Monday morning federal headlines – July 2

The Morning Federal Newscast is a daily compilation of the stories you hear Federal Drive hosts Tom Temin and Emily Kopp discuss throughout the show each day. The Newscast is designed to give FederalNewsRadio.com users more information about the stories you hear on the air.

• The federal government is open this morning, with a few exceptions. But employees are asked to telework if possible. You can also use unscheduled leave or unscheduled telework, according to the Office of Personnel Management. Non-emergency workers have to notify their supervisors if they want either of those options. Employees may also use annual leave, earned compensatory time office, or leave without pay. Emergency employees are expected to report on time. Hundreds of thousands of homes and commercial properties are still without power this morning after Friday night’s storms. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission in Rockville is closed for the day. NASA Goddard Space Center is open under code blue. Most of the Army Garrison at Fort Belvoir will operate with only emergency-essential employees today. (Federal News Radio)
• The transportation bill sailed through both chambers of Congress on Friday. After months of contention and veto threats, both parties came together on the last day before their holiday recess. The bill became a catch-all for unrelated provisions, including a plan to allow partial retirements for some federal workers. A plan to keep student loan rates from doubling also passed. President Obama is expected to sign the bill this week. (Federal News Radio)
• TSA is in trouble with Congress. A House committee invited a senior Transportation Security Administration official to discuss its troubled Transportation Worker Identification Credential program. But Stephen Sadler, the TSA assistant administrator for Intelligence and Analysis, didn’t come to the hearing. Members had to settle for two other witnesses, one from DHS policy and one from the Coast Guard. That didn’t set well with the committee. Chairman John Mica of Florida called it appalling. He called a recess when the two subs couldn’t answer questions about why TWIC is over-budget and years late. (Federal News Radio)
• A Senate panel is trying to make it easier for agencies to get rid of property they don’t need. The Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee has passed a bill requiring agencies to get rid of underused buildings within two years or risk not being able to get new property. The legislation would give weight to several things the Office of Management and Budget already does. It directs OMB to keep a scorecard of how well agencies are managing their property costs on Performance.gov. And it would make permanent a so-called property “SWAT” team at OMB. (Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee )
• The Justice Department has thumbed its nose at a House vote to hold Attorney General Eric Holder in contempt. Deputy Attorney General James Cole sent a letter to House Speaker John Boehner, saying the department will take no steps to prosecute the contempt finding. He cites precedent going back to the Reagan administration. The contempt vote followed Holder’s refusal to turn over certain documents related to a Justice Department gun tracing operation. But Boehner tells the Face-The-Nation Sunday talk show, the House will consider filing a civil suit to force disclosure of the documents. (Federal News Radio)
• A member of the National Guard or Reserve earns less when they’re serving in a war zone than they do when they’re at home training. An officer can make nearly twice as much doing drills on a Saturday or Sunday than being on active duty in Afghanistan. The Pentagon says the discrepancy makes sense. They say the higher pay for weekend training is an incentive for citizen-soldiers. But it’s one of several issues detailed in a new report on the the complicated Guard and Reserve compensation system. (Federal News Radio)
• The soldier who shot his commander at Fort Bragg has died. The Army says doctors at a North Carolina hospital could not save Specialist Ricky Elder. They say Elder had been charged with stealing a toolkit worth $17,000 and was awaiting court martial. He was also facing charges of aggravated battery in his home town. Elder shot and killed his commander Lieutenant Colonel Roy Tisdalle Thursday during a safety briefing. Elder wounded another soldier before turning the gun on himself. The third soldier survived. . (Federal News Radio)
• A House panel is asking the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to explain why one of its most sensitive labs continues to have security problems. In a letter to CDC leaders, the House Energy Committee says scientists at the emerging infectious disease laboratory work on anthrax bird flu and other diseases that could be used as biological weapons. The inquiry comes after USA Today obtained internal emails from engineers and safety personnel dating back to 2010. They reveal concerns about airflow systems not cleaning the air fire safety and unlocked doors. showing the labs remain unlocked. The CDC tells the newspaper that it has multiple layers of security that make it close to impossible for any unauthorized person to get lab materials. (USA Today)

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