Government Executive - Authors - Tanya Ballard Brown

Two leaders join the Government Hall of Fame in 2026

Tanya Ballard Brown — Wed, 25 Mar 2026 09:00:00 -0400

Government Executive’s Hall of Fame recognizes public servants whose work has had a lasting impact on federal institutions and the way government serves the American people. In 2026, two leaders are being added to that group for careers marked by measurable contributions to policy, programs or agency operations.

They will be honored along with the Fed 100 winners, on April 30 at the annual “Evening of Honors” gala at The Anthem in Washington, D.C., a ceremony that continues the tradition of recognizing the enduring influence of federal service.

Meet the Government Hall of Fame Class of 2026:

Susan Coller Monarez

Monarez has dedicated her career to strengthening health security, managing multibillion-dollar portfolios and shaping national and international policy. She has led initiatives across government, industry and global health systems, launched public-private partnerships and accelerated science-to-market progress.

Courtesy of Susan Coller Monarez

She has held senior roles at the White House, the National Security Council and multiple federal research agencies, including the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health, the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority and the Homeland Security Advanced Research Projects Agency. She served as acting director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention from January to March 2025 and became its first Senate-confirmed director from July to August 2025.

She currently serves as a strategic health technology and funding advisor for the California Department of Public Health and continues to advance public health initiatives and strengthen federal health systems through her work.

I’ve always believed the measure of a life in public service is simple: That when our time is done, we have given more to our fellow humans than we have taken for ourselves.

-- Susan Coller Monarez

William J. Walker

Walker has built a distinguished career overseeing security, intelligence and law enforcement initiatives across the U.S. federal government and the National Guard. He began his federal career in 1983 as a Drug Enforcement Administration special agent, serving in investigative and diplomatic roles of increasing responsibility. He later held senior executive positions, including director of the Pharmaceutical and Chemical Regulatory Control Division at DEA headquarters and senior intelligence officer in the Office of the Director of National Intelligence.

Courtesy of William J. Walker

In 2014, Walker retired from DEA as deputy assistant administrator and director of the Strategic Intelligence and Warning Division. He also served full-time in the District of Columbia National Guard, rising to brigadier general in 2015 and major general in 2018. In April 2021, he was nominated by the speaker of the House and unanimously elected the 38th sergeant at arms of the U.S. House of Representatives, becoming the first African American to hold that position. In that role, he oversaw protection for members of Congress, their staff and House office buildings, and served as chairman of the U.S. Capitol Police Board.

He currently serves as chief security officer for Allied Universal and as a senior advisor to The Chertoff Group, and continues to contribute to public safety and national security initiatives.

As a lifetime public servant and senior leader, I have always followed the cardinal virtues of prudence, justice, fortitude and temperance during my parallel civilian and military careers in public safety, law enforcement, security, intelligence and counterintelligence.

-- William J. Walker

PREVIOUS INDUCTEES

The members of the class of 2026 join those who have already been inducted into the Government Hall of Fame:

Madeleine Albright
Thad Allen
Apollo 11 Astronauts: Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin, Neil Armstrong, and Michael Collins
Clara Barton
Hubert T. Bell
Marry Frances Berry
Mary McLeod Bethune
Lonnie Bunch III
Ralph Bunche
George H.W. Bush
Rachel Carson
David Chu
Francis Collins
David O. “Doc” Cooke
Ada Deer
Gene L. Dodaro
Frederick Douglass
Tammy Duckworth
Elizabeth Duke
Ann E. Dunwoody
Anthony Fauci
Barbara Hackman Franklin
Carla Hayden
Robert Gates
John Glenn
Virginia Hall
Alexander Hamilton
Patricia Roberts Harris
Oveta Culp Hobby
Walter Hollis
Grace Hopper
Dwight Ink
Shirley Ann Jackson
Howard Jenkins Jr.
Katherine Johnson
Frank Kameny
John Koskinen
John Lewis
Charles Lyman
Thurgood Marshall
Charles McGee
Norman Mineta
Patsy Mink
Constance Berry Newman
Sean O’Keefe
Ellen Ochoa
Douglas Owsley
Ely S. Parker
Frances Perkins
Colin Powell
Condoleezza Rice
Elliot Richardson
Alice Rivlin
Gregory L. Robinson
Theodore Roosevelt
Donna Shalala
Susan Solomon
Elmer Staats
Kathryn D. Sullivan
Linda Thomas-Greenfield
Harriet Tubman
Ann M. Veneman
Paul Volcker
James Webb
James Lee Witt
Marshalyn Yeargin-Allsop

SELECTION COMMITTEE

This year’s inductees into the Government Hall of Fame were chosen by a panel made up of former federal officials and government management experts:

Tanya Ballard Brown, executive editor, Government Executive
James-Christian Blockwood, president and CEO of the National Academy of Public Administration
Jason Briefel, manager, U.S. Government Affairs for the Project Management Institute
Calvin Byrd, former senior level advisor for physical security at the Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Doreen Greenwald, national president of the National Treasury Employees Union
Tom Shoop, former editor at large, Government Executive
Robert Tobias, former president of the National Treasury Employees Union and distinguished practitioner in residence in Key Executive Leadership Programs at American University

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Government Executive joins NAPA for a year-long 250th anniversary project

Tanya Ballard Brown — Mon, 26 Jan 2026 14:14:27 -0500

Government Executive has partnered with the National Academy of Public Administration on a year-long effort centered on the work of public servants across government, timed to coincide with the nation’s 250th anniversary.

At its core, this is an extension of the work we have been doing for decades. Our coverage of the federal workforce often starts with policy or management, but it always comes back to the people, those navigating hiring freezes, shifting priorities, new mandates and the quiet, routine work that keeps agencies moving.

Through this partnership, we will be able to explore these stories in additional ways over the coming year, examining how public service is changing, where it is working well and where it is under pressure. That includes closer looks at leadership, workforce trends and the day-to-day realities facing employees across agencies and levels of government.

Marking the country’s 250th anniversary is an opportunity not just to look back, but to take stock of how public service is evolving now and what it needs to look like going forward.

It also provides a chance to surface voices and perspectives that do not always break through in daily news coverage, particularly from parts of government that rarely seek attention but are essential to how the system functions.

If this helps readers better understand what public servants actually do and why it matters, then it fits squarely within our mission.

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Meet the 2025 Government Hall of Fame inductees

Tanya Ballard Brown — Mon, 10 Mar 2025 10:00:00 -0400

When Government Executive created its Hall of Fame to honor individuals who have profoundly shaped the federal government and the American people, no one could anticipate just how significant the recognition would become—or how much it would be needed. Hall of Fame inductees are those who have demonstrated unwavering dedication and sustained excellence in public service. Since 2019, a distinguished group of individuals—ranging from Frederick Douglass to David Chu—has been inducted, celebrating their lasting legacies.

These honorees have left a profound mark on government, driving meaningful change and inspiring future generations, and we will celebrate them during our “Evening of Honors” on April 3 at The Anthem in Washington, D.C. The annual Fed 100 winners also will be recognized at the gala.

