Government Executive - Authors - Emily Long

FEHBP Benefits Checkup

Emily Long — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0500

Potential changes to the federal employee health plan spark debate over whether participants are getting the best deal.

Enrollees in the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program will see an average 3.5 percent increase in their insurance premiums in 2012, the smallest jump since 2008, when premiums rose 2.1 percent. The Office of Personnel Management has attributed the smaller increase in part to its ability to leverage the program's nearly 8 million participants and is seeking to take that a step further with changes to FEHBP's prescription drug options. But some observers question whether that buying power brings federal workers the best value-or even the best benefits.

In its fiscal 2012 budget proposal, OPM requested authority to streamline pharmacy benefits available under FEHBP by negotiating prices for all program participants. Currently, individual health plans contract with pharmacy benefits managers, who negotiate with drug manufacturers and pharmacies on behalf of their enrollees. Working directly with a single pharmacy benefits manager would reduce costs to beneficiaries, OPM says. The proposal also appeared in President Obama's deficit reduction package and is estimated to save $1.6 billion over 10 years.

Stricter government oversight of FEHBP prescription drug benefits-with the purpose of lowering costs-has garnered support on Capitol Hill and among employee groups. Rep. Stephen Lynch, D-Mass., last spring introduced a stand-alone bill that would prohibit pharmacy benefit managers from switching patients' drugs without a physician's approval, require pharmacy benefits managers to return to FEHBP most proceeds from rebates and incentives from drug manufacturers, and create stronger disclosure requirements. And several congressional committees and union leaders have expressed approval for streamlining pharmacy contracting practices.

But some observers argue that asking the government to take over prescription drug bargaining on the theory that OPM can negotiate a better deal than private sector plans is a threat to the entire program.

Walton Francis, editor of Consumers' Checkbook Guide to Health Plans for Federal Employees, says OPM in effect would be negotiating and managing two health programs-one for physician and hospital care and another for pharmacy benefits. But whether the government should decide which prescription drugs are available to beneficiaries is up for debate, he adds.

"An alternative that would save money would be to have a very restricted formulary where [FEHBP plans] won't pay at all for name brand drugs," Francis says. "The question then is whether employees and retirees want to be in the system. Plans are reluctant to limit employee choices."

According to Robert Moffit, a senior fellow at the Heritage Foundation's Center for Policy Innovation, the issue is not money, but choice. Saving $1.6 billion over 10 years is a drop in the bucket compared with FEHBP's annual cost of $40 billion, and the proposal ultimately would reduce competition and lead to fewer options for beneficiaries, he says.

"When crunch time comes to secure bigger savings, OPM will, like the [Veterans Affairs Department], resort to a tougher drug formulary, which will reduce workers and retirees' access to a broader range of prescription drugs and therapies," he says. "Today, if you are in the FEHBP and you don't like a health plan's drug coverage, you dump that plan and get a better one."

The U.S. Postal Service also has taken issue with the idea that OPM's bargaining power results in the best deal and most comprehensive benefits for employees. Postal officials are pushing for permission to leave FEHBP in favor of creating a USPS-run health benefits program.

Under the proposal, postal retirees would continue to receive health insurance benefits comparable to those offered by FEHBP at equal or lower cost, in addition to Medicare coverage. Active employees initially would be covered under a simplified plan with benefits similar in value and cost to FEHBP, though the agency eventually would shift to a private sector model. USPS would establish a separate program following private sector best practices to cover all new hires.

USPS Chief Human Resources Officer Anthony Vegliante argues that a USPS-specific program would address employees' unique needs more effectively than FEHBP-and save money for both the agency and enrollees. For example, transitioning to a separate postal benefits program would help the Postal Service cut pharmacy costs by using a systemwide drug benefits plan along with Medicare Part D. The program also would provide "menu choices,"allowing participants to choose the benefits they need within a single plan, such as a self-plus-one option, he says.

"There are enough providers to get fair competition and leverage our size to get advantages we don't have in a multiemployer plan," Vegliante says. "It's not about taking benefits away. We believe we could offer more options."

]]>

To Infinity and Beyond

Emily Long — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0500

Jason Crusan gathers the brightest stars-even Buzz Lightyear-to foster innovation at NASA.

NASA is one of the most innovative agencies in government, but to keep its programs on the cutting edge, Jason Crusan has to get creative. As chief technologist for space operations, he tackles key problems by crowdsourcing ideas from the best and the brightest-both inside and outside government.

For example, the NASA Tournament Lab uses a challenge approach to drive innovation in unexpected places. Open calls online for software and design technology, such as a space-friendly exercise device, reach people who wouldn't normally respond to a traditional request for proposals. Crusan also works on CubeSat, a partnership with universities to build small satellites for orbit.

"We innovate by just doing our missions, we innovate because we have to sometimes, and then we have opportunities to innovate in how we engage with the public as well," Crusan says. "What we're quickly learning is not only are they benefiting from being involved with the space program, but we are benefiting from them bringing new ideas to the table."

Crusan is on a mission to make NASA accessible to all. In a partnership with Disney, the space agency features the Toy Story character Buzz Lightyear in educational materials to teach kids about life in space. The program bridges the gap between fantasy and the real, hard science of space missions, he says.

His next project is to stand up a virtual group with other agencies, nonprofits and foundations to improve innovation governmentwide.

]]>

Cost-effectiveness of potential FEHBP reforms questioned

Emily Long — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0500

Editor's note: This article will appear in the December issue of the magazine.

USPS Chief Human Resources Officer Anthony Vegliante argues that a USPS-specific program would address employees' unique needs more effectively than FEHBP-and save money for both the agency and enrollees. For example, transitioning to a separate postal benefits program would help the Postal Service cut pharmacy costs by using a systemwide drug benefits plan along with Medicare Part D. The program also would provide "menu choices," allowing participants to choose the benefits they need within a single plan, such as a self-plus-one option, he says.

]]>

Wellness and disease prevention appear higher on FEHBP radar

Emily Long — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0400

Plans in the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program increasingly are seeking to promote wellness and prevention to cut long-term costs, according to Walton Francis, author of Consumers' Checkbook Guide to Health Plans for Federal Employees. The Office of Personnel Management is continuing to push initiatives that steer beneficiaries toward healthier lifestyles, while insurance plans are offering benefits not explicitly outlined in contracts to meet enrollees' specific needs, he said.

