Shows / Federal Newscast
Federal Newscast
THE FEDERAL NEWSCAST, (length about seven minutes), is a daily Monday through Friday, high-information compilation of nine 40-second news stories and news packages, generated by the non-partisan, non-political, private-sector team of reporters at Federal News Network. Federal News Radio Producer/Newscasters Eric White and Michele Sandiford assemble and read the stories on the THE FEDERAL DRIVE with TERRY GERTON, the weekday morning-drive program, heard from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. (ET) on the Federal…
Episodes
- Federal Newscast
Record number of FOIA requests filed in 2024
Agencies received a record 1.5 million Freedom of Information Act requests in fiscal 2024. That’s according to the Justice Department Office of Information…
- Federal Newscast
President Trump appoints new members to the FEMA Advisory Council
President Donald Trump has appointed new members to a group that will recommend reforms to the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Trump on Monday formally…
- Federal Newscast
Defense secretary dismisses DoD’s advisory boards
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has dismissed all members of the Defense Department’s advisory boards. Joe Kasper, Hegseth's former chief of staff, launched a…
- Federal Newscast
Coast Guard digitizes 40% of paper medical records
The Coast Guard has digitized 40% of its paper health records as of February. In a new update on the initiative, the Coast Guard said the goal is to completely…
- Federal Newscast
USPS and NRLCA strike deal on new contract
The Postal Service strikes a labor deal with another one of its unions. USPS reached a tentative agreement with the National Rural Letter Carriers’…
- Federal Newscast
Bipartisan group of Senators ask White House to reconsider cancelation of collective bargaining agreements
A group of bipartisan senators is asking President Donald Trump to reconsider his broadcancelation of federal collective bargaining agreements. In a letter…
- Federal Newscast
Infrastructure permitting agencies have 45 days to develop modernization plans
Agencies who handle the federal permitting process for roads, bridges and other infrastructureprograms are on the hook to modernize the technology that runs…
- Federal Newscast
PACT Act makes determining veterans' benefits payments more difficult
The PACT Act has reportedly made determining when veterans' benefits payments should be issued more difficult. The Department of Veterans Affairs inspector…
- Federal Newscast
VA starts search for new health and benefits leaders
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…
- Federal Newscast
Lawmakers call on National Archives to investigate use of Signal and Gmail by top government officials
Lawmakers are calling on the National Archives to investigate the use of unauthorizedcommunications platforms by top government officials. Democrats on the…
- Federal Newscast
Trump administration wants to ease foreign arms sales process
President Donald Trump seeks to ease the foreign arms sales process for U.S. defensecompanies. Trump signed an executive order aimed at reducing rules and…
- Federal Newscast
Federal retirements slow in March
Just over 7,800 federal employees retired in March, almost 2,000 less than who left inFebruary. The Office of Personnel Management says the claims backlog also…
- Federal Newscast
Acting head of the IRS steps down
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…
- Federal Newscast
Is DOGE overstating its savings claims?
