A Government Executive Special Edition Newsletter - December 13, 2024 - The Presidential Transition

 

Friday, December 13, 2024

Who has Trump picked to serve in his Cabinet? // Sean Michael Newhouse These individuals will hold huge sway in enacting the president-elect’s policies toward federal employees. OMB releases federal tech impact report as Biden admin winds down // Natalie Alms, Nextgov/FCW Clare Martorana, the federal CIO, says she expects federal IT to stay bipartisan. Could Biden’s recent strategy to streamline government hiring be scuttled under Trump? // Sean Michael Newhouse One of the purposes of the administration’s federal hiring improvement plan is to make agencies aware of hiring tools they already have access to. Republican lawmakers ask Trump to kill IRS Direct File // Natalie Alms, Nextgov/FCW The new program intended to enable free, online tax filing directly with the government has garnered controversy and praise since its inception. How the Air Force is preparing for the new administration //Audrey Decker, Defense One “I don't have angst. Quite frankly, I am ready to understand and adapt the force,” service chief says. An open letter to the public administration and public management communities //Donald F. Kettl COMMENTARY | “We must reexamine the fundamental values that drive our work…[and] we need a vigorous debate about the basic principles of the field,” argues one expert. Defense officials hopeful incoming administration keeps funding cutting-edge tech // Patrick Tucker, Defense One Amid competing priorities, they pitched dual-use research as key to competing with China. Federal telework would be capped under a new House bill // Carten Cordell Rep. Andy Ogles’ Show Up To Work Act would limit telework at federal agencies to 25% per pay period and require agency heads to certify performance gains for individual waivers. Ernst’s report documenting telework ‘abuse’ obscures more than it reveals // Erich Wagner The Iowa senator and head of a new caucus related to President-elect Trump’s planned government efficiency commission misrepresented key statistics regarding telework’s usage at federal agencies.

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Tech modernization, civil service protection big priorities for Virginia's new House Democrat // Frank Konkel, Nextgov/FCW Virginia’s first Indian-American congressman-elect will bring some tech policy chops to Capitol Hill. Politics vs. Policy: Building partnerships with new appointees // Ronald Sanders and Mike Mears COMMENTARY | A survival guide for career civil servants from two longtime civil servants. ‘Shock the system’: Startups and DOGE take over Reagan forum // Audrey Decker, Defense One But lawmakers advised caution and noted that Congress still controls the purse strings. Some Republicans remain unsold on Hegseth // Audrey Decker, Defense One Sexual-assault allegation cited along with other concerns about Trump's pick for defense secretary. Ramaswamy cites legacy tech and fraud as early DOGE priorities // Natalie Alms, Nextgov/FCW Department of Government Efficiency Co-Chair Vivek Ramaswamy called IT modernization “low-hanging fruit,” but reaping cost savings will take up-front investment — and time. Industry sees potential in Trump AI czar pick // Alexandra Kelley, Nextgov/FCW Following President-elect Donald Trump’s selection of venture capitalist David Sacks to serve as his administration’s AI and Crypto Czar, experts are optimistic about what Sacks’s experience means for U.S. competitiveness. The Department Of Government Efficiency – What about government performance? // Steve Kelman, Kennedy School of Government COMMENTARY | An important constituency for better government performance is actually among civil servants themselves. Musk, Ramaswamy focus on slashing telework and federal employee attrition in initial meetings with Republicans // Eric Katz The government efficiency commissioners want to work with Congress to cement their reforms into law.