Health plans participating in FEHBP in 2011 were required to eliminate cost sharing for preventive care, such as immunizations, tobacco cessation and health screenings. For 2012, OPM encouraged insurance providers to include additional benefits, such as concrete incentives for federal workers to participate in wellness initiatives and prevention programs to reduce childhood and adult obesity.

More plans are offering gym membership reimbursement and incentives for completing health assessments or other wellness programs. For example, GEHA has incentives for healthy behavior and resources to teach enrollees about nutrition, exercise, weight loss, smoking cessation and managing cholesterol, diabetes and stress. According to Julie Browne, GEHA vice president of managed care and marketing, the plan also has targeted programs for beneficiaries taking certain medications or who need special help with high-risk maternity care, cancer treatments or transplants.

"We focus extra resources on those with multiple health conditions who are at high-risk for hospitalization," Browne said. "Doing so can help these members with improved health, reduced health care costs and better quality of life. Preventive care services help GEHA reduce premium costs for all members."

Francis called these kinds of prevention and management tools "revolutionary improvements" in FEHBP.

"The ability of the plans to tailor the benefits they offer to particular enrollees in a way that's intelligent and sensible for . . . cost control -- they improve on that a little bit every year," he said. "It's a very small percentage that accounts for a very large fraction of the cost. It makes a big difference in controlling costs and in the health of employees."

Open season, the period when federal workers can change their health insurance election without penalty, runs from Nov. 14 to Dec. 12.

]]>

FEHBP pharmacy changes stir up controversy

Emily Long — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0400

As part of his broader cost-savings package, President Obama last month announced a proposal that would streamline pharmacy benefits available under the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program by allowing the Office of Personnel Management to negotiate prices for all program participants. Currently, health plans participating in FEHBP contract with pharmacy benefits managers, who negotiate with drug manufacturers and pharmacies on behalf of their enrollees. Under Obama's proposal, which the administration estimates would save $1.6 billion over 10 years, OPM would work with a single pharmacy benefit manager.

Lawmakers have long supported changes to the government's prescription drug program. Rep. Stephen Lynch, D-Mass., last spring introduced a stand-alone bill that would mandate stricter oversight, including prohibiting pharmaceutical benefit managers from switching drugs without a physician's approval, requiring PBMs to return to the federal plan most proceeds from rebates and incentives from drug manufacturers, and creating stronger disclosure requirements.

In letters sent to the super committee, several groups of lawmakers recommended adopting the administration's proposal to streamline FEHBP pharmacy contracting practices. Sens. Daniel Akaka, D-Hawaii, Joe Lieberman, I-Conn., and Susan Collins, R-Maine, along with Democrats on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, wrote that the plan would result in lower costs both for the government and for program beneficiaries. Federal unions and employee groups also have expressed approval for the proposal because it aims to save enrollees money.

But some observers said that asking the government to take over prescription drug bargaining on the theory that OPM can negotiate a better deal than private sector plans is a threat to the entire program.

Walton Francis, author of Consumers' Checkbook Guide to Health Plans for Federal Employees, said OPM in effect would be negotiating and managing two health programs -- one for physician and hospital care and another for pharmacy benefits. But whether the government should decide which prescription drugs are available to beneficiaries is up for debate, he said.

"An alternative that would save money would be to have a very restricted formulary where they won't pay at all for name brand drugs," Francis said. "The question is whether employees and retirees want to be in the system. Plans are reluctant to limit employee choices."

According to Robert Moffit, senior fellow at the right-leaning Heritage Foundation's Center for Policy Innovation, the issue is not about saving money. Saving $1.6 billion over 10 years is a drop in the bucket compared to FEHBP's annual cost of $40 billion, and the proposal ultimately would reduce competition and lead to less choice for beneficiaries, he said.

"When crunch time comes to secure bigger savings, OPM will, like the [Veterans Affairs Department], resort to a tougher drug formulary, which will reduce workers and retirees' access to a broader range of prescription drugs and therapies," he wrote in a blog post. "Today, if you are in the FEHBP and you don't like a health plan's drug coverage, you dump that plan and get a better one."

]]>

Lawmakers Fight For Saturday Delivery

Emily Long — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 17:45:19 -0400

Even though legislation allowing the U.S. Postal Service to stop delivering mail on Saturdays has advanced for consideration on the House floor, lawmakers still are fighting for language to preserve six-day delivery.

Reps. Gerry Connolly, D-Va., Jo Ann Emerson, D-Mo., and Sam Graves, D-Mo., this week announced plans to offer an amendment to legislation sponsored by Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., that would prevent USPS from dropping a delivery day. Issa's bill, which would adjust delivery schedules and the agency's pay and benefits structure, passed a full committee vote last week and could move to the House floor.

In a letter to House members, the lawmakers wrote that cutting Saturday delivery would affect Americans who rely on regular mail service as well as result in lost jobs for postal employees. Rural letter carriers alone would see up to 50,000 positions disappear, they said.

The Postal Service has been pushing the five-day delivery plan as part of their overall cost-saving strategy. Issa's bill is the first to receive serious consideration at the committee level, though senators invested in postal issues promise that comprehensive legislation is coming soon.

]]>

Reviewing the 3Rs

Kellie Lunney and Emily Long — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0400

In a memorandum to chief human capital officers, OPM Director John Berry requested that agencies submit reports on 3Rs payments made in 2010 and 2011. Reports should include data on the number and dollar amount of incentives provided, as well as an explanation of changes in how bonuses were used across occupations, grade levels and pay plans from year to year. Agencies also should describe barriers to using 3Rs incentives and whether another agency's payment of retention incentives affected their ability to undertake their missions.

Agencies that did not use 3Rs in 2010 or 2011 must submit a report stating this, Berry said.

The OPM director issued a memo to agency heads in June asking them to hold total spending on 3Rs payments to 2010 levels through 2012. The federal government paid out more than $349 million in recruitment, relocation and retention incentives in 2009, a 22 percent increase over the previous year.