The US DOGE Service's claims that it is saving more than 140 billion dollars by cancelling contracts is overstated. New analysis from the American Enterprise…
- Federal Newscast
GSA ready to hire new contract specialists
Despite reducing its workforce by thousands of employees, the General Services Administration is ready to hire new employees once again. The Federal…
- Federal Newscast
Pentagon IG investigating Hegseth's use of Signal
DoD's acting Inspector General Steven Stebbins will review Defense Secretary’s Pete Hegseth’s use of the commercial messaging app Signal to discuss operational…
- Federal Newscast
Federal union's lawsuit against 'deferred resignation program' resurfaces
A federal union’s lawsuit against the Trump administration’s deferred resignation program is resurfacing. That’s after at least seven agencies have renewed…
- Federal Newscast
Thrift Savings Plan stumbles in March
The Thrift Savings Plan stumbles in March. The only funds to post positive returns were the G, F and I funds. The government securities G fund posted the…
- Federal Newscast
Targeted pay bump for junior enlisted troops goes into effect this month
Junior enlisted troops will see a pay bump this month as the Defense Department introduces a targeted pay hike this month aimed at improving service members’…
- Federal Newscast
Federal employee unions are taking the administration to court after it cancelled several collective bargaining agreements
In today's Federal Newscast, federal unions have been quick to push back against President Trump’s move canceling many collective bargaining agreements. See…
- Federal Newscast
The contracting freeze the Trump administration instituted is causing some vendors to go out of business
In today's Federal Newscast, the Trump administration's contracting freeze has caused several contractors to go out of business.See Privacy Policy at…
- Federal Newscast
Democrats in the House want to know just how prevalent the use of Signal is by Cabinet officials
In today's Federal Newscast, House Democrats are looking into whether Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem uses the Signal app for official business.See…
- Federal Newscast
Republicans in the House want to give the White House more leeway to make changes at agencies
In today's Federal Newscast, GOP lawmakers are looking to expand the president’s authority for fast-tracking agency reorganizations. See Privacy Policy at…
- Federal Newscast
GAO to conduct study on effect mass firings had on American people
On today's episode of the Federal Newscast, the Government Accountability Office will open an investigation into the impact of the Trump administration’s…
- Federal Newscast
Lawmakers urge Defense Secretary not to erase troops' historic accomplishments
In a letter to President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, a group of lawmakers is urging the Defense Department to 'immediately reverse…
- Federal Newscast
DoD continues removal of historic content from websites citing DEI
The Defense Department says “in rare cases” it has “deliberately or mistakenly” removed certain content as part of its efforts to erase diversity, equity and…
- Federal Newscast
Labor rallies in support of the federal workforce pop up across the country
Labor rallies are popping up across the country this week to call attention to the Trump administration’s recent upheavals of the federal workforce. In…
- Federal Newscast
White House rescinds federal contractor minimum wage
Federal contractors no longer have to pay a minimum wage of almost $18 per hour for employees under certain types of contracts. President Donald Trump…
- Federal Newscast
Social Security sets the record straight on it's Death Master File
The Social Security Administration continues to try to set the record straight about the accuracy of its Death Master File. After repeated false claims by the…
- Federal Newscast
Defense Department orders review of military standards
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered a departmentwide review of military standards, including physical fitness, body composition and grooming. A memo…
- Federal Newscast
Agencies told to ignore collective bargaining agreements in deference to RIFs
The Trump administration tells agencies to ignore collective bargaining agreements that interfere with the ability to conduct reductions in force, or RIFs. A…
- Federal Newscast
Pres. Trump makes new nominations to OMB
President Donald Trump nominated Eric Ueland to be the top federal management official. Ueland, who is currently the acting chief of staff for OMB, would be…
- Federal Newscast
DHS brings back one of its federal advisory committees
The Department of Homeland Security is bringing back at least one of its federal advisory committees. In a public notice this week, DHS announced it is…
- Federal Newscast
With government shutdown less than a week away, calls for Congress to pass a spending bill
With a government shutdown less than a week away, a leading Republican Senator is calling for Congress to pass a spending bill. Maine Senator Susan Collins…
- Federal Newscast
White House looks to hold litigants financially responsible for filing lawsuits against the government
Federal employee unions and other organizations filing lawsuits against the Trump administration may have to put money in escrow to cover the potential costs…
- Federal Newscast
Veterans Affairs planning to eliminate 72,000 positions
The Department of Veterans Affairs is planning major cuts to its workforce later this year. VA Secretary Doug Collins says the department is looking at a 15%…
- Federal Newscast
DoD says DOGE identified $80 million in wasteful spending
The Defense Department says Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency has so far identified about 80 million dollars in what it considers wasteful…
- Federal Newscast
National Science Foundation rehires half of employees fired two weeks ago
The National Science Foundation has just rehired about half of the employees it fired two weeks ago. The reversal comes after a federal judge ruled last week…
- Federal Newscast
DoD orders transgender service members be removed from the military
A new memo from the Defense Department's office of personnel and readiness directs service members diagnosed with gender dysphoria to be separated from the…
- Federal Newscast
Military services to remove all DoD news and media promoting DEI
Sean Parnell, the Pentagon’s top spokesperson, has instructed the military services to remove all DoD news and feature articles, photos, and videos that…
- Federal Newscast
Is the Army future soldier prep course putting recruits at risk?
