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The government is looking to get more control over whom agencies can buy drones from. The General Services Administration is removing all drones from Multiple Award Schedule Contracts that do not have the approval of the Defense Department. Companies will need to be approved through DoD’s Blue sUAS program in order to sell drones through MAS contracts. The Office of Personnel Management has some new guidance on how agencies can temporarily staff their political ranks after Inauguration Day. Agencies can use a special authority to install temporary Schedule C political appointees, as long as the number of positions doesn’t exceed a certain threshold. Agencies can also onboard individuals to a few non-career Senior Executive Service positions. Cabinet agencies can install no more than five non-career SES members. Non-cabinet agencies are capped at three. OPM said these special authorities will help agencies support the presidential transition. Federal employees used to checking their inboxes for word on an early dismissal or snow day will have to go elsewhere. The Office of Personnel Management says it will no longer send out operating status updates through its email list-serv. Federal employees should check the OPM website or agency’s Facebook and Twitter accounts

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