Here are the members of the Government Hall of Fame Class of 2025:

Gene L. Dodaro

In 1973, Gene Dodaro began his career in public service as an entry-level auditor at the General Accounting Office. More than 50 years later, he now leads the agency—renamed the Government Accountability Office—as the eighth comptroller general of the United States. He is the first career civil servant to hold this role, guiding GAO’s independent, nonpartisan oversight of federal programs and spending.

Courtesy of Gene Dodaro

Throughout his distinguished career, Dodaro has played a pivotal role in expanding GAO’s mission beyond financial audits to evaluating the performance and effectiveness of government programs. Under his leadership, GAO’s High-Risk List has helped drive improvements across federal agencies, identifying pressing issues that require congressional action. His oversight has resulted in more than $1.38 trillion in financial benefits since 2002, with GAO returning approximately $133 for every dollar invested in its operations.

Dodaro has positioned GAO as a leader in auditing innovation, ensuring Congress has timely analysis on critical issues such as the global financial crisis, COVID-19 funding, and disaster relief efforts. He spearheaded the creation of GAO’s Center for Enhanced Cybersecurity and Innovation Lab, strengthening the agency’s ability to assess emerging science and technology challenges. His initiatives have not only improved federal oversight but also set standards for auditing practices worldwide.

Beyond his technical and policy contributions, Dodaro has shaped GAO’s internal culture, fostering an environment where employees feel valued and empowered. His emphasis on diversity, equity, and inclusion has helped GAO earn consistent recognition as the top mid-size federal agency in the “Best Places to Work” rankings, with an impressive retention rate of 96%. His leadership philosophy underscores the importance of people in driving GAO’s success.

Dodaro’s relentless dedication to accountability and good governance has left an indelible mark on the federal government. As he continues his service, his impact on policymaking, fiscal responsibility and public trust in government institutions remains profound.

Ann M. Veneman

Ann Veneman’s career in public service has spanned decades, from her early roles at the Agriculture Department to leading one of the world’s most influential humanitarian organizations. As the first woman to serve as U.S. secretary of agriculture, she oversaw a $113 billion budget and 110,000 employees, shaping policies that strengthened American agriculture and food security. She later brought her leadership to the global stage as executive director of UNICEF, advancing initiatives that improved the lives of children worldwide.

Courtesy of Ann Veneman

Throughout her career, Veneman has expanded the role of agriculture, food security and global health on both national and international agendas. At USDA, she worked to modernize food safety standards, strengthen international trade partnerships and enhance nutrition programs. At UNICEF, she championed efforts to reduce child mortality, expand access to education and improve maternal health, leaving a lasting impact on global humanitarian efforts.

Her leadership has earned widespread recognition. In 2009, she was named to Forbes’ World’s 100 Most Powerful Women list. She has received numerous honors, including the Women Making History Award from the National Women’s History Museum. She continues to shape policy and business strategy through service on corporate and nonprofit boards, including Sun World, Full Harvest, the Global Health Innovative Technology Fund, the Clinton Health Access Initiative and BEAM Circular.

Beyond her leadership roles, Veneman has been a champion for innovation and collaboration in tackling global challenges. She has advised organizations including the Bipartisan Policy Center and the United Nations Foundation and served as a fellow at Harvard’s School of Public Health and the University of California, Berkeley’s Goldman School of Public Policy. She is a frequent speaker on poverty alleviation, food security, nutrition and women’s empowerment.

A lawyer by training, Veneman has practiced in California and Washington, D.C., bringing a legal perspective to her policy work. She holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of California, Davis; a master’s in public policy from the University of California, Berkeley; and a law degree from the University of California College of the Law, San Francisco. Throughout her career, she has remained dedicated to strengthening public institutions and advancing solutions that improve lives worldwide.

PREVIOUS INDUCTEES

The members of the class of 2025 join those who have already been inducted into the Government Hall of Fame:

Madeleine Albright
Thad Allen
Apollo 11 Astronauts: Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin, Neil Armstrong, and Michael Collins
Clara Barton
Hubert T. Bell
Marry Frances Berry
Mary McLeod Bethune
Lonnie Bunch III
Ralph Bunche
George H.W. Bush
Rachel Carson
David Chu
Francis Collins
David O. “Doc” Cooke
Ada Deer
Frederick Douglass
Tammy Duckworth
Elizabeth Duke
Ann E. Dunwoody
Anthony Fauci
Barbara Hackman Franklin
Carla Hayden
Robert Gates
John Glenn
Virginia Hall
Alexander Hamilton
Patricia Roberts Harris
Oveta Culp Hobby
Walter Hollis
Grace Hopper
Dwight Ink
Shirley Ann Jackson
Howard Jenkins Jr.
Katherine Johnson
Frank Kameny
John Koskinen
John Lewis
Charles Lyman
Thurgood Marshall
Charles McGee
Norman Mineta
Patsy Mink
Constance Berry Newman
Sean O’Keefe
Ellen Ochoa
Douglas Owsley
Ely S. Parker
Frances Perkins
Colin Powell
Condoleezza Rice
Elliot Richardson
Alice Rivlin
Gregory L. Robinson
Theodore Roosevelt
Donna Shalala
Susan Solomon
Elmer Staats
Kathryn D. Sullivan
Linda Thomas-Greenfield
Harriet Tubman
Paul Volcker
James Webb
James Lee Witt
Marshalyn Yeargin-Allsop

SELECTION COMMITTEE

This year’s inductees into the Government Hall of Fame were chosen by a panel made up of former federal officials and government management experts:

Tanya Ballard Brown, executive editor, Government Executive
James-Christian Blockwood, president and CEO of the National Academy of Public Administration
Jason Briefel, partner at the law firm Shaw, Bransford & Roth and director of policy and outreach of the Senior Executives Association
Calvin Byrd, former senior level advisor for physical security at the Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Teresa Gerton, former president and CEO of the National Academy of Public Administration
Tom Shoop, former editor at large, Government Executive
Robert Tobias, former president of the National Treasury Employees Union and distinguished practitioner in residence in Key Executive Leadership Programs at American University

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Introducing the 2024 Government Hall of Fame inductees

Tanya Ballard Brown — Wed, 27 Mar 2024 12:00:00 -0400

This year marks the sixth anniversary of the Government Hall of Fame, created by Government Executive to recognize those who have made historic achievements in service to the federal government and the American people. Since 2019, a distinguished group of individuals, ranging from Clara Barton to Anthony Fauci, have been inducted into the hall.

Five new inductees join that select club in 2024, people who have demonstrated sustained achievement and unparalleled dedication to public service throughout their careers. They’ll all be honored at a gala “Evening of Honors” on April 24 at the Anthem in Washington, D.C. The annual Fed 100 winners also will be recognized at the gala.

Here are the members of the Government Hall of Fame Class of 2024:

Mary Frances Berry

Cheriss May/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Berry, a historian, academician and civil rights activist, was nominated as assistant secretary for education in the Health, Education, and Welfare Department by President Jimmy Carter in 1977. She was the first Black woman to serve in the role. Three years later Carter appointed her to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights. During her long tenure at the agency, she took on President Ronald Reagan, who tried to dismiss Berry. She sued to keep her seat and won. In 1993, Berry became the commission's chairperson and when she left in 2004, Berry said she “had served the commission well and will be remembered as doing such.” The historian is the Geraldine R. Segal Professor of American Social Thought, History and African Studies at the University of Pennsylvania.