Lodging Limits

The government will not reimburse employees who stay on their own property while on work-related travel, according to the General Services Administration. In a recent Federal Register rule, GSA clarified that agencies are not allowed to provide a lodging per diem to federal workers who purchase and stay in recreational vehicles or campers while on official out-of-office business. The restriction also extends to employees' homes -- unfortunately, workers will not get paid for sleeping in their own beds.

Pension Contribution Rates

Earlier this month, the amount the government contributes to the pension plans of federal employees rose slightly. For most federal employees, the amount agencies contribute to their pensions under the Federal Employees Retirement System rose from 11.7 percent to 11.9 percent at the start of fiscal 2012.

Many readers responded to our Oct. 5 story on the increased agency contribution rates seeking clarification on the amount individual federal employees contribute to their retirement pensions.

Here's a breakdown of how much federal employees contribute to their plans depending on which retirement system they are part of:

FERS: Employees pay 0.8 percent of their basic salary.
Civil Service Retirement System: Employees pay 7 percent of their basic salary.
CSRS Special Groups (including law enforcement officers, firefighters, members of Congress, etc.): Employees contribute 7.5 percent of their basic salary.
FERS Special Groups (including law enforcement officers, firefighters, members of Congress, etc.): Employees contribute 1.3 percent of their basic salary.

The total cost of FERS pensions, adding individual and agency contributions, for most federal employees will be 12.7 percent in fiscal 2012. The changes took effect at the beginning of the first pay period on or after Oct. 1.

For more information, check out the retirement handbook from the Office of Personnel Management.

President Obama released a proposal Sept. 19 that recommended increasing the amount federal employees contribute to their pensions by 1.2 percent over three years beginning in 2013 -- a rate of 0.4 percent each year during that time.

]]>

Military health and retirement benefits take a hit in lawmakers’ proposals

Emily Long — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0400

Sens. Carl Levin, D-Mich., and John McCain, R-Ariz., last week submitted recommendations to the deficit reduction super committee in support of the Obama administration's cost-saving proposal released last month. The plan would mandate annual fees under TRICARE-for-Life, which pays beneficiaries' out-of-pocket Medicare costs. Fees would start at $200 in 2012 and increase annually to align with those paid by all TRICARE enrollees.

The proposal also would eliminate pharmacy co-payments for generic mail-order drugs while shifting retail co-pays from a dollar figure to a percentage. The change would affect military families and retirees, but would not apply to active-duty service members. The administration also recommended the creation of a panel to look at reforming military retirement benefits.

Levin expressed support for the rollout of TRICARE-for-Life fees, but noted that any future increase should be tied to changes in cost-of-living adjustments. Retirees in TRICARE Prime saw a slight fee increase on Oct. 1 based on that same benchmark. He also recommended that any new panel expand its scope to study basic pay, allowances, special and incentive payments, health care and the tax treatment of military pay. Any changes to military retirement should exclude current service members, he added.

In his letter, McCain agreed with Levin's recommendations, but added that the commission should consider excluding working-age military retirees from participating in TRICARE Prime, which offers the lowest out-of-pocket expenses of any Defense Department health plan. Retirees and their families would be eligible for TRICARE Standard or Extra, while active-duty personnel would continue to be enrolled automatically in TRICARE Prime. The Congressional Budget Office found that this measure could save $111 billion over 10 years, McCain wrote.

Members of the House and Senate Veterans' Affairs Committees did not recommend specific cuts, instead drawing the commission's attention to cost-saving measures affecting veterans that Congress has considered in the past.

Veterans of Foreign Wars on Tuesday called on its members to fight proposed changes to military pay and benefits.

"The 'people programs' inside the Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs are expensive because it takes people to fight our wars, and with less than one percent of our citizens currently in uniform, any degradation of these hard fought-for programs will break faith with those who sacrifice the most, and will place the continued viability of the all-volunteer military in serious jeopardy," said VFW Commander-in-Chief Richard L. DeNoyer.

The Military Officers Association of America expressed disappointment in the recommendations, saying they "strongly disagree" with proposed changes to TRICARE and other military compensation programs.

]]>

Super committee gets mixed messages on USPS

Emily Long — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0400

National Association of Letter Carriers President Fredric V. Rolando last week submitted a seven-point plan to the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction outlining ways to bring the Postal Service back to firm financial footing. The committee should merge elements of the Obama administration's reform proposal with pending legislation, Rolando wrote.

NALC's recommendations include returning the $6.9 billion Federal Employees Retirement System surplus to USPS; allowing the Postal Service to use a reported Civil Service Retirement System overpayment to cover retiree health obligations; removing a requirement to prefund retiree health benefits; repaying USPS' Treasury debt with money from the agency's retiree health benefits account; investing assets in more diverse options; permitting the Postal Service to pay for health premiums for current retirees out of funds set aside for future annuitants; and preserving six-day delivery.

But House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Republicans, led by Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., have warned the deficit reduction commission to stay out of the postal debate. The full committee last week approved a bill sponsored by Issa that would allow USPS to cut a delivery day and adjust labor costs, among other measures. Reform should be left to lawmakers familiar with postal issues, he said.

"These efforts must not be disrupted by short-term half measures that cost billions now and tens of billions in the future without making fundamental reforms," Issa wrote. "This is not a task the Joint Committee has the expertise or the means to accomplish."

The super committee has received a number of other recommendations for postal reform:

President Obama's deficit reduction plan: The proposal, released in September, would allow USPS to cut a delivery day, provide two years of relief from employer contributions to the agency's Federal Employees Retirement System account and restructure obligations to prefund retiree health benefits. The plan also encourages continuing use of buyouts and early retirement incentives. USPS would see $20 billion in relief.

Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee: Sens. Joseph Lieberman, I-Conn., and Susan Collins, R-Maine, who lead the full committee, last week released a letter acknowledging the Postal Service's fiscal crisis and the administration's reform proposal. They did not, however, offer specific recommendations. Instead, the committee is developing comprehensive reform legislation to submit to the deficit reduction commission.

House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Democrats: In a report submitted last week, lawmakers wrote that the super committee should amend the 2010 Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act to score USPS legislation on a unified budget basis. This would allow the Postal Service's operating expenses and finances to balance out its retirement and health benefits accounts. The report also recommends adoption of administration proposals to refund the FERS overpayment and adjust the agency's retiree health benefits prepayment schedule.

