Podcasts about political appointees

Project 2025 has quickly become the most consequential—and controversial—blueprint for American governance in recent history. Conceived by the Heritage Foundation and launched with a sprawling 927-page policy manual in April 2023, Project 2025's core goal is to reshape the entire federal government according to staunch conservative priorities. It is, as Heritage Foundation president Kevin Roberts puts it, an effort to “dismantle the administrative state and restore presidential control over the executive branch.”Yet behind those words lies an ambitious checklist for the next presidential administration, presuming a Republican—most likely Donald Trump—takes office. Project 2025 is not just a collection of ideas. It is a detailed playbook, complete with executive orders, departmental reorganization timetables, and a so-called 180-day playbook, designed for rapid execution on “Day One.”At the heart of Project 2025 is an unprecedented push to centralize power in the Oval Office. The plan relies on the controversial unitary executive theory, which argues all executive branch employees should be directly answerable to the president. Kevin Roberts has been explicit: “All federal employees should answer to the president.” According to the project manual, entire agencies such as the Department of Justice, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, and the Federal Trade Commission would lose their current independence and fall under direct White House control.One of the most sweeping reforms revolves around personnel. The blueprint resurrects the idea of “Schedule F”—a Trump-era category that would allow the president to reclassify tens of thousands of career civil servants as political appointees, instantly stripping them of protections from partisan firing. The National Federation of Federal Employees warns this would “give the president and his loyalists full control of the executive branch for personal and political gain,” hollowing out civil service checks that have traditionally protected against corruption and patronage.Concrete examples illustrate the scale of the changes envisioned. In foreign policy, the State Department chapter recommends that, before January 20, all leadership be dismissed and replaced with ideologically aligned “acting” appointees who bypass Senate confirmation entirely. Kiron Skinner, the former policy planning chief who wrote this section, has called for removing staff she considers too left-leaning, despite admitting she could not name a single time employees substantively obstructed White House policy.The playbook doesn't stop there. Project 2025 proposes slashing federal workforce numbers through forced attrition, with the White House directing agency heads to lay off or consolidate thousands of positions and eliminate entire offices deemed non-essential. For example, agencies like USAID and the CFPB are earmarked for dissolution, their functions either axed or merged into departments more closely monitored by the executive.Critics from organizations like the American Civil Liberties Union highlight how Project 2025 seeks to erode key civil liberties across a range of issues—abortion, LGBTQ rights, free speech, and the environment. The ACLU describes the initiative as “a roadmap for how to replace the rule of law with right-wing ideals.” Meanwhile, labor unions such as AFGE and NTEU have mounted lawsuits to block the executive orders targeting civil service protections, warning of the dangers of introducing broad political loyalty tests into government hiring and firing.Supporters claim these moves would eliminate bureaucratic inertia and bring swift, accountable leadership to Washington. Yet, legal scholars and former officials have called Project 2025 authoritarian, warning it undermines separation of powers and blurs the lines between partisanship and governance.With the November 2024 presidential election looming, Project 2025's fate comes down to political winds and court rulings. The Heritage Foundation and its partners have prepared a rapid-fire battery of executive orders, ready for signature if they get their candidate in office. Milestones to watch include ongoing legal challenges, Congressional resistance, and, above all, the outcome of the national vote.The scope and ambition of Project 2025 are nothing short of historic, representing both a culmination of decades-long conservative advocacy and an inflection point in debates over the very structure of American democracy. Thank you for tuning in, and be sure to come back next week for more.Some great Deals https://amzn.to/49SJ3QsFor more check out http://www.quietplease.ai

