Wednesday - August 5, 2026

Federal Independent Agencies

Here's a look at documents from federal independent agencies

Featured Stories

Postal Service IG: Technical Errors Caused Revenue Loss
WASHINGTON, Aug. 5 (TNSLrpt) -- The U.S. Postal Service Inspector General issued the following audit report (No. 25-130-2-R26) on July 29, 2026, entitled "Technical Errors Caused Revenue Loss."

Here are excerpts:

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Introduction

This management alert presents the issues the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General (OIG) identified during the Effectiveness of Package Verification Solutions audit (Project Number 25-130). Our objective is to provide immediate notification of these issues.

Background

The Postal Service uses two key systems to scan packages and verify that shippers paid ... Show Full Article
Postal Service IG: Postal Applications of Artificial Intelligence
WASHINGTON, Aug. 5 (TNSLrpt) -- The U.S. Postal Service Inspector General issued the following white paper (No. RISC-WP-26-003) on August 3, 2026, entitled "Postal Applications of Artificial Intelligence."

Here are excerpts:

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Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly reshaping the postal and logistics sector worldwide. AI is becoming central to how postal operators inform decisions, reduce costs, improve customer service, and streamline operations. Internationally, postal operators are deploying AI to tackle challenges across five operational categories: mail and parcel processing, delivery ... Show Full Article
NASA Engineers Help Prolong Voyager 2's Science Mission
PASADENA, California, Aug. 5 (TNSres) -- NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory issued the following news:

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NASA Engineers Help Prolong Voyager 2's Science Mission

By switching off certain powered devices and substituting them with lower-powered alternatives, the team has been able to avoid turning off more science instruments.

Nicknamed the "Big Bang," the effort involved simultaneously turning off certain powered devices and substituting them with lower-power alternatives while ensuring the spacecraft remains warm enough to operate.

The Voyagers get their power from radioisotope thermoelectric ... Show Full Article
Federal Housing Finance Agency IG: Audit of the Federal Housing Finance Agency's Information Security Programs and Practices Fiscal Year 2026
WASHINGTON, Aug. 5 (TNSrep) -- The Federal Housing Finance Agency Inspector General issued the following report (No. AUD-2026-004) entitled "Audit of the Federal Housing Finance Agency's Information Security Programs and Practices Fiscal Year 2026".

Here are excerpts:

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The Federal Information Security Modernization Act of 2014 (FISMA) requires federal agencies, among other things, to develop, document, and implement agency-wide information security programs and practices to protect information and information systems, including those provided or managed by another agency, contractor, or ... Show Full Article
"Yoshitomo Nara: Sentinels of Stillness" Will Inaugurate Hirshhorn Sculpture Garden's Annual West Lawn Series
WASHINGTON, Aug. 5 -- The Smithsonian Institution issued the following news release on Aug. 4, 2026:

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"Yoshitomo Nara: Sentinels of Stillness" Will Inaugurate Hirshhorn Sculpture Garden's Annual West Lawn Series

Revitalized Sculpture Garden Reopens With Presentation of Three New Sculptures by the Celebrated Japanese Artist, Oct. 31, 2026-Nov. 7, 2027

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The Smithsonian's Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden has announced that "Yoshitomo Nara: Sentinels of Stillness" (Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026-Saturday, Nov. 7, 2027) will inaugurate its West Lawn when its revitalized sculpture garden reopens ... Show Full Article
Smithsonian Scientists Resolve the Hawaiian Honeycreeper Family Tree
WASHINGTON, Aug. 4 (TNSjou) -- The Smithsonian Institution issued the following news release:

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Smithsonian Scientists Resolve the Hawaiian Honeycreeper Family Tree

Family Tree Includes All Species Known at the Time of European Arrival to the Hawaiian Islands

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Smithsonian researchers have identified the genetic relationships among all the Hawaiian honeycreeper species that were known to exist--and have subsequently faced major losses--since the arrival of Europeans to the islands. The study, published today in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences by scientists at the Smithsonian's ... Show Full Article
IDB Presents Reform Agenda to Boost Worker Productivity and Well-Being
WASHINGTON, Aug. 4 (TNSrep) -- The Inter-American Development Bank issued the following news release:

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IDB Presents Reform Agenda to Boost Worker Productivity and Well-Being

A new publication shows that it is possible to simultaneously improve worker productivity, increase pay, and enhance social protection.

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A new Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) report proposes a comprehensive reform agenda to boost worker productivity while improving wages and working conditions, thereby increasing growth and reducing inequality in Latin America and the Caribbean.

The study, Making Labor Markets ... Show Full Article