Sen. Daniel Akaka, D-Hawaii: In an Oct. 14 letter, Akaka expressed support for several of the administration's reform proposals, including the restructuring of USPS' retiree health prepayment obligation. But moving to five-day delivery could have a negative impact on businesses, he wrote.

]]>

Dear Deficit Commission, Please Spare Feds

Emily Long — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 17:56:00 -0400

The deficit reduction super committee has seen no shortage of opinions on how to handle federal pay and benefits going forward. Proposals have come from the Obama administration, the Simpson-Bowles fiscal commission convened last year and various groups of lawmakers, the latest a plea from House Democrats who traditionally have been supportive of government employees.

Reps. James Moran, D-Va., Gerry Connolly, D-Va., Donna Edwards, D-Md., Peter Welch, D-Vt., and Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton, D-D.C. on Friday sent a letter to super committee leaders asking them to spare feds from further cuts. Increasing pension payments, downsizing the workforce and dismantaling the Federal Employee Health Benefits Program and replacing it with a voucher system would do more harm than good, they wrote. Instead, they suggested reforms to the pharmacy contracting practices under FEHBP.

In the House, there has been a clear division over this issue. Democrats on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee last week called on the commission to leave feds alone, instead cutting spending on contractor salaries. Republicans on that same committee, lead by Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., are recommending an extended pay freeze, hiring cuts, an end to step increases and changes to federal pension programs.

On the Senate side, the battle is a little less black and white. Sens. Joe Lieberman, I-Conn., and Susan Collins, R-Maine, who head up the committee responsible for federal employee issues, acknowledged that further cuts would be harmful but advised that there may not be much choice if the super committee really wants to reduce spending. Their recommendations echo some of Issa's, including an extended pay freeze and pension reform.

Within that committee, however, is one voice for goverment workers. Sen. Daniel Akaka, D-Hawaii, chair of the subcommittee on the federal workforce, sent a letter to the commission in support of protecting employees. The letter also drew attention to legislation that would protect whistleblowers, improve the hiring process and provide training for federal managers.

]]>

TSP participants look for safe investment choices

Emily Long — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0400

During a monthly meeting of the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board, staff reported that more and more TSP enrollees were moving their money to the stable government securities in the G Fund, as well as the F Fund, which invests in fixed-income bonds. Nearly 54 percent of all assets were in these accounts in September, up 4 percentage points since July, said Renee Wilder, director of research and strategic planning at TSP. Loan activity has increased but still falls behind other private sector plans at just over 18 percent, she added.

All but two of the investment options in the plan posted losses in September for the fifth month in a row, with each month bringing successively worse returns. According to Chief Investment Officer Tracey Ray, the TSP equity funds showed a "precipitous decline" and hit their lows for the year just a few days into October. All are back in the black for the month, however, she said.

Ray also said interfund transfers declined by more than 50 percent in September. Participants changed their investments in earlier months and are waiting it out, she said.

At the same time, TSP has continued to see growth in participation. The plan now has more than 4.5 million participants -- 85.5 percent of those eligible to contribute -- and is capturing 97.3 percent of new government hires through its automatic enrollment process.

"We continue to grow although markets continue to be difficult," TSP Executive Director Greg Long said.

]]>

Burning Question: Is the new USAJobs a step forward?

Emily Long — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0400

USAJobs 3.0, the latest iteration of the website, now is up and running and ready for public use.

According to the Office of Personnel Management, the new USAJobs was designed to make the employment search process easier for potential hires and federal recruiters alike. One official even compared the revised system to Amazon and other major retail sites that allow users to "window shop" and find the products they are seeking with ease.

But as with any overhaul, glitches and confusion are bound to occur. We've had a hard time connecting to the site, and the USAJobs Facebook page has been flooded with complaints that the system isn't functional or user-friendly.

So, tell us in the comment section for this story -- USAJobs 3.0, boom or bust?

]]>

Senior execs get more help starting off on the right foot

Emily Long — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0400

The Office of Personnel Management has developed a one-year framework to help new Senior Executive Service members transition to their roles as federal leaders. Successful onboarding makes their experience more positive, boosts retention and builds long-term organizational success, the manual states.

"Executive onboarding should be strategic so that it not only prevents executive derailment, but expedites the executive's contribution to optimize strategic achievement," OPM Director John Berry wrote in a memorandum to chief human capital officers, noting that the one-year program is flexible enough to meet agency-specific needs.

The framework, currently in a pilot phase, outlines considerations for diverse executives, political appointees and outside hires. It also provides checklists for agencies, along with goals and sample questions new SES members should address throughout the transition process. For example, supervisors within the first week should take new executives to lunch, while the first month should include meetings with mentors or coaches.

John Palguta, vice president for policy at the nonprofit Partnership for Public Service, said OPM's onboarding model dispels the myths that senior executives already know everything they need to do their jobs -- and they should demonstrate that knowledge from Day 1. According to OPM's manual, executive onboarding currently is viewed as a "crude extension" of employee orientation.

"We understand this for new hires, but what about new senior executives?" Palguta said. "It can be just as important for a senior executive to have a good onboarding experience."

According to OPM, the Agriculture, Education, Energy, Housing and Urban Development, State and Veterans Affairs departments, along with the Environmental Protection Agency and General Services Administration, are in varying stages of implementing the onboarding framework. OPM at the end of this year will complete a report on lessons learned through the pilot programs.

Obama administration officials in February sent a memo to SES members promising expanded opportunities for professional development, as well as improved recruitment and performance appraisal processes. A one-year onboarding program for new executives was among the key initiatives outlined. According to Palguta, OPM's framework signals increased attention to the need to improve SES leadership capabilities.

"This is another major addition to the government's toolkit on managing senior leadership in very constructive way," he said. "It is part of a continuum of efforts to do what we know is very important."