Project 2025 is reshaping the conversation about the role and reach of the federal government in ways that feel both sweeping and personal. Born from the Heritage Foundation's “Mandate for Leadership,” this 900-plus-page policy blueprint divides nearly every federal agency and department into zones of targeted reform, all aimed at what its architects call “destroying the administrative state.” Heritage Foundation President Kevin Roberts summed up the mood behind it simply, declaring that “every federal employee should answer to the president.” That principle, experts say, guides the project's plans to consolidate power at the top and move swiftly on a series of executive moves from day one.The scale of intended change is hard to overstate. Project 2025 outlines an operational playbook for the first 180 days of a new Republican administration. Its centerpiece is Schedule F—a government job classification that would allow the new president to reclassify tens of thousands of career civil servants as at-will political appointees. That means federal workers, who traditionally hold their positions regardless of party, could be replaced without cause by loyalists. Kiron Skinner, who authored the State Department chapter, suggested clearing out senior career officials before January 20 and quickly installing appointees who share the president's views, bypassing regular Senate confirmation requirements. Skinner argues such moves are necessary to ensure ideological alignment, though when pressed by CNN's Peter Bergen, she couldn't cite a specific past obstruction by career diplomats.Concrete actions have followed rhetoric. When President Trump took office on January 20, he and Elon Musk's newly minted Department of Government Efficiency hit the ground running. According to Government Executive and other outlets, entire agencies like the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and USAID were targeted for elimination through “legally questionable means,” with the stated goal of cutting $1 trillion in spending. Executive orders soon followed, including one mandating that federal agencies may only hire one worker for every four who leave, and requiring return-to-office mandates for a federal workforce that had grown accustomed to remote work during the pandemic.Faced with the threat of losing job protections, over a quarter-million federal workers and contractors were facing layoffs by spring 2025, with forty-seven years of collective bargaining law challenged as unions raced to court. NTEU President Doreen Greenwald put it bluntly, calling it “an attack on the law, and on public service.” Opposition isn't limited to labor groups. The ACLU has charged that Project 2025 is a “roadmap to replace the rule of law with right-wing ideals,” warning that the proposals could undermine legal norms, civil rights, and protections for marginalized groups. Legal scholars from both political parties have raised flags about weakening the separation of powers, endangering environmental and public health safeguards, and risking consolidated, unchecked executive authority.Proponents are equally resolute. They argue that Project 2025 is a necessary corrective to what they view as a bloated, left-leaning bureaucracy unaccountable to the people. Heritage Foundation materials frame the federal government as too large, too costly, and resistant to the priorities of conservative Americans. They cite the sheer scale—over 2.4 million civilian federal employees—and the proliferation of agencies as drivers for dramatic consolidation and workforce reductions.Specific policy proposals go beyond personnel. The project seeks to reset environmental rules, roll back climate policies, and overhaul protections related to health, education, and civil rights. Critics, including groups like the Center for Progressive Reform, warn that these policies will lead to significant negative effects for ordinary Americans—from loss of workplace and environmental protections to sharp changes in immigration enforcement and reproductive rights.As the summer of 2025 progresses, listeners should watch several key milestones. Court cases brought by federal employee unions and advocacy groups could set vital precedents for the separation of powers. Agency heads are evaluating which departments could be merged or eliminated entirely in accordance with new directives. Congress, too, will play an uncertain but pivotal role as many Project 2025 reforms require new legislation or appropriations. Meanwhile, a country already polarized by election-year tensions is bracing for the long-term consequences of this radical experiment in federal power.Thank you for tuning in to this week's deep dive into Project 2025's ambitions and realities. Be sure to come back next week for more crucial stories shaping the nation.Some great Deals https://amzn.to/49SJ3QsFor more check out http://www.quietplease.ai

The Trump administration has created a classification of political appointees called Schedule G. The new employment category will let agencies hire non career federal employees to work on the administration's policies. The White House says Schedule G will improve operations and efficiency, but some critics are wary of the executive order's broader implications Here with more is Federal News Network's Drew Friedman.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

President John Dramani Mahama has, with immediate effect, cancelled the payment and allocation of fuel allowances to all political appointees as part of his administration's ongoing efforts to reduce public expenditure

Mahama's scrapping of fuel allowances for political appointees is a bold move that shows he has learned from his time away and is committed to redirecting funds for the country's development. -Nana Kwadwo Jantuah

In this episode of Stanford Legal, the tables are turned as Professor Diego Zambrano interviews the show's usual host, Professor Pam Karlan, about the growing politicization of the Department of Justice under the Trump administration. Drawing on her experience in the DOJ's Civil Rights Division during both the Obama and Biden administrations, Karlan describes how recent loyalty tests, internal purges, and retaliatory transfers have hollowed out one of the nation's most critical legal institutions. Karlan and Zambrano explore how the DOJ has historically relied on a “thin layer” of political leadership atop a deep bench of expert, nonpartisan career lawyers—and why that structure is now under threat. They discuss the DOJ's broad civil rights mandate, the challenges of a politicized environment, and the legal and moral consequences of eroding prosecutorial independence. The conversation makes the case that what's happening now is not just a policy shift—it's an institutional crisis that threatens the rule of law and the very idea of justice in America. Links:Diego Zambrano >>> Stanford Law pageNeukom Center for the Rule of Law >>> Stanford Law pageConnect:Episode Transcripts >>> Stanford Legal Podcast WebsiteStanford Legal Podcast >>> LinkedIn PageRich Ford >>>  Twitter/XPam Karlan >>> Stanford Law School PageStanford Law School >>> Twitter/XStanford Lawyer Magazine >>> Twitter/X(00:00:00) Introduction and Constraints Under Civil Service Reform Act(00:05:01) The Impact of Political Agenda on DOJ's Functioning(00:08:31) Challenges Faced by Career Lawyers(00:14:16) Interaction Between Political Appointees and Career Lawyers(00:17:46) Meritocracy and Recruitment in the DOJ(00:20:01) comparative perspective in understanding the DOJ's special role