Mary McLeod Bethune

The Abbott Sengstacke Family Papers/Robert Abbott Sengstacke/Getty Images

An educator and political organizer, Bethune participated in a White House Conference on Child Welfare and Housing, serving as an advisor to President Calvin Coolidge. She was later appointed to the National Child Welfare Commission by President Herbert Hoover. Bethune was one of the first directors of a federal agency and the highest ranking Black woman in government when she served as director of Negro Affairs of the National Youth Administration under President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Bethune also organized and led the “Black Cabinet,” a group of federal employees who served as unofficial advisors to Roosevelt on issues facing Black Americans. The group’s work laid the foundation for the civil rights movement. Bethune served as special assistant to the secretary of war and was part of the advisory board that in 1942 created the Women’s Army Corps, and she fought to make sure it was diverse. Bethune attended the founding conference of the United Nations in 1945, and represented President Harry S. Truman in Liberia.

Ann E. Dunwoody

Courtesy Ann E. Dunwoody

Retired Gen. Dunwoody’s 38-year military career began as a platoon leader at Fort Sill, Okla., and would include serving as the Parachute Officer, 82nd Airborne Division; strategic planner for the Chief of Staff of the Army; executive officer to the director, Defense Logistics Agency; and deputy chief of staff for Logistics G-4. She was the first woman to lead a battalion for the 82nd Airborne Division, the first woman to serve as general at Fort Bragg and the first woman in the history of the U.S. to achieve a four-star general rank. Dunwoody led the push to integrate women into the Regular Army after the disestablishment of the Women’s Army Corps 1978 and received many awards, including the Distinguished Service Medal and the Defense Superior Service Medal before retiring in 2012.

Gregory L. Robinson

Joel Kowsky/NASA via Getty Images

Robinson, a 33-year NASA veteran, is renowned for turning around the James Webb Space Telescope program, once over budget and behind schedule, into a 21st-century success. His leadership earned him recognition, including TIME Magazine's 100 Most Influential People of 2022 (alongside Apple CEO Tim Cook and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky) and the TIME100 Impact Award. Throughout Robinson’s career, he held key roles – from deputy associate administrator for programs at the NASA Science Mission Directorate, overseeing 114 science flight missions, to deputy center director of the John H. Glenn Research Center to deputy chief engineer to director of the James Webb Space Telescope Program. Robinson received prestigious awards including NASA Presidential Rank Distinguished Executive, the Presidential Rank Meritorious Senior Professionals and Executives Award and 2022 Federal Employee of the Year, NASA Distinguished Service Medal 2022. When he retired in 2022, Robinson reflected on his fulfilling career dedicated to public service: “This was a dream career at an agency that allows you to reach for new heights so that we can reveal the unknown for the benefit of all humanity.” Robinson holds degrees in Mathematics, Electrical Engineering and Business Administration as well as multiple honorary doctorates and currently shares his expertise as a lecturer at Columbia University.

James Lee Witt

Paul Chinn/The San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images

This former FEMA director worked his way up through state government ranks, serving as head of emergency services in Arkansas before being tapped to helm the federal agency in 1993 by President Clinton. Witt used his Arkansas experience to turn FEMA around, managing 348 presidentially declared disasters during his tenure, and seeing FEMA elevated to Cabinet-level in 1996. After leaving the federal government Witt advised the governor of Louisiana after Hurricane Katrina and helped shape the state’s recovery for over 10 years. He also advised the CEO of BP following the devastating Deepwater Horizon oil spill. He was called upon by New Jersey’s governor following Superstorm Sandy and assisted in their recovery efforts for 5 years. Witt now runs AG Witt, a premier disaster preparedness, response, recovery and mitigation consulting firm.

PREVIOUS INDUCTEES

The members of the class of 2024 join those who have already been inducted into the Government Hall of Fame:

Madeleine Albright
Thad Allen
Apollo 11 Astronauts: Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin, Neil Armstrong, and Michael Collins
Clara Barton
Hubert T. Bell
Lonnie Bunch III
Ralph Bunche
George H.W. Bush
Rachel Carson
David Chu
Francis Collins
David O. “Doc” Cooke
Ada Deer
Frederick Douglass
Tammy Duckworth
Elizabeth Duke
Anthony Fauci
Barbara Hackman Franklin
Carla Hayden
Robert Gates
John Glenn
Virginia Hall
Alexander Hamilton
Patricia Roberts Harris
Oveta Culp Hobby
Walter Hollis
Grace Hopper
Dwight Ink
Shirley Ann Jackson
Howard Jenkins Jr.
Katherine Johnson
Frank Kameny
John Koskinen
John Lewis
Charles Lyman
Thurgood Marshall
Charles McGee
Norman Mineta
Patsy Mink
Constance Berry Newman
Sean O’Keefe
Ellen Ochoa
Douglas Owsley
Ely S. Parker
Frances Perkins
Colin Powell
Condoleezza Rice
Elliot Richardson
Alice Rivlin
Theodore Roosevelt
Donna Shalala
Susan Solomon
Elmer Staats
Kathryn D. Sullivan
Linda Thomas-Greenfield
Harriet Tubman
Paul Volcker
James Webb
Marshalyn Yeargin-Allsop

SELECTION COMMITTEE

This year’s inductees into the Government Hall of Fame were chosen by a panel made up of former federal officials and government management experts:

Tanya Ballard Brown, executive editor, Government Executive
Jason Briefel, partner at the law firm Shaw, Bransford & Roth and director of policy and outreach of the Senior Executives Association
Calvin Byrd, former senior level advisor for physical security at the Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Teresa Gerton, president and CEO of the National Academy of Public Administration
Tom Shoop, former editor at large, Government Executive
Robert Tobias, former president of the National Treasury Employees Union and distinguished practitioner in residence in Key Executive Leadership Programs at American University

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How Greenbelt won the FBI’s new headquarters

Tanya Ballard Brown and Carten Cordell — Thu, 09 Nov 2023 16:43:51 -0500

Updated at 5:53 p.m.ET

The General Services Administration made its pick for the new FBI headquarters Wednesday, selecting a site in Greenbelt, Md., upending previous expectations the new facility would land in Virginia, and drawing ire from FBI Director Christopher Wray and Virginia lawmakers.

While the selection of the future suburban home of the FBI has been a decade-long pursuit that transcended three presidential administrations, Greenbelt was not initially the Bureau’s first pick and had previously drawn concerns from its Program Management Office over its buildable area.

In an October Justice Department inspector general’s report examining the 2017 decision to cancel a previous relocation plan, one FBI official described the three suburban sites as having “significant warts,” with the PMO then preferring the Landover, Md., site due to engineering, construction and cost reasons.

“The Greenbelt site was located near a Metrorail station, but the FBI was concerned about the site because it was half wetlands and the amount of buildable space was far less than what was anticipated when the site was selected in 2014,” the OIG report said.

There was also a scheduling concern over the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority’s need to replace a parking lot with a garage that had to be completed prior to any construction on a potential FBI building.

