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Federal Newscast

Federal News Network | Hubbard Radio

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 News Network app (and website), on any smart speaker, and on WFED 1500 AM, a 50,000-watt 'Class A' powerhouse radio station in the nation's capital. The podcast is most popular with FNN's audience of highly educated listeners, who conveniently access THE FEDERAL NEWSCAST, 24/7, on any podcast platform . Listen to it (as just mentioned) or read the stories each weekday morning at FederalNewsNetwork.com, where the news items contain hyperlinks for those who want more information on a given story.

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  • 59 episodes
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  • English

Episodes 59

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  • Yesterday · 7 min

    A new bill would supercharge customer service at the IRS

    A new bill to supercharge customer service at the IRS made it through the Senate. The bipartisan Taxpayer Assistance and Service (TAS) Act would require the agency to create an online dashboard for tax filers and improve other online features like the Where’s my Refund tool. The measures are intended to cut down on the number of calls and letters employees have to respond to. The bill is based on previous legislation co-sponsored by Senators Mark Warner (D-VA) and Bill Cassidy (R-LA). If passed by the House as is, the bill would also recommend that IRS provide a call-back option for all calls that go unanswered for five minutes. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

  • Friday · 6 min

    Coast Guard surpasses its recruiting goal for third consecutive year

    The Coast Guard has surpassed its recruiting goals for the third consecutive year, bringing in the largest number of enlisted recruits in nearly four decades. The service enlisted 5,445 active-duty members in fiscal 2026, up from the 5,204 enlisted members recruited in fiscal 2025. It also commissioned 346 active-duty officers. To expand its recruiting presence, the service opened four recruiting offices in Miami, Florida, Long Island, New York, Austin, Texas and in the Netherlands. In addition, the Coast Guard awarded a $400 million contract to modernize its training center in Cape May, New Jersey. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

  • Thursday · 5 min

    OPM launches AI chatbot to answer questions about workforce trends

    There’s a new way to look at data about the federal workforce. The Office of Personnel Management has launched an AI chatbot to answer the public’s questions about workforce trends. The new feature has been added to OPM’s “federal workforce data” website, which details employment numbers and other information about the civil service. Users can enter questions and get AI-generated answers about government hires and separations, as well as workforce demographics like age, veteran status and education level. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

  • October 7 · 7 min

    Federal retirement application processing times trend downward

    Processing times for federal retirement applications are speeding up. In September, it took the Office of Personnel Management an average of 56 days to finalize a federal retirement claim. That’s about two weeks faster than the average processing speed for August. The retirement claims backlog has also fallen to about 8,800 total pending applications. That makes September the first time in at least a year that OPM’s inventory has dipped below 10,000 claims. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

  • October 6 · 7 min

    DoD wasted millions helping DHS increase immigration detection capacity

    The Defense Department wasted millions of dollars helping the Department of Homeland Security increase immigration detention capacity at Naval Station Guantanamo Bay. A government watchdog found that DoD spent $2.85 million assembling tents for an initial capacity of 5,000 beds. Those tents, however, were never used, because DHS later determined that they did not meet detention standards. The Army also wasted millions of dollars on meals at Camp East Montana in Texas. Specifically, the Army did not incorporate flexibilities into the contract to account for occupancy levels below the maximum. Overall, the Defense Department obligated approximately $68 million for immigration detention. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

  • October 5 · 6 min

    Democrats look to make the retirement process easier for feds

    Democrats want to make the retirement process easier on federal employees. A new bill in the House would require the Office of Personnel Management to provide missing records, correct errors and offer benefits information to federal retirees seeking help. Feds who recently separated or retired would be able to submit requests for support for up to four years, if the bill is enacted. The legislation comes after many feds faced major retirement processing delays during last year’s sweeping workforce reductions. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

  • October 2 · 7 min

    Thrift Savings Plan fund had a bad month in September

    September was not a good month for the Thrift Savings Plan. All but one of the funds saw month-over-month drops. Only the G fund increased in September by .4% from where it was in August. The silver lining for September for the other 15 funds is they all experienced drops of less than 4% total. The S Fund saw the biggest month-over-month drop of 3.66%. For the year, every account but the F fund is in the black with the I Fund posting the largest year to date growth of over 16%. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

  • October 1 · 6 min

    Pentagon wants states to complete for new U.S. military base

    The Pentagon wants to build a new military base inside the U.S. and is asking states to compete for it. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth says the base could host up to 25,000 troops and serve as a hub for homeland defense, command and control and cyber operations. He also promises the base will feature cutting-edge technology, first-class barracks and timeless classical architecture. The base would become the first newly built domestic military installation since the 1980s. A plan for that process is due by the end of October. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

  • September 30 · 7 min

    OMB violated Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act with $1 billion rescission

