Federal Oversight

From inspectors general to GAO, FBI probes and Justice indictments, independent watchdogs and Congressional oversight committees — learn from others' mistakes with our Federal Oversight coverage.

Collins joins push to send federal workers back to in-person

Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, joined 43 Republican senators in calling for federal agencies to immediately transition to in-person work.

4 weeks ago

Federal labor nominees pass Senate committee

President Joe Biden's three nominees to the Federal Labor Relations Authority passed Senate committee vote by a slim margin.

5 weeks ago

Congress

Congress passes bill to protect feds serving abroad

The law solidifies U.S jurisdiction over instances where a federal employee is hurt or killed while working abroad.

Watchdogs call for protection of their temporary colleagues’ independence

Chair of the Council of Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency Alison Lerner said that current provisions for vacant posts, 'undermine the IG’s independence and stakeholders’ confidence.'

7 weeks ago

Draft appropriations bill would restart plans for new FBI headquarters

The current FBI headquarters has been determined to be insufficient for the agency's needs for the past decade.

7 weeks ago

Empty federal employment board gets one step closer to full membership

The Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee voted Oct. 6 to move forward on three nominations to the Merit Systems Protection Board.

2 months ago

Trump’s unofficial advisors on VA had significant access, influence over policy: report

Newly released emails show a larger role for the men than previously reported.

2 months ago

Former VA employee sentenced for hiding camera in restroom

The camera was disguised as a cell phone charger and was in use for nearly a month.

2 months ago

Injuries are higher among nonpermanent postal employees

U.S. Postal Service employees in a non-career capacity get injured on the job 50 percent more often than permanent employees, a government watchdog found.

3 months ago

Fed reviews ethics polices after prolific trading uncovered

The Federal Reserve said Thursday, Sept. 16, that it is reviewing its ethics policies governing senior officials' financial holdings, in the wake of disclosures that two regional Fed presidents engaged in extensive trading last year.

3 months ago

Man surrenders after claiming to have bomb near Capitol

A man sitting in a pickup truck outside the Library of Congress told police on Thursday that he had a bomb, prompting a massive law enforcement response.

4 months ago

Whistleblower training at VA would be mandatory under new bill

The legislation aims to improve the means of exposing waste and fraud at the Department of Veterans Affairs.

5 months ago

Off-duty DEA agent arrested on Capitol riot charges

A video posted on the internet showed Mark Sami Ibrahim carrying a flag bearing the words 'Liberty or Death' outside the Capitol, about 12 minutes before a mob of people pulled apart a nearby set of barricades.

5 months ago

Watchdog: Ross misled on reason for citizenship question

According to an investigation from the Office of Inspector General, during congressional testimony three years ago, former U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross gave a misleading reason for why he wanted a citizenship question on the 2020 census.

5 months ago

Ex-senior NASA employee gets 18 months for pandemic fraud

During the fraud, Andrew Tezna was making more than $180,000 annually working in NASA's financial offices.

5 months ago

Watchdog: 2 Trump EPA appointees defrauded agency of $130K

Two high-ranking Trump political appointees at the EPA engaged in fraudulent payroll activities, including payments to employees after they were fired and to one of the officials when he was absent from work.

5 months ago

Pentagon official placed on leave over allegations of unauthorized release of classified info

Since early 2019, Katie Arrington has been working as chief information officer for the Acquisition and Sustainment Office at the Defense Department, overseeing a cybersecurity initiative.

5 months ago

USPS struggled to keep records of employees taking COVID leave

The U.S. Postal Service “took quick, decisive action focused on employee safety” but struggled to maintain thorough records of employee leave use during the pandemic, an internal report said.

6 months ago

Senate approves bill to make Juneteenth a federal holiday

The Senate passed a bill Tuesday that would make Juneteenth, or June 19th, a federal holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the United States.

6 months ago

Former Air Force translator, NSA contractor in leak case released from prison

Reality Winner was sentenced to five years and three months in prison, which prosecutors said at the time was the longest ever imposed for leaking government information to the news media.

6 months ago

Watchdog priorities back up IRS request for more staff

A Government Accountability Office report listed human capital management as a top challenge for the IRS to achieve its mission.

6 months ago

Trump DOJ seized data from House Democrats in leaks probe

Top Democrats called for an investigation on Thursday, June 10, 2021, after The New York Times reported that the Justice Department under President Donald Trump seized the communications data of members of the House Intelligence Committee.

6 months ago

Leak of billionaires’ tax data draws GOP outcry over privacy

Republicans in Congress are alarmed by the leak of confidential IRS data to the investigative news organization ProPublica.

6 months ago

‘We mean it’: FBI takes on sexual misconduct in its ranks

The FBI says it is getting serious about sexual harassment in its ranks, starting a 24/7 tip line, doing more to help accusers and taking a tougher stand against agents found to have committed misconduct.

6 months ago

Postmaster General Louis DeJoy

‘Get used to me’: Postmaster evokes Trump style in Biden era

As he approaches his first anniversary at the U.S. Postal Service's helm, Postmaster General Louis DeJoy is under mounting pressure to resign.

6 months ago

Justice Department probing postmaster over fundraising

The Department of Justice is investigating Postmaster General Louis DeJoy over political fundraising activity at his former business.

6 months ago

Congress implores State Department leadership to tackle sexual harassment

The number of employees reporting sexual harassment and assault at the State Department have increased in recent years.

6 months ago

Watchdogs would get subpoena power under a bipartisan bill

Inspectors General would have the court-enforceable power to compel testimony from former feds and contractors.

7 months ago