Because of those concerns, FBI leaders initially decided in December 2017 to remain at the site of the J. Edgar Hoover building, a move that sparked speculation of political interference by the Trump administration, though the OIG ultimately found no evidence of such interference.

The fiscal 2022 Consolidated Appropriations Act later directed GSA to select one of the three suburban sites for a new FBI building, starting the search again.

GSA decided to grade the sites based on five weighted criteria: proximity to mission-related locations, transportation access, site development flexibility and schedule risk, promoting sustainable siting and advancing equity and cost.

By June, there was speculation that the FBI would choose the Springfield, Va., location, given its proximity to the FBI Academy in Quantico, Va., and setting off a round of verbal sparring between Virginia and Maryland officials.

A month later, after holding congressionally directed consultations with Virginia and Maryland delegations, GSA adjusted the weighting of its assessment criteria, reducing the emphasis on proximity to mission-related locations and transportation access and increasing it for promoting sustainable siting and advancing equity and cost.

GSA’s final assessment saw Greenbelt win four of the five assessment categories, ranking last in proximity to mission-related locations. Both Greenbelt and Landover were significantly farther from Quantico and other operationally significant FBI and National Capital Region sites, but Greenbelt had the advantage of being 1/10 of a mile from Metro and Maryland Area Regional Commuter stations.

Despite only offering 11.26 acres of buildable area on a 61-acre site, ranking it as the least advantageous of the sites, Public Buildings Service Commissioner Nina Albert’s assessment determined that GSA could mitigate the site’s constraints.

While Landover’s 31.13 acres and Springfield’s 12.59 acres of buildable space offered the Bureau more expansion options, the former was privately owned and would have to be acquired and the latter was not immediately available for construction because it housed other GSA facilities that would have to be relocated.

The advantage for Greenbelt was that while the land was owned by WMATA and the State of Maryland, both had made a commitment to sell it and construction could begin 33 months after closing the sale, as opposed to 41 months of estimated tenant relocation and site demolition at Springfield.

Springfield also lagged behind Greenbelt and Landover in opportunities for the government to advance equity and improve underserved communities, due to certain socioeconomic and federal spending factors that made the move to Prince George’s County more equitable.

The Environmental Protection Agency’s Smart Location Database also predicted that fewer employees would drive to Greenbelt alone than the other two sites and more would be able to commute via mass transit.

And probably most significantly, Greenbelt was far cheaper to establish the new FBI headquarters, with costs to acquire, prepare the site, offsite improvements and additional costs based on expected construction start dates coming in at $26.2 million — compared to Springfield’s $64.1 million and the more than $100 million expected for Landover.

“GSA looks forward to building the FBI a state-of-the-art headquarters campus in Greenbelt to advance their critical mission for years to come,” said GSA Administrator Robin Carnahan, in a statement Thursday.

GSA will now work on acquiring the site and submitting a comprehensive project fact sheet to Congress, agency officials said in a statement.

However, a group of Virginia lawmakers are questioning the choice and selection process.

"We are deeply disturbed to learn that a political appointee at the General Services Administration overruled the unanimous recommendation of a three-person panel comprised of career experts from the GSA and the Federal Bureau of Investigation concluding that Springfield, Virginia is the site best suited for the new FBI headquarters," said a statement from Democratic Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine, Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin, and Reps. Don Beyer, D-Va., Gerry Connolly, D-Va., Jen Kiggans, R-Va., Jennifer McClellan, D-Va., Bobby Scott, D-Va., Abigail Spanberger, D-Va., Jennifer Wexton, D-Va., and Rob Wittman, R-Va.

"We have repeatedly condemned political interference in the independent, agency-run site selection process for a new FBI headquarters," the statement said. "Any fair weighing of the criteria points to a selection of Virginia. It is clear that this process has been irrevocably undermined and tainted, and this decision must now be reversed."

And in an internal memo obtained by NBC, Christopher Wray, the Bureau's director, raised concerns about "fairness and transparency in the process and GSA’s failure to adhere to its own site selection plan," including, "the appearance of a lack of impartiality by the GSA senior executive given the executive’s previous professional affiliation with the owner of the selected site."

GSA responded to Wray on Thursday, insisting that any "suggestion that there was inappropriate interference is unfounded" and that the selection of Greenbelt "is fully consistent with the decision-making process as well as all laws, regulations, and ethical considerations. We stand behind the process, the decision, and all of the public servants who carefully followed the process and made a good decision on behalf of the FBI and the public.”

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Success of civil service overhaul could hinge on rollout of Pentagon plan

Tanya Ballard Brown — Thu, 14 Jul 2005 00:00:00 -0400

In 2003, Congress allowed the Pentagon to reshape its civilian personnel system. Earlier this year, Defense personnel officials proposed replacing the General Schedule system, implementing a performance pay framework, streamlining the employee appeals process and scaling back collective bargaining. The new system would affect more than 700,000 employees.

Pentagon officials, however, did not include employee representatives in the working groups that developed the proposals, auditors found (GAO-05-730). This decision could hinder the department in encouraging employees to embrace the system once it is implemented, according to GAO.

"A successful transformation must provide for meaningful involvement by employees and their representatives to gain their input into and understanding of the changes that will occur," the report stated.

With the Bush administration pushing for a complete overhaul of the civil service, the system under way at Defense could "serve as a model for governmentwide transformation in human capital management," according to GAO. "However, if not properly designed and effectively implemented, it could severely impede progress toward a more performance- and results-based system for the federal government as a whole."

Employee organizations and some lawmakers are keen to see results from NSPS and the Homeland Security Department's personnel system, known as MAX HR, before expanding personnel reforms governmentwide.

GAO recommended that Pentagon officials identify all the stakeholders and their concerns, and then "tailor and customize key messages to be delivered to groups of employees to meet their divergent interests and information needs." The department also should "develop procedures for evaluating NSPS that contain results-oriented performance measures and reporting requirements," the report stated.

In a written response, Defense officials charged that they "took great care to ensure that the materials and messages addressed" the concerns of employees, labor unions, managers and senior officials. However, they also acknowledged that "you can never communicate enough when attempting to implement a major transformation initiative" and agreed to step up their efforts.

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Unions move to block implementation of new DHS personnel system

Tanya Ballard Brown — Wed, 22 Jun 2005 00:00:00 -0400

"What NTEU wants is for our questions about the legality of the regulations to be answered before the rules are implemented in six weeks," Colleen M. Kelley, national president of the National Treasury Employees Union, said in a press release. "No one will be served, including the department and the American public, by a federal agency, charged with protecting the security of our homeland, operating contrary to federal law."

When Congress created DHS in 2002, agency officials were allowed to develop their own personnel system. In January officials unveiled an overhaul that would streamline the appeals process, reduce union collective bargaining rights and discard the General Schedule pay system. In place of the GS framework, officials are implementing a pay-for-performance system. Department officials plan to begin implementing the plan in August. Several calls to the Homeland Security Department seeking comment on the injunction were not returned on Wednesday.

The unions, led by NTEU, told the court on Wednesday that multiple provisions that typically appear in federal sector collective bargaining agreements would be unenforceable under the new regulations. These include provisions governing the assignment of overtime, with a resulting serious adverse impact on family life; those governing the assignment of work; those affecting bargaining over the impact and implementation of management decisions; and provisions governing the mitigation of penalties, among others, according to the unions.