]]>

Lawmakers push extended pay freeze, increased pension contributions

Emily Long — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0400

Republican members of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee on Friday sent a letter asking the commission charged with reining in government spending to consider additional reductions in federal hiring, pay and retirement benefits. Lawmakers recommended cutting the workforce by 10 percent through attrition, hiring one new worker for every three who leave, extending the two-year civilian pay freeze for an additional three years and eliminating step increases. In addition, committee members are calling for reforms to the civilian pension system, including:

Moving from a high-three to a high-five calculation.
Raising the Federal Employees Retirement System contribution by 6.2 percent.
Increasing the Civil Service Retirement System contribution from 7 percent to 10 percent beginning in 2013.
Eliminating FERS for new hires, instead creating a defined contribution option to supplement the Thrift Savings Plan.
Limiting the FERS minimum supplement to employees subject to mandatory retirement.

The proposals together would save $375 billion over 10 years, Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., wrote in the letter.

A bipartisan group of senators also is calling on the super committee to cut back on federal compensation. In a letter Friday, Sens. Joseph Lieberman, I-Conn., and Susan Collins, R-Maine, chairman and ranking member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, wrote that federal employees must make sacrifices in order to get government spending under control. Proposals include extending the pay freeze for one additional year and increasing pension contributions by 1.2 percent. The letter does not recommend limitations on hiring, calling instead for capping appropriations to force lower spending on personnel and missions.

The Senate letter also recommends that the super committee consider moving to high-five pension calculations without forcing early retirements, streamlining pharmacy benefits under the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program, capping contractor pay and reforming the federal workers' compensation program.

National Treasury Employees Union President Colleen Kelley called the Senate proposal counterproductive.

"The results would be to degrade the quality and availability of services the American people expect and depend on, put serious roadblocks in the way of agency recruitment and retention efforts, and place an unfair burden on federal workers," Kelley said in a statement.

"I am shocked at what these elected officials have done to federal employees, while doing little to curb the massive taxpayer funded bailouts to government contractors," said American Federation of Government Employees President John Gage in a statement. "Federal employees have sacrificed more than any other group, giving up two years of pay increases to help lower the country's deficit. It's time to pass the hat and ask others to pay their fair share."

House Democrats earlier this week submitted their own set of recommendations to the super committee. Their report cautioned against further attacks on federal employees, instead calling for extended caps on contractor salaries.

]]>

Workers’ Compensation Woes

Andrew Lapin and Emily Long — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0400

Under the 1916 Federal Employees' Compensation Act, employees disabled as a result of an injury on the job can receive 66 2/3 percent -- or 75 percent for those with dependents -- of their basic salary tax-free, plus medical-related expenses. The 66 2/3 percent rate is comparable to most state systems, but many federal recipients, including those past retirement age, receive the 75 percent compensation rate.

Workers' compensation is particularly problematic at the U.S. Postal Service, the program's largest participant. A recent audit from the USPS inspector general found that the cash-strapped agency loses $335 million annually due to program inefficiencies. For example, FECA beneficiaries are reimbursed for name-brand drugs and are not subject to time limits for collecting payouts. The Postal Service also is providing benefits for workers who have no intention of returning to their jobs - more than 2,000 postal employees on the workers' compensation roll earlier this year were 70 years of age or older.

A number of proposals in the works would overhaul the program and save the government money, though the impact on beneficiaries is up for debate.

Rep. John Kline, R-Minn., in July introduced a bill to streamline the claims process, update the benefits available to government employees and improve accountability for federal agencies. To boost efficiency, the Labor Department, which oversees the program, would be allowed to verify federal employees' salaries against Social Security Administration data and collect administrative fees from employing agencies. The bill passed out of committee following a markup this summer.

Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, in February sponsored legislation that would convert employees on workers' compensation to the appropriate retirement system when they reach retirement age. Witnesses at a July subcommittee hearing on the bill expressed concern that the measure would result in a loss of income for many of those employees. There has been no movement on the proposal.

Labor also has weighed in, recommending a uniform compensation rate of 70 percent for all claimants and a "conversion entitlement benefit" for FECA recipients when they reach Social Security retirement age that would reduce their wage-loss benefit to 50 percent of their gross salary at the time of injury, but keep it tax-free.

FECA provides basic compensation and medical rehabilitation for government employees who are hurt at work and benefits for surviving dependents in cases of job-related deaths. It covers 2.7 million federal employees and postal workers and from July 1, 2009, to June 30, 2010, paid out $2.78 billion in benefits.

Helping Hand

The current pay freeze on federal workers isn't making anyone's day, but the National Treasury Employees Union wants to help. NTEU on Wednesday announced a donation of $32,317.67 to the Federal Employee Education and Assistance Fund, a nonprofit agency that provides financial assistance to struggling federal workers.

The funds, announced by NTEU President Colleen Kelley during a press conference on the impact of potential budget cuts at the Internal Revenue Service, come from money left over after payment in full of all claims and administrative expenses from an $178 million settlement of a class action lawsuit against the government for 212,000 federal employees who did not receive due pay raises.

"Federal employees are struggling with economic challenges along with their fellow Americans," Kelley said during the conference, mentioning in particular the pay freeze as well as recent natural disasters that have affected the homes and livelihoods of federal workers. FEEA provides up to $1,000 in noninterest loans to families of civil servants.

News of the donation comes at a time when the IRS, whose workers NTEU represents, is facing proposed budget cuts of more than $600 million from current levels in the House, and more than $450 million in the Senate. The potential decreases would put IRS funding at $1.8 billion and $1.6 billion less than the White House request, respectively. NTEU is strongly opposed to the proposals.

Kelley said the FEEA donation had been gestating for a while, and is separate from the union's efforts to fight IRS budget cuts.

CLARIFICATION: The original version of this story was unclear on the source of the money for NTEU's contribution to the employee assistance fund.

]]>

GAO: No refund for USPS overpayment to retirement account

Emily Long — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0400

This story has been updated from the original version.

The U.S. Postal Service is not owed a $75 billion refund for an overpayment to its retirement account, according to a new audit.

In a report released Thursday, the Government Accountability Office found that USPS did not contribute excess funds to its Civil Service Retirement System account, as postal officials and other auditors have claimed. The Postal Service has asked for a refund equal to that overpayment, which the agency says would help put it back on the path to fiscal health.