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. Based on current federal salary caps, Schedule C political appointees can be paid nearly $200,000 per year. They don't always receive the top amount, but OPM recently recommended that agencies pay their political appointees the maximum salary possible. The Democrats are now pressing OPM for more information on the responsibilities and costs of current Schedule C appointees.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode of Passing Judgment, we examine sweeping changes in the Department of Justice's Civil Rights Division under the Trump administration. Reporter Sam Levine joins host Jessica Levinson to discuss how the division, long tasked with enforcing voting rights and other protections, has seen over 70% of its attorneys depart amid a shift in priorities toward the president's agenda. The episode explores what this means for civil rights enforcement, voter protections, and whether former DOJ lawyers can fill the gap by taking their expertise into private practice.Here are three key takeaways you don't want to miss:The Role and Function of the DOJ Civil Rights Division and Voting Section: The conversation starts with an explanation of what the Civil Rights Division within the Department of Justice (DOJ) does. It is tasked with enforcing America's civil rights laws—including the Voting Rights Act—and consists of 11 sections dealing with various aspects of civil rights (voting, housing, education, anti-discrimination). Impact of Administrative Changes on DOJ Priorities: A significant theme is how changes in presidential administrations can redirect the focus and priorities of the DOJ and its sections—especially the Voting Section. While career attorneys (not political appointees) do most of the day-to-day work, political appointees set overarching priorities. Normally, shifts happen between administrations, but under the Trump administration, changes were described as “radical departures,” shifting focus to investigate noncitizen voting and prioritizing policies aligned with the president rather than traditional civil rights enforcement.Dismissal of Civil Servants and Dismantling of the Voting Section: The episode highlights the mass removal of senior civil servants in the Voting Section under Trump's administration, replacing experienced managers and ordering the dismissal of all active cases. This unprecedented action is portrayed as a clear signal of political influence overriding apolitical legal work—and is said to undermine the department's ability to fulfill its civil rights mandate.Follow Our Host and Guest: @LevinsonJessica@srl

“As you enlist, you get exciting opportunities, hopefully competitive pay, but afterwards, you get a series of benefits that can really help your life." -Paul R. Lawrence Welcome to another insightful episode of the Turmeric & Tequila Podcast, where your host Kristen Olson engages in gracefully disruptive conversations to question a better way. Today, we welcome the esteemed Dr. Paul R. Lawrence to the TNT mic. A longtime advocate and human of service, Dr. Paul R. Lawrence has dedicated his life to helping veterans navigate the often-complex systems of benefits and support. With his new book shedding light on the often-misunderstood benefits available to veterans, this episode dives deep into how we can better serve those who have served us. Kristen and Paul explore the intricacies of veteran benefits, the importance of lived experience in leading veteran-focused initiatives, and the powerful impact of stepping up to make a difference. Alongside this riveting conversation, we'll hear from our sponsor, Lux Neuro, about the transformative power of neurofeedback. Whether you're in the business sector, a veteran, or someone passionate about meaningful change, this episode offers valuable insights into the world of veteran affairs and beyond. Tune in and join the conversation. Time Stamps: 00:00 Passionate Advocacy from Experienced Voices 04:12 From Frustration to Involvement 10:06 Navigating Social Media Information Challenges 10:54 VA Support for Veterans' Mental Health 15:43 Authentic Leadership Through Experience 19:11 "Unexpected Demand for Government Guidance" 21:19 Outlining a Complex Book Structure 26:19 "Influencers as Inspirers" 27:55 Veteran Networking Support 30:54 Embracing Life's Unexpected Paths 33:26 Lux Neuro Sponsorship & Guest Info Paul R. Lawrence is a Public Sector Vice President with Kaiser Associates, a distinctive professional services firm that helps executives make more informed strategic and operational decisions by incorporating external insights and analysis. Paul helps government leaders address their challenges by developing and then implementing unique solutions. Mr. Lawrence has 30 years of experience working closely with government leaders. Prior to joining Kaiser Associates, Mr. Lawrence was a Partner at Ernst & Young, a Vice President with Accenture, an Executive Director with the MITRE Corporation, a Vice President with IBM Business Consulting Services, and a Partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers. He has researched and written extensively on management and government. He is the co-author of Succeeding as a Political Executive: 50 Insights from Experience; What Government Does: How Political Executives Manage; and Paths to Making a Difference: Leading in Government. He is the co-editor of Transforming Organizations and Learning the Ropes: Insights for Political Appointees. He has testified before Congress and several state legislatures. He serves on the Board of Advisors to the Economic Program at the University of Massachusetts and has served on the Board of Advisors of the Thomas Jefferson Public Policy Program at The College of William and Mary. He was twice selected by Federal Computer Week as one of the top 100 public service business leaders. Mr. Lawrence earned his Master of Arts and Ph.D. in Economics from Virginia Tech. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, graduating Phi Beta Kappa. Paul Lawrence served in the U.S. Army attaining the rank of Captain. He graduated from the Army's Airborne School and was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal. www.paulrlawrence.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/drpaullawrence/ BOOK: Veterans Benefits for You: Get What You Deserve ORDER HERE   Connect with T&T: IG: @TurmericTequila Facebook: @TurmericAndTequila Website: www.TurmericAndTequila.com Host: Kristen Olson IG: @Madonnashero Tik Tok: @Madonnashero Website: www.KOAlliance.com WATCH HERE   MORE LIKE THIS: https://youtu.be/ZCFQSpFoAgI?si=Erg8_2eH8uyEgYZF   https://youtu.be/piCU9JboWuY?si=qLdhFKCGdBzuAeuI https://youtu.be/9Vs2JDzJJXk?si=dpjV31GDqTroUKWH 

