Politics
Why CMS matters: Giving government the tools to manage its own voice

As government agencies work to modernize digital services, there’s growing pressure to make websites more efficient and easier to maintain. Technologists often advocate for the use of popular, new tools like Gatsby, GoHugo, Grav or Greenwood that might be more developer-friendly. However, many of these tools are generally created for technical authors. As such, it would take considerable training to have a non-technical person maintain the content on platforms like these.
For government websites, this is often a problem. Accurate, up-to-date content is key to serving the public. Commonly used content management systems (CMS) are designed for authors. This ensures that the people closest to the content — not just developers — can shape, publish and maintain it. These systems support collaboration across teams, reduce bottlenecks and help agencies meet their mission.
Putting content control in the right hands
Using a CMS allows content to be updated and maintained by teams who understand the programs they support. These include policy advisers, program managers, communications officers and public engagement staff. A CMS gives these professionals a simple, secure way to manage content directly, without relying on technical staff. Instead of routing every content change through a developer, teams can make updates through a user-friendly interface.
By far, the most popular CMS in government is Drupal. In our survey of more than 1,300 federal government domains, more Drupal sites were identified than the combined total of all others. Other identified CMSs included WordPress, Joomla and DNN. These are open-source commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) software projects that provide support to authors and have commercial support for agencies.
In January, the Drupal community launched Drupal CMS. This extends the power of authors to have a low-code/no-code experience, using commercially supported open-source tools. It also provides support for artificial intelligence-assisted tools so that teams can spend more time focused on the message and not the mechanics.
Publishing quickly and responsively
Public information needs to move fast, especially when there is time-sensitive content. With a CMS, authorized users can publish immediately or schedule content updates in advance. This flexibility supports timely communications while preserving oversight.
Agencies that serve multilingual communities benefit as well. Mature CMSs support structured workflows for managing translations. This makes it easier to deliver consistent, accurate content across languages without duplicating effort.
Supporting accuracy and reducing errors
Not everyone working in government communications is a technical specialist. Frankly, they shouldn’t have to be. The structure of a CMS helps reduce confusion and prevent errors for less technical editors. Fields are clearly labeled, instructions are embedded in the interface and changes can be reviewed before going live.
Mature CMSs also support their authors by including built-in tools that help authors catch errors. This contributes to overall clarity, and saves both time and money. These small improvements make a big difference for busy teams juggling multiple priorities.
Supporting government mission and oversight
Government content carries legal and policy weight. It must reflect current rules and guidance. Often, content goes through extensive internal reviews before being published. A CMS supports this need for oversight by clearly separating content from code. That means content creators can do their job without worrying about technical disruptions, and developers can improve systems without blocking updates.
By giving subject-matter experts the ability to directly manage content, agencies ensure that what’s published aligns with their mission and meets legal requirements. It also helps build trust with the public.
CMSs are needed for many complex government sites
For government teams that maintain complex websites and public communications, content management systems are not a nice-to-have — they’re essential. Picking an open source COTS CMS can provide structured workflows, accountability and accessibility while reducing the need for constant developer involvement.
It is important that the right people can do the work they were hired to do, communicate with the public effectively, accurately and efficiently. A CMS gives government agencies the flexibility and structure to do just that.
Mike Gifford is the open standards and practices lead for CivicActions, a digital services firm that pairs expertise in free and open source (FOSS), Drupal and accessibility to help the government deliver high-impact public services. He is also an invited expert with the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C).
The post Why CMS matters: Giving government the tools to manage its own voice first appeared on Federal News Network.
Politics
GOP Senator John Thune Quietly BLOCKS Trump Recess Appointments with Sneaky Procedural Maneuver — Launches Series of Pro Forma Sessions to Keep Senate in Fake “Session” During August Recess

Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R‑SD) has unveiled a procedural scheme to block President Donald Trump from making any critical appointments during the August recess, effectively aiding the Democrats’ obstructionist agenda.
Under the U.S. Constitution, the president can make “recess appointments,” temporary appointments to federal positions, if the Senate is in recess and not conducting business. These appointments don’t require immediate Senate confirmation and can last until the end of the next session of Congress.
But there’s a loophole: if the Senate holds pro forma sessions, very short, symbolic meetings where no actual business is conducted, then technically, the Senate is still in session. That means the president cannot legally make recess appointments during that time.
John Thune has quietly secured unanimous‑consent for a paper‑thin Senate schedule through the Trump appointee confirmation deadline, ensuring only pro forma sessions on five key dates in early August.
Under the agreement, the chamber will adjourn after today’s business and reconvene without conducting any votes or business on:
- Tue, Aug 5 – 1:00 p.m.
- Fri, Aug 8 – 1:05 p.m.
- Tue, Aug 12 – 8:00 a.m.
- Fri, Aug 15 – 10:15 a.m.
- Tue, Aug 19 – 10:00 a.m.
- Fri, Aug 22 – 9:00 a.m.
- Tue, Aug 26 – 12:00 p.m.
- Fri, Aug 29 – 7:00 a.m.
WATCH:
BREAKING: John Thune just announced he will be BLOCKING President Trump from making appointments after he recesses the Senate tonight, via pro-forma sessions
WHAT A LOSER.
MCCONNELL 2.0! pic.twitter.com/6OY8D3gmjz
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) August 2, 2025
Thune’s pro forma blueprint comes amid mounting pressure from Donald Trump, who has demanded the Senate remain open until all 150+ administration nominees are confirmed.
Under the Recess Appointments Clause, a president may only install nominees without Senate approval if both chambers are in formal recess for at least 10 days. By convening the Senate just long enough every few days, Thune blocks the possibility of Trump making unilateral appointees.
The Senate went into its August recess without confirming all of Trump’s pending judicial and district‑level appointments.
By the time lawmakers left town on Saturday evening, no deal had been reached to move dozens of Trump’s nominees, including U.S. district court picks, through final floor votes.
Only a small handful of nominees (such as Jeanine Pirro to be U.S. Attorney in D.C.) had advanced. Otherwise, nominees remained stalled in committees or waiting for cloture roll‑calls on the executive calendar.
Roughly 150–160 executive and judicial nominations, including over a dozen district court judges and U.S. attorney nominations, remained scheduled but unconfirmed.
The post GOP Senator John Thune Quietly BLOCKS Trump Recess Appointments with Sneaky Procedural Maneuver — Launches Series of Pro Forma Sessions to Keep Senate in Fake “Session” During August Recess appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.
Politics
‘That’s What I Call Results!’: Trump Admin Saves Jobs, Kicks 1500 Non-English-Speaking Truckers Off the Road