At issue is a 1974 law regulating pension funding. The USPS inspector general last year reported that the agency overpaid its CSRS account by $75 billion after the Office of Personnel Management incorrectly made the Postal Service fund a higher portion of the pensions than it owed. According to GAO, no such error has occurred.

"The key impacts of transferring assets out of the CSRS fund to USPS based on the current proposals would be to increase the federal government's current and future unfunded pension liability by an estimated $56 billion to $85 billion," GAO wrote. "This liability would then be funded by the federal government using tax revenue, borrowing or both."

GAO did not dispute a $6.9 billion overpayment to the Postal Service's Federal Employees Retirement System account, however.

The CSRS issue has caused conflict between postal officials and those who say no overpayment has occurred, including OPM and some lawmakers. Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., has said returning the $75 billion to USPS would amount to a taxpayer-funded bailout.

The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee passed Issa's reform legislation Thursday 22-18. The bill would allow USPS to drop a delivery day and adjust its pay and benefits structure, as well as create two oversight bodies to manage the agency's finances and labor contracts.

Sen. Tom Carper, D-Del., said Congress should set aside the CSRS issue and focus on reform proposals more likely to gain wider support. Carper has introduced legislation that would allow delivery day reduction and reduce pension funding requirements, among other measures.

"Now that Congress has pushed back the Postal Service's $5.5 annual prepayment for future retiree costs until Nov. 18, we have some much needed breathing room to develop a robust reform package that will address the Postal Service's short and long-term financial challenges," Carper said.

]]>

Use annual leave or lose it, OPM says

Emily Long — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0400

In a memo sent Wednesday to agency human resources staff, Angela Bailey, associate director of employee services at OPM, wrote that 2011 is "unusual" because the end of the federal leave year and the calendar year both fall on Dec. 31. Workers must schedule annual leave by the end of the third pay period prior to the end of the leave year -- Nov. 19 -- or risk losing excess days.

Employees accrue annual leave based on how long they've been working in government. Full-time workers with less than three years of service earn four hours per pay period, employees who have between three and 15 years of service accrue six hours per pay period, and those with 15 years or more of service and Senior Executive Service members earn eight hours.

Federal workers can retain some unused leave at the end of the year -- those on duty stateside can carry over up to 30 days while employees on foreign assignment can save 45 days. SES members can roll over a maximum of 90 days from one year to the next.

The deadline is particularly important for workers covered under the Civil Service Retirement System and CSRS Offset who are planning to retire between Jan. 1 and Jan. 3, 2012, according to Bailey. If excess vacation is not used prior to Dec. 31, then it will not be included in the employee's lump-sum payment for annual leave, the memo stated.

Under OPM guidelines, agencies can restore forfeited annual leave under certain circumstances if that leave was scheduled in writing before the start of the third biweekly pay period prior to the end of the leave year. Annual leave not scheduled in advance can be restored only under very limited conditions -- for instance, in cases where the employee is affected by the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Act, administrative error or prolonged illness.

]]>

Lawmakers caution super committee to leave federal pay and benefits alone

Emily Long — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0400

In a report sent this week to the commission charged with reining in government spending, lawmakers from the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee wrote that cuts affecting federal employees should be avoided in any deficit reduction proposal. Instead, the super committee should reform compensation for government contractors, they said.

"Further cuts to federal employee compensation, benefits or workforce size will negatively impact recruitment and retention and substantially degrade agency performance," the report stated. "The hardworking men and women in the federal workforce provide vital services to the nation, and it is critical to ensure their continued ability to provide these services in an effective and efficient manner."

In a deficit reduction plan issued in September, President Obama recommended capping the reimbursement for contractors' executive salaries to the Executive Schedule Level 1 pay, currently about $200,000. The super committee should extend this cap to cover all federal contractors, lawmakers wrote.

The report also recommended that the super committee adopt a proposal that would streamline pharmacy benefits available under the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program by allowing the Office of Personnel Management to negotiate prices for all program participants.

The super committee also should adopt an administration proposal to restructure the U.S. Postal Service's obligation to prepay its retiree health benefits and refund a $6.9 billion overpayment to the agency's Federal Employees Retirement System account, lawmakers wrote. Lawmakers expressed opposition to an administration recommendation to create a panel charged with developing with recommendations to modernize federal personnel policies and practices, including reforms to pay, mobility and performance. The congressional committees responsible for these issues already provide sufficient oversight, they wrote.

The American Federation of Government Employees on Thursday applauded the report, saying federal workers have sacrificed enough with a two-year pay freeze and the looming potential for job cuts.

The National Treasury Employees Union also expressed support. "This plan represents a common sense approach to deficit reduction that recognizes the sacrifices federal employees have already made," NTEU President Colleen Kelley said.

]]>

Cut Congress’ pay, lawmaker proposes

Emily Long — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0400

Rep. Randy Forbes, R-Va., last week introduced legislation that would tie congressional salaries to changes in the federal budget. Under the bill, lawmakers would see a decrease in pay equal to the percentage of budget growth over the previous fiscal year. If spending increased by 5 percent, salaries would decline by 5 percent the following year.

"As public servants, we have a lot of work to do to bring down our national debt and reduce deficit spending," Forbes said in a statement. "It will not be easy. It will take hard work. It will not happen overnight."

Rank-and-file members of Congress earn $174,000 annually, while party leaders make more. Lawmakers determine their own pay and receive automatic annual raises, which take effect on Jan. 1 of each year, unless they vote to decline the increase as they did in both 2010 and 2011.

Forbes' bill is not the first proposal to cut congressional salaries. Rep. Mike Coffman, R-Colo., in January introduced legislation that would cut lawmaker pay by 10 percent -- in addition to mandating two-week furloughs for all federal employees. Reps. Morgan Griffith, R-Va., and Jaime Herrera Beutler, R-Wash., sponsored similar legislation. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, D-Ariz., in January introduced a bill that would reduce lawmaker pay by 5 percent. These bills are caught up in committee, however.

Other lawmakers are proposing to end benefits paid out to families of colleagues who die in office. Reps. Bill Posey, R-Fla., and Virginia Foxx, R-N.C., last week sponsored a bill that would end the congressional death gratuity, equal to a year's salary, awarded to members' survivors. Lawmakers should buy life insurance like everyone else, they said.