VLOG Feb 10 Judge Engelmayer restrains political appointees in Treasuryhttps://patreon.com/posts/treasury-tussle-121899904…Sean Combs move to dismiss 2d complaint, book:https://amazon.com/dp/B0DHP7YF19Rep Goldman 4 Myrie 4 NYC Mayor, City of Maybehttps://amazon.com/dp/B0DPCKZYSWUN bans Press: litmus test

Political appointees who are resigning on Inauguration Day later this month have some special rules to pay attention to. A new memo from the Office of Personnel Management details how pay, benefits and leave typically work for non-career federal employees resigning at the end of an administration. Impacted appointees will mostly be ending their workdays at noon on January 20th. Because of that, OPM is telling agencies they should only receive a half day of pay. OPM added that resigning appointees should also not accrue annual and sick leave for the pay period that starts next week. That's because they will leave their positions beforecompleting the full pay period. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Political appointees who are resigning on Inauguration Day later this month have some special rules to pay attention to. A new memo from the Office of Personnel Management details how pay, benefits and leave typically work for non-career federal employees resigning at the end of an administration. Impacted appointees will mostly be ending their workdays at noon on January 20th. Because of that, OPM is telling agencies they should only receive a half day of pay. OPM added that resigning appointees should also not accrue annual and sick leave for the pay period that starts next week. That's because they will leave their positions before completing the full pay period. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A change in presidential administrations doesn't just mean new policies and priorities in government – it also means new political appointees coming in and others moving out. Grant Haver, a former political appointee in the Department of Homeland Security, knows first-hand the experience of transitioning out of federal government, and the sprint of service political appointees take on. He created a resume bank for presidential employees who served with Team 46. He joins the show to talk about what it's like to serve as a political appointee, why they bring unique skills that can be advantageous across the private sector, and why employers should look to former political appointees for job openings.Like federal employees or service members transitioning, political appointees face specific rules about what jobs they can pursue. Political appointees should heed any advice provided in out-briefings, but take full advantage of career resources like ClearanceJobs.com to help them connect with employers and find government and contract opportunities that match their skillsets. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As the Special Counsel winds down the DC criminal case and the Florida appeal, veteran prosecutors Mary McCord and Andrew Weissmann analyze the strategy behind getting a dismissal without prejudice before Donald Trump takes office, while dispelling the notion that Jack Smith “folded” in any way. Then, they head to New York to break down the nuance of Judge Merchan's decision to postpone Trump's sentencing, as he accepts briefing on a motion to dismiss the case that both parties agreed to. And before wrapping up, Mary and Andrew review some of the presumptive nominees Trump has named for top Justice Department posts, and the contrast of working on behalf of a client versus working on behalf of the Constitution.A note to listeners: Since we recorded, the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals also granted Special Counsel Jack Smith's request to dismiss that appeal without prejudice.Want to listen to this show without ads? Sign up for MSNBC Premium on Apple Podcasts. As a subscriber you'll also be able to get occasional bonus content from this and other shows. 

Even after the New York DA's position with respect to a dismissal of Donald Trump's New York case was filed, there are lingering questions about what happens next with his other criminal cases as he begins his transition back to power and unveils his cabinet nominees. MSNBC legal analysts Mary McCord and Andrew Weissmann give an insider's perspective on what a final report in the DC case might look like from Special Counsel Jack Smith, as is a requirement within the special counsel rules. What will it encapsulate? And will it be made public? Next up: a few cases involving J6 rioters have been denied a stay, while others have had their trials postponed, but an overarching theme is that Trump's immunity should not extend to these defendants. And finally, Mary and Andrew ‘nerd out' on the Constitutional process of how a recess appointment works, why the early framers thought it necessary, and how the president-elect is angling to use it to avoid the Senate's long held role of advice and consent when it comes to political appointees.  Want to listen to this show without ads? Sign up for MSNBC Premium on Apple Podcasts. As a subscriber you'll also be able to get occasional bonus content from this and other shows. This week, you can get a premium-only bonus episode of Chris Hayes' podcast “Why Is This Happening?”. In it, Chris sits down with Rachel Maddow to reflect on lessons learned from this election cycle and what to expect in the new administration, including the recess appointments Andrew and Mary spoke about in this episode. 