    The Government Accountability Office found OMB’s rescission of nearly $1 billion of approved spending on September 26, violated the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974. The decision not only was the Trump administration’s 12th violation of the ICA since taking office in January 2025, but it also was the first ICA decision in a year from GAO. The latest ruling relies on previous conclusions that the OMB can’t use the Impoundment Control Act process to withhold funds past their date of expiration, in this case September 30. GAO says ICA provides that amounts proposed for rescission must be made available for obligation unless Congress completes action on a bill rescinding them. GAO says OMB’s actions subvert both the constitutional process and Congress’s power of the purse. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

  • September 29 · 6 min

    Top House Democrat puts defense contractors on notice

    A top House Democrat is putting defense contractors on notice about potential investigations into unusual dealings with the Trump administration. House Intelligence Committee Ranking Member Jim Himes says he’s concerned that the administration has inappropriately fused contracting processes with the extraction of political or private favors. In a letter to the National Defense Industrial Association on Monday, Himes said the intelligence committee may seek documents, testimony and other information on potential conflicts of interest. He points to how several major defense and intelligence contractors made donations to the new White House ballroom. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

  • September 28 · 5 min

    Secret Service faces questions about agency funding used for White House renovations

    The Secret Service is facing questions about funding that was reportedly taken from the agency’s budget to fund White House renovations. In a letter to Secret Service Director Sean Curran last week, Senator Maggie Hassan asked how the agency would have spent roughly the $415 million dollars that was redirected from its budget. Hassan wants to know whether that has affected the Secret Service’s modernization efforts, including its ongoing hiring campaign. Her letter points to a June 2026 inspector general report that found the Secret Service’s effectiveness was at risk due to staffing and resource constraints. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

  • September 25 · 6 min

    Department of Navy rolls out new features for MyNavy portal

    The Department of the Navy is rolling out new features to make it easier for sailors to navigate MyNavy Portal and access personnel services. The eLeave feature, for instance, allows sailors to check their estimated leave balance, request regular leave and extensions and review past leave periods “through a more intuitive experience.” Meanwhile, MyData will provide Sailors with greater visibility into their personnel information. A new landing page has also become more intuitive and personalized. The homepage, the Navy said, “represents a significant step toward MyNavy Portal’s broader goal of putting the information and services sailors need within fewer than four clicks.” See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

  • September 24 · 5 min

    Federal immigration judges at DOJ face doxxing threats

    Federal immigration judges at the Justice Department are facing doxxing threats. In a new report, the DOJ inspector general found several judges in the department's Executive Office for Immigration Review had been doxxed using publicly accessible data over the past year. EOIR told auditors that it uses a privacy and data removal service to try to remove as much of the judges' personal information as possible from the internet. The IG found DOJ continues to lack a strategy for managing the risks of so-called "ubiquitous technical surveillance" on its employees and operations. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

  • September 23 · 6 min

    Marine Corps increases imminent danger and hostile fire pay

    The Marine Corps said it will pay troops $450 a month while they are engaged in or exposed to enemy fire. That's the legal cap and double what Marines currently receive for hostile fire pay. The service is also increasing imminent danger pay by $50 to $275 per month. Imminent danger pay applies to troops serving in areas where they could be physically harmed. It's the first major combat pay bump in more than two decades. Both raises kick in October 1. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

  • September 22 · 6 min

    OPM gives agencies authority to give bonuses up to $25,000

    Agencies will now be able to more easily offer bonuses of up to $25,000 to federal employees for exceptional work. The Office of Personnel Management is delegating authority to agency leaders to approve larger bonuses for feds. Previously, bonuses of that size required OPM approval. But OPM says it’s removing the hurdle as a way to help agencies distinguish high levels of performance. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

  • September 21 · 6 min

    House lawmakers want to give the AbilityOne program a makeover

    Two House lawmakers want to give the AbilityOne program a makeover. Congressmen Steny Hoyer (D-Md) and Pete Sessions's (R-Texas) American Procurement Improvement Act would modernize the statutory framework governing AbilityOne. The legislation would expand eligibility and help more Americans with disabilities get hired, promoted and grow in their careers. It also would speed up the timeline to add new products and services to the list maintained by the AbilityOne Commission. The bill would be the first major update to AbilityOne in nearly 50 years. The lawmakers say the bill is endorsed by a coalition of 50 organizations, unions, disability stakeholders and advocacy groups. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

  • September 18 · 6 min

    USPS fails to meet lowered service standards

    The Postal Service has largely failed to meet service standards, even after reducing those standards. A new report from the Government Accountability Office finds that the declining services are in part due to cost-cutting initiatives. In response, USPS officials say they have made some progress to modernize and improve services, but emphasized that a full solution would require significant structural reforms made by Congress and the White House. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

  • September 15 · 5 min

    Another government contractor settles with the Justice Department over its DEI practices

    For the second time in a matter of weeks, the Justice Department won a big settlement from a federal contractor to settle claims it violated the False Claims Act. Plus, a federal court holds up one of the White House's reduction efforts for one agency, and a large swath of soldiers get the ok to rejoin the military after refusing the COVID-19 vaccine. These stories and more in today's Federal Newscast! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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