsoft backs Anthropic, urging a judge to halt Pentagon’s actions against AI company

Senate confirms new leader of CYBERCOM and NSA The two organizations have been without a permanent leader since April, when President Donald Trump fired Gen. Timothy Haugh from the role.

Senate confirms new leader of CYBERCOM and NSA

DoD, Anthropic now face legal, operational reckoning "I've never heard of an order being used anything like this way. It has obviously nothing to do with national security interests," Zach Prince said.

DoD, Anthropic now face legal, operational reckoning

IRS phase-out of paper checks leaves some taxpayers waiting months for refunds The National Taxpayer Advocate estimates that over 10 million taxpayers previously received their IRS refund as a paper check.

IRS phase-out of paper checks leaves some taxpayers waiting months for refunds

Feds with Benefits: Healthcare affordability part 2 — How supplemental benefits from your FEHB plan can put money back in your pocket Many FEHB, FEDVIP and Medicare Advantage plans offered by FEHB carriers include supplemental benefits that can help lower your out‑of‑pocket healthcare costs.

Feds with Benefits: Healthcare affordability part 2 — How supplemental benefits from your FEHB plan can put money back in your pocket

As military AI divide widens, here’s one path for agentic systems "Agentic AI is a tool in the tool set, and what that means is you must begin with the end in mind. What is the end result we're seeking here?" Tim White said.

As military AI divide widens, here’s one path for agentic systems

OPM releases first round of Tech Force candidates for agencies to consider hiring The Trump administration aims to hire 1,000 total federal employees for the Tech Force program’s initial cohort, focused in particular on early-career talent.

OPM releases first round of Tech Force candidates for agencies to consider hiring

White House launching tech pilots, ‘Cyber Academy’ under new cyber strategy The new national cyber strategy is light on details, but some implementation details are starting to come into focus, including a series of tech pilots.

White House launching tech pilots, ‘Cyber Academy’ under new cyber strategy

Long airport lines highlight concerns about unpaid security officers in the shutdown The longer TSA officers have to work without pay during the partial shutdown, the more likely it is that some will miss work.

Long airport lines highlight concerns about unpaid security officers in the shutdown

Oklahoma Senator Markwayne Mullin formally nominated for DHS secretary Rand Paul, chair of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, has yet to announce a nomination hearing.

Oklahoma Senator Markwayne Mullin formally nominated for DHS secretary

NIH sets up camp near one of the worst environmental disasters ever "We'd like this to be a model moving forward for how community concerns can be integrated into research priorities," said Dr. Ashlinn K. Quinn.

NIH sets up camp near one of the worst environmental disasters ever

Woytek to leave NASA after 48 years Joanne Woytek, the program director of the NASA SEWP program, which reached $12 billion in sales last year, has led the contracting effort since 1999.

Woytek to leave NASA after 48 years

U.S. organizations should prepare for potential retaliation in the cyber domain as tensions with Iran escalate "[T]his is about making sure that you are ready for it because it's not a question of if, it's a question when," said James Turgal.

U.S. organizations should prepare for potential retaliation in the cyber domain as tensions with Iran escalate

Action needed to avoid memory loss Industry and government are aware of the memory chip shortages and the resulting increase in prices. Doing nothing is not an option.

Action needed to avoid memory loss

DHS funding fight at home and conflicts abroad are pushing Congress into another week of high‑stakes maneuvering "When you think about it, it's really one or two votes that make or break any legislation now in the House of Representatives," Mitchell Miller

DHS funding fight at home and conflicts abroad are pushing Congress into another week of high‑stakes maneuvering