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy revealed that there have been about 1,500 truck drivers who do not speak English taken off the roads as part of a push to ensure foreign truck drivers are not causing accidents.
Back in 2016, the Obama administration stopped enforcing English proficiency requirements for truckers, according to a report from The Daily Signal.
But in May, Duffy issued a guidance making clear that truck drivers who cannot demonstrate a proficiency in English cannot drive.
The 1,500 drivers were taken off the roads within the first 3o days of the rules once more being enforced, according to The Daily Signal.
“Since I took action to enforce language proficiency requirements for truckers, our state partners have put roughly 1,500 unqualified drivers out of service. That’s what I call results!” Duffy posted on X.
“If you can’t read or speak our national language — ENGLISH — we won’t let your truck endanger the driving public.”
He added, “America First = Safety First.”
Since I took action to enforce language proficiency requirements for truckers, our state partners have put roughly 1,500 unqualified drivers out of service. That’s what I call results!
If you can’t read or speak our national language — ENGLISH — we won’t let your truck endanger… https://t.co/TKPcn60ic2
— Secretary Sean Duffy (@SecDuffy) July 30, 2025
Duffy’s concerns were far from unfounded.
In January, there was a truck driver involved in a fatal crash that had to use a language interpreter for the post-crash investigation, according to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.
Another incident from 2019 involved a truck driver who could not proficiently speak English speeding through signs that warned of steep grades and dangerous curves, all at more than 100 miles per hour.
Four people died in that crash, per the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.
President Donald Trump had likewise insisted with an April executive order that the move centered on public safety.
“They should be able to read and understand traffic signs, communicate with traffic safety, border patrol, agricultural checkpoints, and cargo weight-limit station officers,” the order said of truck drivers.
They also “need to provide feedback to their employers and customers and receive related directions in English,” a position the order called “common sense.”
“It is the policy of my Administration to support America’s truckers and safeguard our roadways by enforcing the commonsense English-language requirement for commercial motor vehicle drivers and removing needless regulatory burdens that undermine the working conditions of America’s truck drivers,” the notice added.
“This order will help ensure a safe, secure, and efficient motor carrier industry.”
This article appeared originally on The Western Journal.
The post ‘That’s What I Call Results!’: Trump Admin Saves Jobs, Kicks 1500 Non-English-Speaking Truckers Off the Road appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.
Politics
Slovenia Imposes Arms Embargo on Israel, Citing Gaza Conflict

via Wikimedia Commons
Slovenia has imposed an arms embargo on Israel, banning the export, import, and transit of weapons to and from the country.
This decision was announced by Prime Minister Robert Golob following a government session on July 31, 2025.
Slovenia claims to be the first European Union member to take such a step, citing the EU’s inability to act due to internal disagreements.
The government stated that no permits for military exports to Israel have been issued since October 2023, when the conflict in Gaza began.
Officials emphasized that the embargo is an independent measure to address the humanitarian situation in Gaza. Slovenia has repeatedly called for a ceasefire and increased aid deliveries to the region.
In early July 2025, Slovenia declared two Israeli ministers, Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben-Gvir, persona non grata, barring them from entry.
This action was based on their public statements regarding the conflict. Earlier, in June 2024, Slovenia recognized Palestinian statehood, joining countries like Ireland, Norway, and Spain in this move.
The conflict in Gaza started after the October 7, 2023, attack by Hamas on Israeli territory, which resulted in over 1,200 deaths and the taking of hostages.
Israel responded with a military operation aimed at dismantling Hamas infrastructure. Reports from Gaza’s health ministry indicate significant casualties, with ongoing international efforts to negotiate truces and provide aid.
Several other nations have taken similar diplomatic steps, including France, Britain, and Canada announcing potential recognition of a Palestinian state. Australia has also indicated that recognizing Palestinian statehood is under consideration.
Israel has criticized these declarations, arguing they could reward Hamas for its actions.
Israeli officials dismissed Slovenia’s embargo as insignificant, noting that Israel does not procure any defense materials from Slovenia.
An unnamed official stated that the country buys nothing from Slovenia, not even minor items.
Within the EU, there is growing pressure for measures against Israel, with Sweden and the Netherlands advocating for suspending parts of the EU-Israel Association Agreement.
The European Commission has proposed limiting Israel’s participation in the Horizon research program, though Germany opposes such steps.
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul expressed concerns about Israel’s potential diplomatic isolation during a visit to Jerusalem.
The United States remains a key ally to Israel, with President Donald Trump warning that recognizing Palestinian statehood might benefit Hamas.
U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff recently met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to advance Gaza truce talks. These efforts aim to address the humanitarian crisis and secure a ceasefire.
The post Slovenia Imposes Arms Embargo on Israel, Citing Gaza Conflict appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.
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