"Life insurance is accessible," said Posey spokesman George Cecala. "There's no reason why we shouldn't ask members to purchase life insurance instead of having to pay their families death gratuities . . . They're wealthy. Why are they paying their families more when they have all these money already?"

]]>

EEOC threatens furloughs for employees

Emily Long — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0400

In an email to staff late last month, EEOC Chairwoman Jacqueline Berrien wrote that a drop in funding could force the agency to consider furloughs for its nearly 1,800 workers. The current continuing resolution cuts EEOC's budget by $5.5 million. In fiscal 2012 spending bills passed earlier this year, House lawmakers kept the agency's budget frozen at $367 million for fiscal 2012, but Senate appropriators recommended a $7 million drop in funding for EEOC salaries and expenses.

"I understand the serious consequences of these decisions," Berrien wrote to employees. "I will do everything I can to avoid furloughs, and, if they are necessary, lessen the impact on our staff and the mission of the agency."

EEOC "has not announced any plans to furlough staff," said spokeswoman Christine Nazer. "Give the tight budgets we're operating under, the commission may need to consider a range of cost-saving measures."

According to Gabrielle Martin, president of the National Council of EEOC Locals No. 216, EEOC has yet to determine who will be affected or how long furloughs will last. But the move likely would affect everyone unless the agency forms a skeleton staff to ensure the public still has access to its services, she said.

EEOC needs to change inefficient processes to save money before considering furloughs for employees, Martin added. For example, the agency already faces a backlog of discrimination cases but has not streamlined its intake procedures, she said.

In its budget report, the Senate Appropriations Committee wrote that the proposed cuts would "regrettably reverse" EEOC's progress in reducing the backlog. The agency is expecting 108,000 discrimination charges to be filed by the end of fiscal 2012, with the goal of having 93,000 end-of-year pending cases.

"Budget cuts and expanding enforcement responsibilities will make EEOC hard-pressed to meet this goal, leaving the commission with an erosion of mission-critical staff, increased discrimination charge inventory, limits on its litigation docket, diminished employment sector enforcement efforts and delayed customer service," the report stated.

]]>

OPM expands affinity benefits for same-sex domestic partners

Emily Long — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0400

OPM late last month announced an average 3.5 percent premium increase for Federal Employees Health Benefits Program plans in 2012, along with additional plans that will provide coverage for participants' same-sex domestic partners. Currently, only five plans offer this option.

While these choices won't be part of FEHBP and could provide more limited benefits, domestic partners will be able to enroll on their own and pay all premium costs. According to OPM, the coverage offered is generally at the individual as opposed to a group rate, and the terms and conditions of enrollment are not subject to OPM review.

The following plans will offer affinity benefits in 2012:

Aetna
Altius (Idaho, Utah, Wyo.)
Dean Health Plan (Wis.)
Health Net of Arizona
HealthPartners (Iowa, Minn., N.D., S.D., Wis.)
Kaiser
KPS Health Plan (Wash.)
PacifiCare of California
PacifiCare of Texas
Piedmont Community Healthcare (Va.)
United Healthcare of the Midwest (Ill., Mo.)
United Healthcare of the River Valley (Ill., Iowa)

The law currently prohibits the government from offering full domestic partner benefits, but one union leader suggests that OPM can take steps to provide health coverage without legal ramifications.

Gregory Junemann, president of the International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers, last month suggested that OPM establish a fund to compensate employees who have applied for FEHBP or the Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program coverage for their same-sex spouse but have been denied due to the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act.

The benefit would provide direct reimbursement in the amount of the difference between the out-of-pocket medical and dental expenses incurred and the amount the same-sex spouse would have paid if he or she had been covered by the federal government, Junemann said.

]]>

Tough Times

Emily Long — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0400

it could be worse .

The Bureau of Labor Statistics is set to release the Consumer Price Index figures -- the basis for cost-of-living adjustments for federal retirees. The latest estimates put the COLA for 2012 at 3.6 percent.

There hasn't been a COLA increase since 2008, when it rose 5.8 percent. This year's jump, if there is one, will take effect on Dec. 1, and will be reflected in retirees' first annuity payments in January 2012.The increase will take effect automatically, unless Congress opts to block it through legislation, which observers say is unlikely.

Matt Biggs, legislative and political director at the International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers, said current feds are not eligible for the COLA increase and will remain under the pay freeze through next year. The lack of a COLA essentially has placed federal retirees in a similar position, he said.

At the same time, the average increase in what federal workers pay for their health insurance plans next year will hit its lowest point since 2008. The premiums for employees will rise just 3.5 percent, less than half of the 7.2 percent boost in 2011. Costs for dental and vision coverage in 2012 will rise less than 1 percent and 1.6 percent, respectively. These increases also are lower than previous years.

OPM officials have said the average premium increase could be even smaller than projected as employees switch to less expensive plans to save money. Individual participants in the Blue Cross Blue Shield Standard Option, the government's largest plan, actually will see a decline in premiums.

So tell us -- how will these developments affect you?

]]>

Spending bills threaten Foreign Service pay and hiring

Emily Long — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0400

The Senate Appropriations committee late last month approved a funding bill for 2012 that would cut State's budget by 8 percent, while the House Appropriations committee is holding on to legislation that would reduce funding by 18 percent next year.

For diplomatic and consular programs, including the account that pays Foreign Service salaries, Senate lawmakers recommended $6.87 billion, a decline of $1.89 billion compared with fiscal 2011. On the House side, the same fund would get only $5.66 billion, a drop of $3.11 billion.

The House bill also would cancel State's authority to provide comparability pay for federal workers posted abroad. Foreign Service employees for years did not receive locality pay while on overseas assignments until Congress in 2009 began phasing in annual increases to close a 24 percent gap with Washington-area employees. Federal workers in posts abroad saw a 16 percent boost over 2009 and 2010. Lawmakers in April extended funding for the increases to 16.52 percent but barred State from using fiscal 2011 money to implement the third phase of the plan. The Senate version would provide funds for continuing phases one and two only.