"Injuries…like these, which affect the bargaining process itself" have been declared sufficient in other cases to warrant issuance of a preliminary injunction, the unions said.

Despite union opposition, DHS Secretary Michael Chertoff earlier this month said the department would "move forward in a disciplined but brisk manner" in implementing the new rules, adding that delaying implementation would fuel apprehension of the system.

NTEU argues, however, that DHS has operated under existing federal sector law since its inception and will suffer no harm from a delay. The unions merely "seek a continuation of the status quo while the court addresses the merits of their legal challenge."

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Defense personnel reform postponed

Tanya Ballard Brown — Tue, 07 Jun 2005 00:00:00 -0400

The delay comes just days after the Defense Department's meet-and-confer discussions with union leaders came to a close. The talks were aimed at getting the unions' input on the structure of the system, which will govern 700,000 civilian workers.

The Pentagon's preliminary regulations for the new system, released in February, would restrict union bargaining rights, create stricter disciplinary rules and eliminate the decades-old General Schedule in favor of a pay-for-performance system.

In a statement last week, Mary Lacey, program executive officer for NSPS, said Defense and Office of Personnel Management officials would make "several recommended changes to the proposed regulations as a result of union input." Those revisions are expected to be published in the Federal Register later this summer, according to officials.

The first phase of implementation, dubbed Spiral One, would include 60,000 employees and could be implemented as soon as 30 days after the Federal Register announcement, officials said.

Two additional waves would follow. Once they are completed, 300,000 Defense civilians will have shifted into NSPS. Full implementation is expected by 2008.

The labor relations portion of the new system is expected to be in place by the end of September, according to Defense officials. Under this part of the plan, authority to adjudicate labor disputes will shift from the National Labor Relations Authority to a new internal National Security Labor Relations Board.

On Tuesday, one union official said he was pleased with the decision to push the implementation date back, but expressed doubts about the department's overall timetable.

"Any push back is good news because this system is going to wreak havoc for years," said Mark Roth, general counsel for the American Federation of Government Employees, which represents the bulk of Defense civilian workers. "It would be great if they pushed it off the planet."

According to Roth, union officials will meet with OPM Acting Director Dan G. Blair and Acting Deputy Secretary of Defense Gordon R. England on June 16, and they will try again to obtain more modifications to the regulations.

"I would hope that Gordon England, the Number 2 man at the Department of Defense, if he believes something is harmful to his employees, hopefully he will be able to take a broader look at it than the people that we were stuck in a room with for 35 days," Roth said, referring to the recent meet-and-confer sessions.

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Washington-area federal agencies close early due to snow

Tanya Ballard Brown — Thu, 24 Feb 2005 00:00:00 -0500

Emergency employees were expected to remain at work.

The National Weather Service placed the area under a winter storm warning Thursday as snow blanketed the area, with accumulations of 3 inches to 6 inches possible, according to the agency's Web site.

OPM's announcement applies to employees, including those who telecommute, who work in executive branch agencies located inside the Capital Beltway. It does not apply to postal workers or federal contractors.

Agencies outside the Beltway and in other cities across the country announce their operating status individually.

Federal employees should monitor local media outlets or the OPM Web site for updates on the storm and the government's operating status.

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Thrift funds show mixed returns in January

Tanya Ballard Brown — Thu, 03 Feb 2005 00:00:00 -0500

The F Fund, made up of fixed-income bonds, saw the biggest increase last month, growing by 0.58 percent. The fund rose more than 4 percent over the past 12 months.

The G Fund consists of government securities and gained 0.37 percent in January 2005. The fund grew 4.38 percent during the past year.

The S Fund, fell 3.39 percent last month. The fund invests in the stocks of small and mid-size companies and has grown by more than 10 percent in the past 12 months.

The C Fund, which invests in common stock, was down 2.40 percent in January and rose more than 6 percent during the past year.

The I Fund was down 1.87 percent over the past month. The I Fund, made up of international stocks, has gained more than 16 percent since since February 2004.

The monthly F, G, S, C and I fund returns reflect net earnings on the changing balances invested during the month.

For an index of the performance of the S, C and I funds that is updated each business day, see the "TSP Ticker" on the front page of GovExec.com.

January's rates of return appear below. Numbers in parentheses are negative.

	G Fund	F Fund	C Fund	S Fund	I Fund
January 2005	0.37%	0.58%	(2.40%)	(3.39%)	(1.87%)
Last 12 Months (2/1/2003-1/31/2004)	4.38%	4.07%	6.24%	10.14%	16.22%

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Bush administration unveils 2005 pay raise

Tanya Ballard Brown — Thu, 30 Dec 2004 00:00:00 -0500

executive order Thursday evening formally implementing a 3.5 percent average pay raise in 2005 for General Schedule employees.

The pay increase, which will take effect on Jan. 9, will be divided between a 2.5 percent base pay increase for all employees and an average 1 percent locality pay adjustment that varies according to where employees work.

Employees in the San Francisco area will receive the largest total pay hike, 4.3 percent. Employees in New York City will receive a 3.96 percent increase and Hartford, Conn. employees will get a 3.93 percent increase.

Employees in the Washington, D.C., area will receive a 3.71 percent increase. Employees in cities not designated as locality pay areas, will get a raise of at least 3.26 percent.

Locality-based raises became a fixture of federal pay in 1994, following implementation of the 1990 Federal Employees Pay Comparability Act. The act's proponents identified a gap between public and private sector salaries of about 30 percent. The act was designed to close the gap to about 5 percent, but raises under the law have never been fully funded.

The 3.5 percent pay increase veers from a proposal included in the president's fiscal 2005 budget proposal, which recommended holding civilian pay raises at an average 1.5 percent and giving military service members a 3.5 percent pay increase. The president has said that ongoing military conflicts make uniformed personnel more deserving of a higher pay raise.

A bipartisan bloc of lawmakers fought for military-civilian pay parity and the fiscal 2005 omnibus spending bill passed by Congress earlier this month directed President Bush to give employees the larger pay increase.

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Bill eliminating TSP open seasons headed to White House

Tanya Ballard Brown — Tue, 07 Dec 2004 00:00:00 -0500

The Senate passed legislation Tuesday that would allow federal employees to enroll in or make changes to their Thrift Savings Plan accounts at any time. The bill now awaits President Bush's signature.

The 2004 Thrift Savings Plan Open Elections Act (H.R. 4324), introduced by House Government Reform Chairman Tom Davis, R-Va., was approved by House lawmakers on Nov. 19.

Open seasons have been used since the inception of the 401(k)-style federal retirement savings plan to restrict TSP participants from altering their contributions too often. This year, federal workers could adjust their retirement contributions during two periods, the first ended June 30 while the second began on Oct. 15 and ends on Dec. 31.

"Today is a great day for federal employees," Davis said on the House floor Tuesday. "Every day, federal employees across the nation and around the globe perform critical duties that keep this nation running smoothly. Away from work, they experience all of life's events -- births or deaths in the family, new homes, new jobs, salary adjustments and so on."

According to Davis, once H.R. 4324 is enacted, "TSP participants can adapt their retirement savings to meet their changing circumstances."