Ryan McMaken and Tho Bishop examine the role that ideology and interest groups will have on Trump's administration and on his political appointees. Register for Educating for Liberty: Mises Circle in Tampa, Florida, on February 22, 2025: Anatomy of the State by Murray Rothbard: https://mises.org/AnatomyGet free copies of What Has Government Done to Our Money? at https://Mises.org/RothPodFREEBe sure to follow Radio Rothbard at https://Mises.org/RadioRothbardRadio Rothbard mugs are available at the Mises Store. Get yours at https://Mises.org/RothMug PROMO CODE: RothPod for 20% off

Ryan McMaken and Tho Bishop examine the role that ideology and interest groups will have on Trump's administration and on his political appointees. Register for Educating for Liberty: Mises Circle in Tampa, Florida, on February 22, 2025: Anatomy of the State by Murray Rothbard: https://mises.org/AnatomyGet free copies of What Has Government Done to Our Money? at https://Mises.org/RothPodFREEBe sure to follow Radio Rothbard at https://Mises.org/RadioRothbardRadio Rothbard mugs are available at the Mises Store. Get yours at https://Mises.org/RothMug PROMO CODE: RothPod for 20% off

The Madani Government has made 95 political appointments to federal statutory bodies and government-linked companies so far, a relatively lower number than previous administrations. How can the appointment process be made more transparent? Doris Liew, Assistant Research Manager of the Public Finance Unit at IDEAS Malaysia, unpacks the think tank's latest report.Image Credit: shutterstock.com

In this episode of The Annie Frey Show, Annie and Brad are joined by Hans Von Spakovsky, Senior Legal Fellow at the Heritage Foundation, to analyze the Merrick Garland-led Department of Justice. They explore allegations of political bias in high-profile cases involving Donald Trump and Joe Biden, examine the DOJ's handling of election integrity issues, and discuss the role of political appointees in shaping the department's actions. Strategies for restoring public trust in the DOJ are also discussed.

Project 2025 is a covert initiative that provides guidelines for potential future political appointees on how to conceal their strategies and avoid leaving incriminating paper trails. Recently unearthed videos have shed light on the methods recommended by Project 2025, revealing a meticulous approach to creating secret plans.The primary advice dispensed by Project 2025 revolves around the importance of hiding their true agendas. This entails crafting a public narrative that masks the underlying objectives of their actions. By presenting a sanitized version of their intentions, appointees can more easily gain public trust and circumvent potential backlash. It's a form of strategic communication aimed at deflecting scrutiny and maintaining a beneficial facade.Additionally, Project 2025 emphasizes the need to avoid paper trails. This involves conducting meetings and communications in ways that do not generate physical or digital records that could later be used as evidence. By minimizing documentation, the risk of exposure through leaks or investigations is significantly reduced. This might include using encrypted communication tools, conducting face-to-face conversations, and relying on informal networks rather than official channels.Moreover, Project 2025 encourages the creation of secret plans, detailing how appointees can develop strategies out of the public eye. These secret plans are purportedly designed to be implemented only when the appointees are in a position to influence policy or decision-making processes effectively. The clandestine nature of these plans ensures that they can be rolled out with minimal resistance or opposition, as they are not subject to preemptive critique or counteraction.In summary, Project 2025 is dedicated to providing a sophisticated roadmap for future political appointees to hide their agendas, avoid paper trails, and create secret plans. These strategies help secure the appointees' positions and facilitate the implementation of their true plans while maintaining a veneer of transparency and ethical conduct.

ProPublica reporter Alec MacGillis recently wrote about Paul Dans, the former director of Project 2025 which was created to help build the next Republican administration. Dans has Baltimore roots as the son of a Johns Hopkins professor. According to MacGillis, by the time Dans stepped down from his role with Project 2025, much of the work was in place to develop a large database of Trump loyal appointees to put in federal jobs. MacGillis joins Midday to discuss more about Paul Dans and the details of Project 2025.Email us at midday@wypr.org, tweet us: @MiddayWYPR, or call us at 410-662-8780.

Outside of Legislative Hall, Delaware Democrats in Health Care Professions are warning that forcing hospitals' budgets to be controlled by political appointees is dangerous for Delawareans. State House Democrats pushed it through, anyway! House Minority Leader Mike Ramone tells the story to Rick Jensen.

