Trump's nominees receive confirmation by a significant majority in the Senate, totaling nearly 50.
In the realm of U.S. politics and federal administration, several key developments have taken place in September 2025.
Firstly, lawmakers are working diligently on the "Pay Our Troops Act of 2026," a bill aimed at ensuring that troops, including the Coast Guard, civilian employees, and contractors continue to receive their pay and benefits in the event of a government shutdown. This move underscores the government's commitment to its workforce, particularly those who serve in the military.
Another significant issue that has caught the attention of federal organisations is the proposed "forced distribution system" for performance management of senior federal executives. The Senior Executives Association has expressed concerns about this plan, stating that it could lead to a lack of trust and a loss of effectiveness within the executive ranks.
In the realm of cybersecurity, the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) has reported that there are 440 organizations within the Defense Department that conduct cyberspace operations. Of these, 81 fall under U.S. Cyber Command, another 23 are managed by other parts of the DoD outside the military services, and the remaining 330 are controlled by the military services themselves.
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has made a decision to cancel the special salary rate used to attract and retain hard-to-find technology employees. This move could have implications for the VA's ability to maintain its technological infrastructure and services.
The VA's decision has sparked controversy, as the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) is demanding that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) immediately resume approving telework requests from employees with disabilities. The AFGE argues that the CDC's suspension of these approvals violates multiple laws protecting federal employees with disabilities.
In other news, the General Services Administration (GSA) has removed products and services from cybersecurity firm Acronis AG from GSA Advantage due to supply chain risks. This move underscores the GSA's commitment to ensuring the security of federal procurement.
The White House has nominated Kirsten Davies for the Defense Department's chief information officer position. Davies has pledged to address tech debt, prioritize modernization initiatives, establish guardrails for artificial intelligence, support data supremacy, and expand collaboration with private-sector cybersecurity experts and ethical hackers.
Finally, the U.S. Senate has confirmed several key nominees, including Michael Obadal as the new under secretary of the Army, William Gillis as the assistant secretary for energy, installations and environment, Jules Hurst as the assistant secretary for manpower and reserve affairs, and Brent Ingraham as the assistant secretary for acquisition, logistics and technology.
These developments highlight the ongoing efforts of U.S. lawmakers and federal agencies to address a wide range of issues, from military pay to cybersecurity, and from personnel management to technological infrastructure. As always, the federal landscape continues to evolve, and these developments are sure to have far-reaching implications for the future.
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