Tag Archives: SI

December Podcast Roundup – Podcasts You May Have Missed

We were busy podcasting all last year! And if you’re not subscribed on iTunes or our RSS feed, you’re missing out. Today’s WatchBlog catches you up on podcasts you may have missed last month. Protecting the Electric Grid: Severe solar … Continue reading

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A Lot of Government Information Is Freely Available

From health and education statistics to budget and spending information, the federal government produces a lot of information, or data. Agencies are making more and more of this data open for everyone to use. Our recent report identified 5 key … Continue reading

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Marking 40 Years with the Civil Service Reform Act

Last month marked a milestone in the history of the country’s federal personnel system. Forty years ago on October 13, the Civil Service Reform Act (CSRA) was landmark legislation and it continues to serve as the foundation for much of … Continue reading

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Filling out Those Federal Forms

Americans spend a lot of time providing information to federal agencies, whether via tax forms or benefit applications. Overall, for example, based on government-wide estimates, the public spent 9.8 billion hours responding to federal information collections in fiscal year 2015. … Continue reading

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July Podcast Roundup – Podcasts You May Have Missed

We’ve been busy podcasting this summer!  And if you’re not subscribed on iTunes or our RSS feed, you’re missing out. Today’s WatchBlog catches you up on some of our recent podcasts. Summer Meals Programs: During the school year, federal and other programs help provide meals … Continue reading

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Medicare’s Financial Check-Up (video)

Nearly 60 million elderly and disabled people count on Medicare for health care coverage. Without the program, they and their families could be responsible for billions of dollars of health care costs. Medicare spent about $700 billion in 2017 and … Continue reading

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Protecting Federal Whistleblowers

Federal whistleblowers—current, former, and prospective federal employees who allege wrongdoing—play a key role in saving taxpayer money and reducing fraud, waste, and abuse in the federal government. The Office of Special Counsel (OSC) is an independent body that reviews whistleblowers’ … Continue reading

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How Can We Reorganize the Government Effectively?

On June 21, 2018, the administration released a plan to reorganize the federal government and improve efficiency and effectiveness. The Office of Management and Budget had earlier required agencies to develop proposals to improve performance, increase accountability, and reduce the … Continue reading

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The Nation’s Precarious Fiscal Future

The United States faces a highly challenging fiscal future. Absent change in policy, the federal fiscal path is unsustainable—debt is growing faster than the economy (GDP). This springs from the continuing gap between the amount of money the federal government … Continue reading

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Recognizing the Federal Workforce

The most vital resource at any federal agency is its workforce. During Public Service Recognition Week, we’re celebrating the contributions of federal employees. This year is especially noteworthy because it’s the 40th anniversary of the Civil Service Reform Act of … Continue reading

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