The boys discuss the South Carolina primary, Trump's RNC takeover, a hate crime in Oklahoma, updates on Israel's genocide, and the “sudden death” of a Russian political figure. If you enjoy the show, make sure to support us on Patreon and social media! HITO MERCH: https://headintheoffice.com/ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/headintheofficepod YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4iJ-UcnRxYnaYsX_SNjFJQ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@headintheoffice?lang=en Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/headintheoffice/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/headintheoffice Discord: https://discord.gg/hito  HITO Extras: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3UoTN328OA7fK2dzicP-ZA  Collab inquiries: headintheofficepod@gmail.com

(2/12/24) - In today's Federal Newscast: The Congressional Research Service is hiring a new director. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services completed 10 million cases last year, to boast a 15% backlog reduction. And a decade of no pay raises continues for the Vice President and senior political appointees. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

(2/12/24) - In today's Federal Newscast: The Congressional Research Service is hiring a new director. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services completed 10 million cases last year, to boast a 15% backlog reduction. And a decade of no pay raises continues for the Vice President and senior political appointees. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

One of the best things a politically appointed agency head can do, but too often he or she does not, is what this guest will address. Federal Drive Host Tom Temin spoke with Bob Tobias, professor of good government and long-time labor-management observer. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

One of the best things a politically appointed agency head can do, but too often he or she does not, is what this guest will address. Federal Drive Host Tom Temin spoke with Bob Tobias, professor of good government and long-time labor-management observer. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What if I were to tell you that you could work for an employer where your chances of being fired were essentially zero. A place where you were rewarded not for performance or excellence, or even results, but simply for showing up. When you feel like it. An employer of more than 2 million people—so benevolent that it fires only 4,000 employees in an average year. That's a rate of 2 people per 1,000 individuals or 0.2 percent—20 times lower than the recent, and historically low, rate of 4 percent for American companies. Now consider the ramifications on employee behavior, and the types of employees that policy attracts. How hard would you work if no matter how poorly you performed you had virtually no chance of being fired? Of course, we're talking about our nation's largest employer—the federal government. A government typified by its complete inability to fire employees for poor performance or outright incompetence. ⭕️ Watch in-depth videos based on Truth & Tradition at Epoch TV

It's been announced that all political appointees will be let go, with immediate effect. We discuss whether all political appointments are made in bad faith, how crucial these terminations are in the overall quest for insitutional reform and whether this move poses a political risk for Prime Minister Datuk Sri Anwar Ibrahim.Image source: 123rf.com

The peaceful transfer of power from one presidential administration to another, or from a first to second term, is the cornerstone of American democracy. In this episode of “Profiles in Public Service,” Rachel Klein-Kircher and Loren DeJonge Schulman are joined by three practitioners and experts on presidential transitions who discuss the major challenges the Biden-Harris team had to overcome during the toughest transition in modern U.S. history, how a new administration identifies, recruits and nominates the right people to fill the nearly 4,000 presidential appointee positions who serve across government, and lessons that can be learned by examining the complex process that is fundamental to our democracy. Our expert guests include: Gautam Raghavan, the current director of the White House Office of Presidential Personnel for the Biden Administration and a former presidential team lead for Biden-Harris transition. David Marchick, author of, “The Peaceful Transfer of Power: An Oral History of Presidential Transitions,” a joint project between The University of Virginia Press, UVA's Miller Center, and the Partnership for Public Service, released in October 2022. Valerie Smith Boyd, current director of the Partnership's Center for Presidential Transition. A full transcript of this episode can be found here. Additional resources: Purchase “The Peaceful Transfer of Power: An Oral History of Presidential Transitions.” Read Valerie Smith Boyd's blog post about the importance of chronicling presidential transitions. Learn more about the Center for Presidential Transition. Listen to Transition Lab, a podcast from the Partnership for Public Service. Learn more about the White House Personnel Office. Submit your resume to serve as a political appointee in the Biden-Harris Administration. Explore internship opportunities at The Executive Office of the President. Apply to be a White House Fellow.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this week's episode: Late last year, a small group of people appointed by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis allowed utility giant Florida Power & Light to raise electricity rates by roughly $5 billion over the next four years. But this record-setting rate hike is even more generous than you think. Today, we're talking about equity ratios, ROEs and RSAMs — and how you're paying more for power because of them. (Transcript)Further Reading:Miami Herald: Residential customers to bear brunt of $1.5 billion FPL rate hikeFloridians Against Increased Rates: Initial brief before the Florida Supreme CourtFlorida Power & Light: Answer brief before the Florida Supreme CourtSeeking Rents: Florida Power & Light pocketed $1 billion in tax cuts for itself. But now it can pass tax increases on to its customersContact: Garcia.JasonR@gmail.comFollow: Twitter | YouTubeFollow the show: Apple | Spotify Get full access to Seeking Rents at jasongarcia.substack.com/subscribe

Cybersecurity abides as a top concern for federal agencies. And at a growing number of agencies, you find political appointees in charge of cybersecurity. That's not a great idea according to my next guest. Bob Tobias is a professor in the key executive leadership program at American University.

