Tag: federal government

  • Two Cabinet-level positions remain unfilled in Biden admin

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    All 15 of President Joe Biden’s (D) main Cabinet secretary nominees were confirmed 61 days after he took office. At this point in President Barack Obama’s (D) presidency—82 days after his inauguration—he still had one vacant secretary post for the Department of Health and Human Services. President Donald Trump (R) had two: the secretaries of…

  • Representative Alcee Hastings dies from pancreatic cancer

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    U.S. Rep. Alcee Hastings (D-Fla.) died from pancreatic cancer on April 6. He was first elected to Florida’s 23rd Congressional District in 1992 and represented it until it was redistricted as District 20 in 2012. Hastings was first elected from the 20th District in 2012. In last year’s general elections, Hastings defeated Greg Musselwhite (R), 79%…

  • Ballotpedia releases federal judicial vacancy count for March 2021

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    In this month’s federal judicial vacancy count, Ballotpedia tracked nominations, confirmations, and vacancies to all United States Article III federal courts from March 1 to April 1. Ballotpedia publishes the federal judicial vacancy count at the start of each month. HIGHLIGHTS Vacancies: There have been five new judicial vacancies since the February 2021 report. There…

  • Federal Register weekly update: One new significant final rule on drug listing regulations

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    The Federal Register is a daily journal of federal government activity that includes presidential documents, proposed and final rules, and public notices. It is a common measure of an administration’s regulatory activity. From March 29 through April 2—the eleventh week of the Biden administration—the Federal Register grew by 1,210 pages for a year-to-date total of…

  • OIRA reviewed 28 significant rules in March

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    Image of the south facade of the White House.

    The White House Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) reviewed a total of 28 significant regulatory actions issued by federal agencies in March 2021. The agency approved three rules without changes and approved the intent of 25 rules while recommending changes to their content. OIRA reviewed 41 significant regulatory actions in March 2020, 27…

  • A look back at government responses to the coronavirus pandemic, April 6-10, 2020

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    Although the first case of COVID-19 in the U.S. was confirmed on Jan. 21, 2020, it wasn’t until March when the novel coronavirus upended life for most Americans. Throughout March and April, states issued stay-at-home orders, closed schools, restricted travel, and changed election dates. Many of those policies remain in place today.  Here are the…

  • In four states, no state or federal officials have tested positive for COVID-19

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    Between the start of the coronavirus pandemic and March 18, 2021, no elected or appointed state or federal officials announced positive COVID-19 test results in four states—Delaware, Maryland, Oregon, and Vermont. In the 46 other states, Ballotpedia has identified at least one COVID-19 positive state or federal official within our coverage scope. State and federal…

  • A look back at government responses to COVID-19, March 23-27, 2020

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    Although the first case of COVID-19 in the U.S. was confirmed on Jan. 21, 2020, it wasn’t until March when the novel coronavirus upended life for most Americans. Throughout March and April, states issued stay-at-home orders, closed schools, restricted travel, and changed election dates. Many of those policies remain in place today.  Here are the…

  • Federal Register weekly update: 60 new final rules

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    The Federal Register is a daily journal of federal government activity that includes presidential documents, proposed and final rules, and public notices. It is a common measure of an administration’s regulatory activity. From March 1 through March 5—the seventh week of the Biden administration—the Federal Register grew by 1,302 pages for a year-to-date total of…

  • White House withdraws first Cabinet nominee

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    President Joe Biden (D) withdrew the nomination of Neera Tanden for director of the Office of Management and Budget on Tuesday after several senators, including Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.V.), said they would vote against confirming her. This marks the first failed nomination of Biden’s administration. Biden said in a statement, “I have accepted Neera Tanden’s…