The Defense Department Office of Inspector General found that recruits who went through the Army’s future soldier prep course did not receive medical services…
- Federal Newscast
More leadership changes at the IRS
The acting head of the IRS is stepping down and retiring from the federal government. IRS Chief Operating Officer Melanie Krause will take over as the new…
- Federal Newscast
OPM offers late guidance to federal workforce on Musk email
It came a little late – but the Office of Personnel Management issued guidance last night telling agencies how they should handle this weekend’s mysterious…
- Federal Newscast
FEMA advisory board begins to take shape
A new advisory board that will consider reforms to the Federal Emergency Management Agency is starting to take shape. DHS put out the official charter for FEMA…
- Federal Newscast
Connolly wants clarification of Elon Musk's role in the Trump administration
A top House Democrat is pressing for information on Elon Musk’s role in the Trump administration. In a letter sent to President Donald Trump Thursday…
- Federal Newscast
U.S. Postal Service and letter carrier union at an impasse over new labor contract
The Postal Service and its letter carrier union are at an impasse over a new labor contract. The dispute now heads to a panel of third-party arbitrators…
- Federal Newscast
Air Force evaluating its Family Days policy
The Air Force is evaluating its Family Days policy to ensure it “aligns with the force’s ability to support warfighter readiness.” Family Days are extra days…
- Federal Newscast
TRICARE pharmacy changes impact military members
Close to 400,000 military members with health insurance through TRICARE may have been impacted by pharmacy changes over the last couple years. The Defense…
- Federal Newscast
Republican lawmakers propose bill to fast track Trump plans
Two Republican lawmakers want to make any governmentwide reorganization plan an up or down vote by Congress. Congressman James Comer and Senator Mike Lee's…
- Federal Newscast
Lawmakers want answers on DoD’s pause on sexual assault training
House Democrats are pressing the Defense Department about the military services pausing sexual assault prevention and response training programs. In a letter…
- Federal Newscast
White House fires head of Merit Systems Protection Board
Cathy Harris is out as the chairwoman of the Merit Systems Protection Board. An MSPB spokesman confirmed the White House terminated Harris's position and named…
- Federal Newscast
Deadline for 'deferred resignation' offer remains on hold
The deadline for the Office of Personnel Management’s “deferred resignation” offer remains on hold. But that’s not stopping lawmakers from seeking a closer…
- Federal Newscast
Senior Republican Senator considers FEMA's future
Amid the continued debate over FEMA’s future a senior G-O-P Senator is calling for reforms that could bolster the agency’s work. Oklahoma Senator Jim Lankford…
- Federal Newscast
House Democrats introduce Taxpayer Data Protection Act in response to Musk actions
House Democrats are making a push to secure data at the Treasury Department. A group of lawmakers have introduced the Taxpayer Data Protection Act. The bill…
- Federal Newscast
Agencies given a 45-day deadline to identify Biden era SES career only positions
Agencies have 45 days to identify Senior Executive Service roles that were made career-only positions during the Biden administration. A new memo from the…
- Federal Newscast
Democratic lawmakers press White House about Elon Musk's access to classified data
Top House Democrats are pressing President Donald Trump about Elon Musk’s access to classified data. In a letter to Trump on Tuesday, the ranking members of…
- Federal Newscast
Senate Democrats raise concerns about Musk team access to Treasury payment systems
Lawmakers are raising concerns about Elon Musk’s access to the Treasury Department’s payment systems. Senate Banking Committee Ranking Member Elizabeth Warren…
- Federal Newscast
Trump administration voids union contracts signed in the last month
Any new contract with federal unions signed toward the end of the Biden administration are null and void under a new memo from the White House. In President…
- Federal Newscast
Lawmakers working on better retirement benefits for federal firefighters
Lawmakers are making a bipartisan effort to secure better retirement benefits for federalfirefighters. Virginia Democrat Gerry Connolly and Pennsylvania…