According to American Foreign Service Association President Susan Johnson, threats to Foreign Service officer pay are particularly harmful because families usually lose the possibility of a second income when posted overseas and face rising health care and living costs. Cuts also hurt morale and State's ability to recruit and retain employees, she said.

Hiring at both State and the U.S. Agency for International Development would take a hit under the proposals. House lawmakers would not provide funding for an additional 184 planned new hires at State, noting that the agency has hired 1,622 Foreign Service officers and 1,001 civilian workers above attrition since 2008. Both bills halt new hiring for Foreign Service positions at USAID, where 820 additional Foreign Service officers have come on board since 2008.

The House legislation would reduce USAID's funding by $488 million compared with fiscal 2011, while the Senate would cut just $96.3 million.

Observers say steep budget cuts -- and pay and hiring freezes in particular -- could impede State's diplomatic readiness and compromise national security. During a speech last week, Andrew Shapiro, assistant secretary at State's Bureau of Political Military Affairs, said the House proposal could be especially detrimental.

Johnson agreed, noting it is easier to rebuild programs that have been underfunded than to bring back people.

"There's no point in giving us missions and then not giving us funding to do them adequately," Johnson said. "If you're going to cut, cut programs, not people."

"If further cuts are made, then I think the Foreign Service is perfectly willing to share in the sacrifice if made across-the-board," she added. "We won't welcome it, but it'll be much easier to accept and soldier on."

]]>

Postal Service remains in limbo

Emily Long — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0400

The latest continuing resolution to fund the government through Nov. 18 extends the Postal Service's deadline to make a $5.5 billion prepayment to its retiree health benefits account, originally due at the end of September. Officials have said they do not have the cash to meet that obligation and are hoping for legislative change that would allow USPS to restructure its finances and dig itself out of the red.

How that will happen remains to be seen, however. Postal officials are continuing to move forward with a plan to launch a separate health benefits program, and lawmakers this fall have added to the list of reform proposals up for consideration, all of which offer disparate solutions to the agency's financial woes. Disagreement continues over delivery day requirements, post office closures and workforce issues, including health and retirement benefits and employee layoffs. So far, only one bill has been marked up and moved forward.

The House Oversight subcommittee responsible for postal issues late last month approved a bill sponsored by Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., that would allow USPS to drop a delivery day and adjust its labor costs by aligning pay and benefits more closely with other federal workers and the private sector, for example. It also would create an oversight body that could negotiate or modify existing union contracts and require layoffs to start with retirement-eligible employees. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., sponsored a companion bill.

Also on the House side is a proposal from Reps. Elijah Cummings, D-Md., and Stephen Lynch, D-Mass., that would refund a reported $6.9 billion Federal Employees Retirement System overpayment, offer early retirement and voluntary separation incentives, adjust retiree benefits prepayment requirements, and preserve employee protections set out in collective bargaining agreements. Lynch has a separate bill that would address a reported overpayment to USPS' Civil Service Retirement System account.

In the Senate, the Homeland Security and Government Affairs committee could examine pending legislation sometime this month. Sen. Tom Carper, D-Del., has a bill that would allow delivery day reduction and reduce pension funding requirements, while Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, has proposed changes to USPS' workers compensation program.

Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., on Tuesday introduced legislation that would give the Postal Service nearly $7 billion in cash relief to cover its obligation to prefund retiree health benefits. The bill would require the Office of Personnel Management to settle the FERS overpayment issue. Lawmakers also have asked the Government Accountability Office to investigate claims that USPS has overpaid CSRS.

Meanwhile, the Obama administration is pushing a plan that would allow the Postal Service to cut delivery days from six to five, provide two years of relief from employer contributions to the agency's Federal Employees Retirement System account and restructure obligations to prefund retiree health benefits. USPS also would have the flexibility to alter its retail network and adjust postage costs.

]]>

Federal hiring of Hispanics slows, nearly flat

Emily Long — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0400

In its annual report on Hispanic employment in government released on Sept. 30, OPM found that the group's representation among federal civilian employees held steady at 8.0 percent in fiscal 2010 compared to the previous year. Hispanics made up 6.5 percent of federal civilian workers in fiscal 2000 and grew to 7.8 percent by fiscal 2007.

According to OPM, Hispanics made up 6.3 percent of new hires in fiscal 2010, down from 7 percent in fiscal 2009. Retention rates remain high, however, resulting in steady representation among the workforce as a whole. The report found notable declines in Hispanic hiring among the Senior Executive Service and General Schedule employees, while there was an increase among other white collar workers. During the past three years, SES-level Hispanic federal employees grew by 0.2.

Ten of 23 large agencies increased Hispanic representation in fiscal 2010, while seven reported declines. The Homeland Security Department employs the largest percentage of Hispanics at 20.8 percent of its total workforce, followed by the Social Security Administration at 14.1 percent and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission at 13.7 percent. The Health and Human Services Department brought up the rear, with just 3.3 percent of its workforce identifying as Hispanic.

Jorge Ponce, co-president of the Council of Federal EEO and Civil Rights Executives, called the news "horrible," adding that no progress has been made in recent years, especially for Hispanics in top leadership positions.

"A 0.2 percent growth in three years in the Hispanic representation at the SES rank -- where decisions are made and budgets are approved -- is unacceptable," Ponce said.

A report released last month by the Center for American Progress painted a bleak picture for Hispanic representation in the SES in the coming decades. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that Latinos will make up 23 percent of civilian workers nationally in 2030, but CAP projections put them at just 6.8 percent of the government's senior executives. The gap is expected to extend through 2050, when 30 percent of the workforce will be Hispanic compared to 12.5 percent or less of the SES, the report found.

Obama administration officials recently have taken steps to boost employment of Hispanics and other minorities across government. OPM in February launched the Hispanic Council on Federal Employment, an advisory group charged with boosting Hispanic hiring, recruitment, retention and advancement in government.

According to the report, the council is working on increasing the use of internship programs, strengthening accountability, preparing Hispanics for entering the SES, and creating recruitment and communication strategies for Hispanic communities.

In addition, President Obama in August issued an executive order directing agencies to develop roadmaps for hiring, training and promoting more minorities, women, and disabled employees in an effort to diversify the federal government, particularly at the senior levels. According to OPM Director John Berry, that framework is forthcoming.

]]>