The bill also includes a section devoted to enhancing financial literacy for federal employees. According to a Senate Governmental Affairs staffer, the financial literacy provision requires the Thrift Board to periodically evaluate the tools plan participants need to evaluate and compare financial products and services. The board must also report annually to the Senate Governmental Affairs and House Government Reform Committees on its TSP education efforts, and requires OPM to develop and implement a retirement financial literacy and education strategy for federal employees.

"As for all Americans, financial literacy education is essential for federal employees to develop a base of knowledge so that they can participate effectively in the modern economy," Sen. Daniel Akaka, D-Hawaii, said following the bill's passage. "I believe that provisions in this bill will give federal employees the tools needed to empower them to make informed decisions regarding their retirement and financial security."

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Proposal to eliminate 2005 locality pay increase angers unions

Tanya Ballard Brown — Thu, 02 Dec 2004 00:00:00 -0500

A proposal by the Bush administration to hold the civilian pay raise at 2.5 percent and provide no locality pay increase in 2005 drew ire from the two largest federal employee unions on Thursday.

Last week, Congress approved the fiscal 2005 omnibus bill, which includes a 3.5 percent average pay raise for civil service workers. A bloc of lawmakers, including House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer, D-Md., and House Government Reform Committee Chairman Tom Davis, R-Va., fought for the larger pay raise after the Bush administration included a 1.5 percent civilian pay raise in its fiscal 2005 budget proposal released in February.

On Monday, however, the Bush administration sent an alternative pay plan to congressional leaders, proposing to give civil service workers a 2.5 percent pay raise next year while holding locality pay at 2004 levels. The president cited the expenses of the war on terrorism as a reason for his frugality with civilian raises.

Union officials blasted the president's alternate plan on Thursday, calling it a sign of the "low value he attaches to the efforts and contributions of federal workers."

"This kind of action has an inevitable adverse impact on federal employee morale," said NTEU President Colleen Kelley, calling it "an unnecessary and unwise step backward in recruitment and retention efforts by federal agencies."

Linda Bennett, a lobbyist with the American Federation of Government Employees, expressed frustration with the plan.

"We are disappointed that the president proposed no locality pay raises for federal workers who work day and night to protect our borders and to strengthen our nation's general welfare and defense," Bennett said. "The president needs to listen to Congress. They have said loud and clear to provide federal employees with a 3.5 percent pay increase."

The omnibus bill's status is unclear as House members want to remove a provision that would have expanded congressional access to individual tax returns at the Internal Revenue Service. If the spending bill is not enacted, the alternative plan will take effect in January, according to the Office of Personnel Management.

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Bush moves to limit 2005 pay raise to 2.5 percent

Tanya Ballard Brown — Wed, 01 Dec 2004 00:00:00 -0500

President Bush has moved to limit the pay increase for white-collar civilian federal employees under the General Schedule to 2.5 percent next year, with no additional pay for workers based on labor costs in the areas where they work.

Under federal law, the president had until the end of November to propose an alternative to pay levels set under procedures laid out in the 1990 Federal Employees Pay Comparability Act. Under the law, employees would have been due the 2.5 percent raise next year, plus locality pay increases averaging 10.6 percent. The act was designed to close the gap between federal and private-sector salaries, but raises under the law have never been fully funded.

Locality pay rates would remain at the 2004 level next year under the alternative plan Bush forwarded to congressional leaders on Monday. According to the president, funding the locality pay raise would cost about $9.8 billion in fiscal year 2005 and pull much-needed resources from other areas.

"A national emergency has existed since September 11, 2001, which now includes Operation Enduring Freedom (in Afghanistan) and Operation Iraqi Freedom," Bush wrote. "Full statutory civilian locality pay increases averaging 10.6 percent in 2005 would divert resources from and interfere with our nation's ability to fight the war on terror, with respect to which a national emergency is in effect under the law."

When the budget was released in February, the Bush administration proposed a 1.5 percent average pay increase for federal workers and a 3.5 percent raise for military service members. In the months since, members of Congress have worked to provide a 3.5 percent pay raise to civilians and uniformed members of the armed services. Last week Congress approved the fiscal 2005 omnibus spending bill, which included a 3.5 percent average pay raise for civilian employees.

In his letter, Bush said he did not believe his decision would "materially affect" the government's ability to attract and retain a quality workforce.

"To the contrary, since the Congress has not funded the cost of a pay raise in excess of the 1.5 percent increase I proposed, agencies would have to absorb the additional cost and could have to freeze hiring in order to pay the higher rates," Bush wrote, adding that "quit rates are at an all-time low of 1.6 percent per year, well below the overall average quit rate in private enterprise." Accordng to the president, agencies can use compensation tools, such as recruitment bonuses, retention allowances and special salary rates, if needed.

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House panel backs 3.5 percent civil service pay raise

Tanya Ballard Brown — Thu, 22 Jul 2004 00:00:00 -0400

The panel passed by a 42-16 vote an amendment to the fiscal 2005 Transportation-Treasury appropriations bill that would grant federal civilian employees - and blue-collar workers - the same 3.5 percent pay raise that military personnel will receive next year. House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer, D-Md., joined with House Government Reform Committee Chairman Tom Davis, R-Va., and Reps. Frank Wolf, R-Va., and Jim Moran, D-Va., to steer the measure through committee.

"Military personnel and federal civilian employees work side-by-side and for the same employer," Hoyer said after the amendment's passage. "Our nation is able to deploy our air, sea and land fleets safely and swiftly thanks to the muscle and logistical support of both federal civilian employees and military employees. So it is appropriate to provide them with equal pay adjustments. In addition, a fair pay adjustment is needed to keep pace with private-sector salaries so the federal government can compete for quality employees."

The move counteracts a push by President Bush and a bloc of House lawmakers, led by Rep. Ernest Istook, R-Okla., to provide a lower raise for civil servants than for uniformed military service members. Istook has said the government cannot afford the additional $2.2 billion that equal pay raises would cost. The president has said that ongoing military conflicts make uniformed personnel more deserving of a higher raise.

On Thursday, however, the pay parity measure received bipartisan support.

"Both the armed services and the federal civilian workforce are integral to fulfilling the role of government for the American taxpayer; both must be compensated accordingly," Davis said.

National Treasury Employees Union President Colleen Kelley, lauded the pay parity measure, saying, "It would help federal employees' paychecks keep pace with their counterparts in the private sector."

Last year Bush requested a 2 percent salary boost for white-collar federal employees and a 4.1 percent pay raise for military employees in his 2004 budget proposal. Congress overruled the president's request and granted 4.1 percent pay hikes to military and civilian federal workers.

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Several areas added to federal per diem program

Tanya Ballard Brown — Tue, 20 Apr 2004 00:00:00 -0400

The new per diem rates for business travel by federal employees were published Tuesday in the Federal Register and become effective on May 5, 2004. All but one of the areas, Killeen, Texas, are additions to the per diem program. The new rates and areas are:

Montana:
Butte, including Silver Bow County: $94
Missoula, including Missoula County: $91
Polson/Kalispell, including Lake and Flathead Counties: $90 to $118, depending on the dates of travel
New York:
Schenectady, including Schenectady County: $105
Ohio:
Fairborn, including City limits of Fairborn: $107
Texas:
Killeen, including Bell County: $97, up from $94.