There are more questions than answers over the controversial Section 84(12) of the Electoral Act 2022, as the president of Nigeria is already asking executive council members who are vying for political positions in 2023 to resign.Who will be spared and why?In this episode of Nigeria Daily we discuss the development.

On this episode of the FourBlock Podcast, we are honored to be joined by former Under Secretary for Benefits in the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and U.S. Army Veteran Dr. Paul R. Lawrence. In conversation with FourBlock Founder Mike Abrams, Lawrence generously shares details of his background and upbringing, his military career and transition, and his post-military career in the private sector before giving us a behind the scenes look at his time as the Under Secretary for Benefits at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Lawrence talks about the priorities that he focused on as Under Secretary, including getting veterans the benefits they earned in a manner that honors their service, fiscal stewardship, and collaboration -- working more with veterans' stakeholders like VSOs, nonprofits, and others who wanted to help. A businessman, author, and passionate veteran advocate with 35 years of experience solving management problems in large, complex organizations, Lawrence also shares what he continues to do to advocate for veterans today. As a private sector executive, Lawrence was a consulting Partner at two Big-Four accounting firms and a Vice President in two Fortune 500 companies. He is a government management thought leader, having written several books on the subject. For almost three years, Lawrence served as Under Secretary of Benefits at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, unanimously confirmed by the Senate on April 26, 2018. As Under Secretary, he was in charge of the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) leading a team of 25,000 people with an operating budget of $4 billion, administering $120 billion in benefits annually. He implemented proven business practices, streamlined the bureaucracy, and created a public presence rebranding VBA as an organization successfully supporting Veterans. Prior to becoming a political appointee, Lawrence was a Vice President at Kaiser Associates, a Partner at Ernst & Young, a Vice President at Accenture, a Senior Director at the MITRE Corporation, a Vice President with IBM, and a Partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers. He has written extensively on management, government, and technology. He is the co-author of Succeeding as a Political Executive: 50 Insights from Experience, What Government Does: How Political Executives Manage, Paths to Making a Difference: Leading in Government and the co-editor of Transforming Organizations and Learning the Ropes: Insights for Political Appointees. He serves on the Board of Directors of Vets2Industry, a non-profit organization helping Veterans pursue a career in the private sector. He is also a Senior Advisor to Search & Acquire, a non-profit focused on helping Veterans become CEOs via Entrepreneurship through Acquisition. He was selected three times by Federal Computer Week as one of the top 100 public service leaders. In 2019 he was recognized as Government Executive of the Year by Service to the Citizen. He is a Fellow of the National Academy of Public Administration. Lawrence earned his Master of Arts and Ph.D. in economics from Virginia Tech. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in economics from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, graduating Phi Beta Kappa. He is an Army Veteran. He completed his ROTC requirement as an Airborne-qualified Captain. Find Paul Lawrence on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/drpaullawrence/. Lawrence's book, “Transforming Service to Veterans: How I Pursued Performance Excellence at the Veterans Benefits Administration in the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is available here: https://www.amazon.com/Transforming-Service-Veterans-Performance-Administration/dp/B09DMQZN4N/   ABOUT US Welcome to the FourBlock Podcast, a show that examines veteran career transition and the military-civilian divide in the workplace. General Charles Krulak coined the term "Three Block War" to describe the nature of 21st-century military service defined by peace-keeping, humanitarian aid, and full combat. But what happens next? Veterans are often unprepared to return home and begin new careers. We call this the Fourth Block.  FourBlock is a national non-profit that has supported thousands of transitioning service members across the nation in beginning new and meaningful careers.  Mike Abrams (@fourblock) is an Afghanistan veteran, founder of FourBlock, and author of two military transition books. He represents the military transition perspective. Lindsey Pollak (@lindsaypollak) is a career and workplace expert and New York Times bestselling author of three career advice books. Lindsey represents the civilian perspective of this issue.  Veterans, explore new industries and make the right connections. Find a career that fits your calling. Join us at fourblock.org/ Sponsor our program or host a class to equip more of our veterans at fourblock.org/donate. Follow FourBlock on Social Media  LinkedIn Facebook Instagram Twitter Podcast episodes are produced and edited by the Columbia University Center for Veteran Transition and Integration.  

