Michele Sandiford

Washington, D.C., United States

Digital Editor at Federal News Network

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Articles

A group of senators ask the White House to reconsider cancellation of collective bargaining agreements

6 days ago | federalnewsnetwork.com | Michele Sandiford

A group of bipartisan senators is asking President Donald Trump to reconsider his broad cancellation of federal collective bargaining agreements. In a letter sent to the President on Thursday, four senators said they are concerned that his recent executive order will impede efforts to make the government more efficient. Trump eliminated most agencies’ union contracts last month, citing national security concerns.
Infrastructure permitting agencies have 45 days to develop modernization plans

1 week ago | federalnewsnetwork.com | Michele Sandiford

Agencies who handle the federal permitting process for roads, bridges and other infrastructure programs are on the hook to modernize the technology that runs these systems and share data more easily. President Donald Trump's latest executive order says the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) has 45 days to develop a Permitting Technology Action Plan that will include initial technology and data standards.
PACT Act makes determining veterans’ benefits payments more difficult

1 week ago | federalnewsnetwork.com | Michele Sandiford

The PACT Act has reportedly made determining when veterans' benefits payments should be issued more difficult. The Department of Veterans Affairs' inspector general says that a quarter of all PACT Act related claims it reviewed over the course of a year were issued incorrect effective dates, resulting in nearly $7 million in improper payments made. The IG says a lack of training is the mainly to blame, and recommended creating a job aid for claims processors.
VA starts search for new health and benefits leaders

1 week ago | federalnewsnetwork.com | Michele Sandiford

The Department of Veterans Affairs is starting its search to fill two leadership roles. The VA is looking for candidates that President Donald Trump can nominate as the next under secretary for health and undersecretary for benefits. VA’s Deputy Secretary Paul Lawrence will oversee the search. Both roles face major projects, from rolling out a new Electronic Health Record, to processing a record volume of disability claims.
Lawmakers call on National Archives to investigate use of Signal and Gmail by top government officials

1 week ago | federalnewsnetwork.com | Michele Sandiford

Lawmakers are calling on the National Archives to investigate the use of unauthorized communications platforms by top government officials. Democrats on the Senate Homeland Security Committee say the reported use of Signal and Gmail by national security officials creates major cybersecurity risks. They also point out that it could violate federal record laws. National Security Advisor Mike Waltz reportedly has used both Signal and Gmail for sensitive discussions. (Signal letter - Sen.
Trump administration wants to ease foreign arms sales process

1 week ago | federalnewsnetwork.com | Michele Sandiford

President Donald Trump seeks to ease the foreign arms sales process for U.S. defense companies. Trump signed an executive order aimed at reducing rules and regulations governing military equipment sales to other countries. Both industry and foreign nations have long complained about the process that has been plagued by bureaucratic delays and lengthy approval procedures.
Federal retirements slow in March

2 weeks ago | federalnewsnetwork.com | Michele Sandiford

Just over 7,800 federal employees retired in March, almost 2,000 less than who left in February. The Office of Personnel Management said the claims backlog also dropped to about 16,500, which is the lowest its been in 2025. The time to process retirement claims also ticked back up to average about 50 days in March. But OPM said the average time to process a claim for all of 2025 dropped one day, to 54 days. More than 33,500 federal employees have retired so far in 2025.
New bill would secure collective bargaining for federal employees

2 weeks ago | federalnewsnetwork.com | Michele Sandiford

Members of Congress are looking to further secure collective bargaining for federal employees. A group of lawmakers has reintroduced the “Public Service Freedom to Negotiate Act” in both the House and Senate. If it’s enacted, the bill would guarantee public sector workers the ability to join a union and collectively bargain. The bill has bipartisan support and the backing of multiple federal unions.
Is DOGE overstating its savings claims?

2 weeks ago | federalnewsnetwork.com | Michele Sandiford

The Department of Government Efficiency's claims that it's saving more than $140 billion by cancelling contracts is overstated. New analysis from the American Enterprise Institute finds the savings are much closer to about $10 billion. Nat Malkus, the deputy director of Education Policy Studies at AEI, reviewed the contract data DOGE posted to highlight the amount of money agencies obligated versus how much they actually spent.
GSA ready to hire new contract specialists

2 weeks ago | federalnewsnetwork.com | Michele Sandiford

Despite reducing its workforce by thousands of employees, the General Services Administration is ready to hire new employees once again. The Federal Acquisition Service put out job postings for contract specialists and supervisory contract specialists. The contract specialists would be at the GS-12 and -13 pay scales, while the supervisory positions would be at the GS-14 and -15 levels.