More than 93,000 federal employees travel each day to more than 8,000 destinations, and in fiscal 2002, the last data available, agencies spent more than $10 billion on travel costs.

Last April, the per diem rate tables were removed from the Federal Travel Regulation. Now, the General Services Administration publishes rates periodically and posts them on its Web site at http://www.gsa.gov/perdiem.

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TSP funds have strong February showing

Tanya Ballard Brown — Mon, 08 Mar 2004 00:00:00 -0500

The I Fund grew the most last month, increasing by 2.22 percent. The I Fund, which invests in international stocks, has grown by nearly 53 percent in the past 12 months.

The S Fund, which invests in the stocks of small and mid-size companies, gained 1.78 percent in February 2004. The S Fund has grown by more than 58 percent since March 2003.

The C Fund grew by 1.35 percent during the past month. The C Fund invests in common stock and has gained more than 38 percent in the past year.

The F Fund was up 1.09 percent last month and has increased by nearly 5 percent during the past 12 months. The F Fund is made up of fixed-income bonds.

The G Fund, which consists of government securities, gained 0.39 percent in February 2004. The fund rose more than 4 percent during the past year. The monthly I, S, C, F and G fund returns reflect net earnings on the changing balances invested during the month.

For an index of the performance of the I, S, and C funds that is updated each business day, see the "TSP Ticker" on the front page of GovExec.com.

February's rates of return appear below. Numbers in parentheses are negative.

	G Fund	F Fund	C Fund	S Fund	I Fund
February 2004	0.39%	1.09%	1.35 %	1.78%	2.22%
Last 12 Months (3/1/2003-2/29/2004)	4.13%	4.52%	38.31%	58.27%	52.67%

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TSP numbers climb in January

Tanya Ballard Brown — Mon, 09 Feb 2004 00:00:00 -0500

The S Fund saw the biggest increase last month, growing by 3.53 percent. The S Fund invests in the stocks of small and mid-size companies and has grown by nearly 52 percent in the past 12 months.

The C Fund, which invests in common stock, was up 1.8 percent in January and rose more than 34 percent during the past year.

The I Fund grew by 1.32 percent over the past month. The I Fund, made up of international stocks, has gained nearly 46 percent since February 2003.

The F Fund, made up of fixed-income bonds, increased by 0.8 percent in last month, with an annual increase of 4.84 percent in the past 12 months.

The G Fund consists of government securities and gained 0.29 percent in January 2004. The fund grew by more than 4 percent during the past year.

The monthly S, C, I, F and G fund returns reflect net earnings on the changing balances invested during the month.

For an index of the performance of the S, C and I funds that is updated each business day, see the "TSP Ticker" on the front page of GovExec.com.

January's rates of return appear below. Numbers in parentheses are negative.

	G Fund	F Fund	C Fund	S Fund	I Fund
January 2004	0.29%	0.80%	1.80 %	3.53%	1.32%
Last 12 Months (2/1/2003-1/31/2004)	4.06%	4.84%	34.44%	51.53%	45.94%

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TSP funds close on a high note in 2003

Tanya Ballard Brown — Tue, 06 Jan 2004 00:00:00 -0500

The S Fund had the largest gain last year, increasing by nearly 43 percent in 2003. The fund, which invests in stocks of small- and mid-size companies, went up 2.04 percent in December.

The I Fund saw the next biggest gain in 2003, growing by nearly 38 percent during the past year. The I Fund, made up of international stocks, gained 7.68 percent in December 2003.

The C Fund, which invests in common stock, grew more than 28 percent in 2003 and rose 5.24 percent last month.

The F Fund, made up of fixed-income bonds, was up 1.01 percent in December, with an annual increase of 4.11 percent in 2003.

The G Fund gained 0.49 percent in December 2003. The fund consists of government securities and grew 4.11 percent during the past year.

The monthly C, F, S, I and G Fund returns reflect net earnings on the changing balances invested during the month.

For an index of the performance of the C, I and S funds that is updated each business day, see the "TSP Ticker" on the front page of GovExec.com.

December's rates of return appear below. Numbers in parentheses are negative.

	G Fund	F Fund	C Fund	S Fund	I Fund
December 2003	0.49%	1.01%	5.24 %	2.04%	7.68%
Last 12 Months (1/1/2003-12/31/2003)	4.11%	4.11%	28.54%	42.92%	37.94%

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Defense contracting employees to vote on union representation

Tanya Ballard Brown — Mon, 22 Dec 2003 00:00:00 -0500

The contracting agency was reorganized in 2000 and as a result, questions arose over whether or not its approximately 9,500 employees would have union representation, and which union would speak on their behalf. In June 2003, the Federal Labor Relations Authority ruled that the issue would be settled on a single secret ballot vote.

On Jan. 12, ballots will be mailed to DCMA employees, who will vote first on whether they want union representation and then on which of three unions -- the American Federation of Government Employees, the National Association of Government Employees or the National Federation of Federal Employees -- should represent them. If a union is selected, it will win the exclusive right to bargain with agency officials over such issues as pay, hiring, job classifications and employee discipline.

An AFGE flyer circulating about the election claims the union currently represents almost 70 percent of DCMA's employees. "No other union on the ballot comes close to having the knowledge and expertise about the issues facing DCMA workers than AFGE," the flyer contends.

Officials at NAGE, which also represents some workers at the agency, expressed concern about the vote. "Depending on the outcome of the DCMA election, our members could quite possibly lose their right to union representation," said NAGE President David J. Holway. "They could also get stuck with a union that isn't of their choosing."

"We know that many DCMA employees are seeking a change in union representation, and we believe those ready for a change will choose NFFE," the union's president, Richard N. Brown, said Monday. "We are the best equipped to represent DCMA employees."

The issue of who will represent the agency takes on new importance as Pentagon officials prepare to implement authorities granted to them under the fiscal 2004 Defense Authorization Act. The recently passed legislation grants Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld authority to set up new rules governing hiring, pay and promotions of the department's 700,000 civilian employees.

The new law also allows Rumsfeld to limit his consultations to the national offices of the various unions representing Defense employees. Under the previous system, Defense management had to negotiate with more than 1,300 local union offices.

According to NAGE, the labor panel's decision may lead to other federal employees being "forced to elect one union as their representative."

Ballots must be received by the FLRA by 5 p.m. on Feb. 10.

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Mileage reimbursement rates to increase in 2004

Tanya Ballard Brown — Mon, 15 Dec 2003 00:00:00 -0500

The new rate goes into effect on Jan. 1, according to a Dec. 15 Federal Register notice. Federal employee mileage reimbursement rates are based on data collected by GSA, and generally keep pace with the rate set annually by the Internal Revenue Service. In fact, by law (41 CFR Part 301-10), the governmentwide rate cannot exceed the rate set by the IRS.

The 2003 rate is 36 cents per mile.

Federal travel regulations allow employees to use their personal vehicles for official travel if such travel is authorized by their agency. If an agency authorizes travel by other means, such as by air, and an employee drives his or her own car instead, the reimbursement rate is limited to the cost of the authorized means of travel.

