Although the bipartisan legislation to close that loophole has now passed the House, it has not yet been introduced in the Senate.
Michele Sandiford
- The House has cleared a bill to correct pension payments for close to 8,000 federal retirees. The Pensions for Retired Uniformed Servicemembers Act comes after feds from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Public Health Service missed payments during the 43-day shutdown last fall, due to an unintentional loophole. Although the bipartisan legislation to close that loophole has now passed the House, it has not yet been introduced in the Senate.
- More than two dozen states have sued the Trump administration after it required them to comply with election and immigration conditions to get billions of dollars in federal funding for disasters. The lawsuit, filed Thursday against the Federal Emergency Management Agency and Department of Homeland Security, argued that the administration is requiring states to transmit lists of all registered voters to DHS and help the agency with immigration enforcement. The states argue that putting conditions on congressionally approved funding for natural disasters and emergencies, including acts of terrorism, violates the Administrative Procedure Act and the U.S. Constitution’s spending clause.
- Agriculture Department employees are doubling down on their legal challenge against religious messaging from Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins. Their original lawsuit came after an Easter message Rollins sent to USDA employees in April. But plaintiffs are now calling for a preliminary injunction in their case, after Rollins sent additional religious emails on Memorial Day and Independence Day. Their case argues that Rollins’ all-staff emails at USDA have crossed a line and violated the First Amendment.
- House lawmakers this week approved a provision that would make it easier for Defense Department employees to carry guns on military installations. An amendment to the House’s version of the 2027 defense policy bill allows troops and civilian employees to carry a firearm inside the installation, reserve center, recruiting center or other DoD facility where they are assigned, and creates a presumption of approval by the local commander. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth also signed a memo in the spring letting troops carry guns on DoD property while off duty.
- House lawmakers rejected an amendment to the fiscal 2027 defense policy bill offered by Rep. Glenn Grothman (R-Wis.) that would have required the Pentagon to examine options for reducing its civilian workforce by 200,000 employees. Grothman said it would be a good exercise for the Defense Department to see what would happen if it got rid of approximately that many workers. Forty-three Republicans joined Democrats to oppose the provision. The House also did not offer an amendment introduced by Rep. Bob Onder (R-Mo.) that sought to strike a provision prohibiting the Defense Department from using fiscal 2027 funds to implement Trump’s executive order that removes collective bargaining rights for civilian workers.
- A recent Army memo speeds up the process of firing underperforming civilians while giving them less time to defend their work. The policy lays out a month-long process for reporting, investigating and opting to remove an employee. The changes follow Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s September 2025 directive to fire unsuccessful employees “with speed and conviction,” putting the Army’s 188,000 or so civilian workers on unsteady footing as the service plans to continue cutting those jobs in 2027. Officials can use bonus pay, early retirement and up to 12 weeks of leave to urge people to leave faster.
- The Secret Service said it’s investigating a member of Vice President JD Vance’s security detail over an alleged media leak. An agency spokesman said the unnamed agent faces an internal investigation and potential criminal inquiry over allegations involving compromised “operational and information security.” The leak allegedly led to news reports about some Secret Service agents expressing frustration over last-minute travel requests from Vance and his family.
- The Defense Department wants recent high school and college graduates, as well as people looking to pivot into a new career, to apply for its new Cyber Registered Apprenticeship Program. The department said the initiative has already generated more than 70,000 inquiries and over 15,000 applications. There are two entry-level positions that are currently open on USAJobs, with opportunities available at U.S. Cyber Command and the Defense Manpower Data Center. Those interested have until July 24 to apply. The 12-month program provides hands-on technical training, industry certifications and a pathway into cybersecurity careers across the Defense Department. Those interested have until July 24 to apply.
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