Sens. Tim Kaine, D-Va., Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., and Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., introduced legislation on Friday that they said aims to strengthen the State Department’s workforce and ensure senior leaders are selected based on a merit-based system – “not money or politics.” […]

Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., and Rep. Don Beyer, D-Va., introduced new legislation this week that aims to prevent government shutdowns and the burdens they cause for Federal employees, government contractors, and Americans who rely on government services. […]

Democratic senators from Maryland and Virginia penned a letter to Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Acting Director Russell Vought and Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Acting Director Michael Rigas urging them to clarify Federal agency reopening plans to continue maximum telework, and arguing that it’s “unsafe” to bring employees back to the office. […]

A group of 23 Democratic and independent senators have announced their support for the Fair Compensation for Low-Wage Contractor Employees Act, which was introduced Jan. 16 and would provide back pay up to $600 per paycheck for Federal contractors who were furloughed or had their hours reduced due to the partial government shutdown. […]

A group of D.C.-area senators expressed their concern over guidance from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) that asks federal employees affected by the shutdown to continue paying dental and vision insurance premiums. […]

Members of Congress urged Defense Secretary James Mattis in a letter to incorporate cybersecurity into high school Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps (JROTC) programs. […]

Sens. Tim Kaine, D-Va., and Mike Rounds, R-S.D., introduced a bill on Thursday that would authorize the Department of Defense scholarship fund to receive $10 million for fiscal year 2018 and would enable them to expand scholarships for associate degrees in cybersecurity. […]