Employees who use personal motorcycles and airplanes will also see the mileage reimbursement rate increase in 2004. The reimbursement rate for motorcycles in 2004 is 28.5 cents per mile, up from 27.5 cents in 2003. Personal airplane travel will be reimbursed at 99.5 cents per mile in 2004, up from 95.5 cents per mile in 2003.

The mileage reimbursement rate does not apply to employee relocations. Relocations are designated as transportation expenses, not as an allowance for the cost and operation of a vehicle, according to GSA.

GSA Vehicle Reimbursement Rates
2004	$0.375
2003	$0.36
2002	$0.365
2001	$0.345
2000	$0.325
1999	$0.31
1998	$0.325
1996	$0.31
1995	$0.30

* No rate change in 1997

Source: General Services Administration

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The early bidding on 2005 pay raise: 2.5 percent

Tanya Ballard Brown — Mon, 15 Dec 2003 00:00:00 -0500

Under the 1990 Federal Employees Pay Comparability Act (FEPCA), the base federal pay increase for 2005 is calculated by subtracting 0.5 percent from the change in the Employment Cost Index from September 2002 to September 2003. That change was 3 percent. That means the base pay increase for 2005 would be 2.5 percent under the formula.

The 2005 pay raise information was included in the annual report released last week by the President's Pay Agent, a group made up of Office of Personnel Management Director Kay Coles James, Labor Secretary Elaine Chao and Office of Management and Budget Director Josh Bolten.

In addition to the base across-the-board increases, federal employees who live in 31 metropolitan areas around the country would also receive additional locality pay increases based on the cost of labor in each city.

The president and Congress, however, can -- and usually do -- reject the FEPCA formula and set raises at a different level than those prescribed in the law. For example, under the formula, federal employees would be due a 2.7 percent base pay raise in January 2004. However, in his fiscal 2004 budget issued in February, President Bush called for a 2 percent total average raise, divided between a 1.5 percent across-the-board increase and 0.5 percent in locality pay raises. The smaller increase was paired with a proposal to create a $500 million Human Capital Performance Fund, from which managers could withdraw money to raise the salaries of their best performers. The fund was created, but Congress only allotted $2.5 million for the fund.

Members of Congress pushed for a larger raise and included language granting civil service employees and blue collar workers a 4.1 percent average pay raise in the $820 billion fiscal 2004 omnibus spending bill passed by the House on Dec. 8. However, the Senate has delayed voting on the bill until late January and federal employees will only see a 2 percent increase until the bill receives approval from the Senate and is signed into law by the president.

Military raises are calculated by adding 0.5 percent to the ECI, so service members can expect a 3.5 percent raise in 2005 based on their pay formula.

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First special rates settlement checks in the mail

Tanya Ballard Brown — Wed, 10 Dec 2003 00:00:00 -0500

The 20-year-old case, which was settled in December 2002 for $173.5 million, affects about 212,000 current and former employees who worked under special salary rates from 1982 to 1988. These employees were paid at higher levels than other workers because they worked in hard-to-fill occupations or locations. But an Office of Personnel Management regulation exempting special rate employees from annual pay adjustments to the General Schedule prevented them from receiving certain salary increases.

NTEU challenged the OPM regulation, and the district court ruled it illegal in 1987. In 1998, the U.S. Court of Appeals ruled that the government owed affected employees back pay, sending the case back to the lower court to determine compensation.

"NTEU fought for this moment for 20 years," said President Colleen M. Kelley. "It's not only gratifying to see these employees get the money they rightly deserve, but having the first payments delivered in the midst of the holiday season is especially satisfying."

Employees who were properly compensated during the 1982-1988 period will not benefit from the settlement. At least 43,000 clerical workers in the Washington area will receive payments, along with various engineers, medical workers and security employees across the country.

For more information about the special rates back pay case, visit http://www.specialratessettlement.com or call NTEU's special hot line at 800-750-3406.

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TSP funds up across the board in November

Tanya Ballard Brown — Wed, 03 Dec 2003 00:00:00 -0500

The C fund, which invests in common stocks, increased 0.91 percent. The fund has shown positive returns for eight of the past 12 months and has increased almost 15 percent during the past year.

The S Fund went up 3.47 percent in November. The fund, which invests in stocks of small- and mid-sized companies, increased by more than 34 percent during the past year.

The I fund gained 2.22 percent last month, continuing a streak of positive returns that began in March. The fund, made up of international stocks, has grown by almost 24 percent since December 2002.

The G Fund, made up of government securities, grew by 0.3 percent last month, mirroring its October growth. The fund has increased 4 percent in the past year.

The F Fund, consisting of fixed-income bonds, rallied last month, rising 0.30 percent after dipping 1 percent in October. The fund grew 5.22 percent during the past 12 months.

The monthly G, F, C, S and I fund returns reflect net earnings on the amounts invested during the month.

For an index of the performance of the C, I and S funds that is updated each business day, see the "TSP Ticker" on the front page of GovExec.com.

November's rates of return appear below. Numbers in parentheses are negative.

	G Fund	F Fund	C Fund	S Fund	I Fund
November 2003	0.30%	0.30%	0.91%	3.47%	2.22%
Last 12 Months (12/1/2002-11/30/2003)	4.00%	5.22%	14.99%	34.01%	23.91%

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House chair probes development of immigrant tracking system

Tanya Ballard Brown — Tue, 02 Dec 2003 00:00:00 -0500

Last week, House Government Reform Chairman Tom Davis, R-Va., sent letters to Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge and Secretary of State Colin Powell, requesting information about the U.S. Visitor and Immigrant Status Indicator Technology (US VISIT) project. The system will track the comings and goings of millions of annual visitors to the United States by requiring them to provide two electronic copies of their fingerprints as well as a digital photo of themselves.

"As the deadline for the implementation of US VISIT quickly approaches, I am concerned about coordination between the State Department and DHS in this program," Davis wrote to Powell.

Last Friday, Homeland Security issued a request for proposals from contractors to develop the US VISIT system.

Davis said he was worried that information collection efforts might overwhelm consular offices overseas, which issue visas. The chairman asked that State Department officials provide information about how the information would be collected, how many people would be used to collect it at each consulate, what kind of facility modifications would be required to accommodate the new activity, and what types of technical difficulties the new activity might impose on the consulates.

In the letter to Ridge, Davis said poor execution of the program could "clog airports, cost millions in business and tourism and ultimately hurt border security."

Davis asked Ridge to provide information about the time frame for airports, seaports and border offices to begin participating in the US VISIT program, as well as a list of all the organizations that might have access to the information complied through the program.

"America has long held its borders relatively open as an expression of our desire to allow travelers freedom of movement into and out of the country as business and personal needs may require," Davis wrote. Davis gave Ridge and Powell until Dec. 8 to produce the requested information.

Last month, Reps. Pete Sessions, R-Texas, Lincoln Davis, D-Tenn., and Randy Neugebauer, R-Texas, introduced the Visitor Information and Security Accountability Act (H.R. 3452), to address concerns raised by the General Accounting Office and various lawmakers about the lack of details about the project. The bill would establish a "stakeholders" committee made up of government officials and private sector representatives to oversee US VISIT.

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