In this episode of The Big Issue, we would discuss what is happening in Kano, where the state government said all contestants for the executive offices of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in the state congress scheduled for October 16 would be subjected to mandatory drug tests. Disclosing this on Monday, the State Commissioner for Information, Mr Muhammad Garba, said all contestants are to visit the state office of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) starting from today to the closing of the screening exercise for the test.

In today's Federal Newscast, one agency is testing the idea of not having cars at their executives' beckon call.

Working with Political Appointees

During the pandemic, high unemployment, and hundreds of businesses closed MLG doles out substantial raises to staff. BV unravels the possible political ramifications of this on News Radio KKOB

On the final episode of Transition Lab, David Marchick is joined by guest host Yamiche Alcindor, the White House correspondent for the PBS NewsHour and a political contributor for NBC News and MSNBC. As one of America’s leading journalists, Alcindor covered a transition like no other, one marked by a global pandemic and an economic recession, a racial reckoning, a president’s attempts to overturn a fair election, and an attack on the Capitol. In this episode, Alcindor interviews Transition Lab’s regular host, David Marchick, about this historic period. Marchick, director of the Partnership for Public Service’s Center for Presidential Transition, describes how the Trump and Biden teams approached this transition cycle, how the delay in ascertainment and Capitol insurrection impacted the transition, and how this transition stacks up against previous ones.

Chris Liddell is the Trump administration’s leading transition expert. A deputy chief of staff, he previously served as executive director of the Romney transition team and helped author The Romney Readiness Project, a comprehensive presidential transition guide. In this episode of Transition Lab, Liddell joins host David Marchick to discuss the good, the bad and the ugly of the 2020 transition. Liddell talks about managing a delayed post-election transition, his experiences working with the Biden team and how he reacted to the recent attack on the Capitol.

This week’s episode of Transition Lab features Yohannes Abraham, executive director of the Biden-Harris transition. He previously worked on Barack Obama’s 2008 presidential campaign and held several positions in the Obama White House, including senior advisor to the National Economic Council and deputy assistant to the president for the Office of Public Engagement and International Affairs. Later, he helped direct Obama’s 2012 campaign and served as chief operating officer for the newly established Obama Foundation.

The Federal Aviation Administration late Thursday said that five non-career staff members at the agency will resign effective Monday in the wake of the assault on the U.S. Capitol, including the acting No. 2 official.The email from FAA chief of staff Angela Stubblefield said all our non-career staff members here at FAA that had been appointed by U.S. President Donald Trump were resigning.

Federal employees are used to seeing political appointees come and go, and they're used to responding to changing priorities. But it helps if those priorities are clearly communicated. That didn't happen during the leadership changeover at the top of the State Department, and the Government Accountability Office said it's one big reason State has made relatively little progress on its agency reform plans. Out of 17 management reforms the department outlined to Congress last February, only one has been accomplished. Jason Bair is acting director for International Affairs and Trade Issues at GAO. He talked with Jared Serbu about what State can do to speed things along on Federal Drive with Tom Temin.

The Office of Special Counsel surprised the federal community with last week's recommendation that White House aide Kellyanne Conway get canned. OSC found her to be a serial breaker of the Hatch Act, a venerable law that prohibits politics on the job, whether by appointees or career employees. Attorney Joanna Friedman, a partner at the Federal Practice Group, offered a short refresher on the Hatch Act for Federal Drive with Tom Temin.

Try and look up all of the political appointees now working in the federal government. You can't, at least not without considerable effort. For why this is the case and what can be done to fix it, Kris Nguyen, acting director for strategic issues at the Government Accountability Office, joined Federal Drive with Tom Temin.

President Donald Trump said he would consider asking his cabinet members to reject a pay raise that political appointees were supposed to get in early January. But he might not even have to ask. The Office of Personnel Management now is encouraging agencies to hold off on processing those raises. Let's face it, the optics aren't good considering 800,000 federal employees are going with zero pay during the government shutdown. The entire situation is yet another consequence of government's collective failure to pass appropriations bills or provide stop-gap funding for agencies ahead of time. Federal News Network's Nicole Ogrysko joined Federal Drive with Tom Temin for the latest.

In today's Federal Newscast, a Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee bill would create stronger laws to prevent political appointees from becoming career federal employees.

Four Democratic senators have introduce a bill that would crack down on wasteful spending by political appointees.

The Defense Department's personnel and readiness office has five vacant leadership spots. That could be detrimental to a military with ambition recruitment and retention goals. The Air Force reserve is as telling some airmen they've got to stay in for six more months. Federal News Radio's Scott Maucione joined Federal Drive with Tom Temin to provide more context.

In today's Federal Newscast, unless Congress makes a change in any upcoming spending bills, the pay freeze placed on the Vice President and other senior political appointees will stay in place for this year.