Michele Sandiford

Washington, D.C., United States

Digital Editor at Federal News Network

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Articles

IRS close to getting new leader

2 days ago | federalnewsnetwork.com | Michele Sandiford

President Donald Trump’s permanent pick to run the IRS is one step closer to taking office. The Senate Finance Committee advanced the nomination of former Rep. Billy Long (R-Mo.). Democrats on the committee raised concerns that Long promoted tribal tax credits that don’t exist, according to the Treasury Department and IRS. Long told lawmakers that if confirmed he’d help the IRS modernize its legacy IT systems.
TSP funds rebound in May

3 days ago | federalnewsnetwork.com | Michele Sandiford

Every fund but one in the Thrift Savings Plan saw positive returns last month. New data from the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board shows 15 of 16 funds came in anywhere from 0.36% to over 7% higher in May. The big winners were the S and C funds, with month over month returns higher by more than 7% and 6%, respectively. Only the F fund came in underwater last month, at 0.71% lower than in April.
No pay raise for federal employees in 2026 budget request

5 days ago | federalnewsnetwork.com | Michele Sandiford

The White House is not requesting an increase in pay for federal employees in fiscal 2026. President Donald Trump released more details of his budget request for next year late Friday afternoon. The appendix section of the budget proposals also includes provisions to continue the pay freeze for Senior Executive Service members and political appointees. In all, the new budget document details more specific discretionary spending requests for each agency.
New data shows collective impact of 19 fired IGs

1 week ago | federalnewsnetwork.com | Michele Sandiford

The 19 agency inspectors general fired by President Donald Trump had a collective impact of saving the government more than $50 billion in fiscal 2024. New data from Sen. Gary Peters (D-Mich.), ranking member of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, shows the IGs played a key role in investigations and audits that uncovered significant fraud and abuse.
Lawmakers question administration’s push to pay political appointees more

1 week ago | federalnewsnetwork.com | Michele Sandiford

Democratic lawmakers are criticizing the Trump administration’s recent push to pay political appointees more money. In a letter to the Office of Personnel Management, Democrats on the Senate Appropriations Committee called OPM’s recent encouragement on the issue an “egregious abuse” of taxpayer dollars. OPM recently recommended that agencies pay their political appointees the maximum salary possible, nearly $200,000.
DoD reviews its support for homeschooling military families

1 week ago | federalnewsnetwork.com | Michele Sandiford

The Defense Department is taking a closer look at how it supports military families who choose to homeschool their children. In a recent memo, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth directed the under secretary of defense for personnel and readiness to conduct a departmentwide review of the current support available to homeschooling military families, including the feasibility of providing resources for those students.
DHS S&T testing provides opportunity to examine and improve mobile document verification

1 week ago | federalnewsnetwork.com | Michele Sandiford

The Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology Directorate recently completed what it calls its “Remote Identity Validation Technology Demonstration.” This event consisted of the testing of products that attempt to verify documents submitted via mobile technology.
DHS’ fired probationary employees granted class certification on appeal case

1 week ago | federalnewsnetwork.com | Michele Sandiford

Probationary employees who were fired from the Department of Homeland Security have been granted class certification on an appeal case with the Merit Systems Protection Board. The DHS employees allege that the agency violated the law when it terminated them earlier this year. They argue that the mass firings at DHS were really an unlawfully conducted reduction in force (RIF).
DMDC expands online ID card program to overseas military families

2 weeks ago | federalnewsnetwork.com | Michele Sandiford

The Defense Manpower Data Center has expanded its online ID card issuance system to include overseas dependents of service members. Since its launch in 2023, the program has eliminated more than 300,000 in-person visits by allowing service members to request their ID cards online. DMDC now wants to improve the system by allowing users to upload updated photos directly into the system. It is exploring ways to extend services to locations without access to military postal services.
VA issues grants for veteran suicide prevention programs

2 weeks ago | federalnewsnetwork.com | Michele Sandiford

Veterans Affairs is giving organizations more resources to prevent veteran suicide. VA is issuing more than $50 million in grants to community-based organizations that provide suicide prevention or emergency clinical services to veterans at risk of suicide. Groups have until the end of September to apply for these grants. Veterans who are experiencing suicidal thoughts can reach the Veterans Crisis Line by dialing 988 and then pressing 1.