Pay & Benefits
5 Things You Should Do to Prepare for Health Benefits Open Season
For many federal employees and retirees, this is a time of frustration and confusion.
Pay & Benefits
Senate Approves Budget Plan, Setting Up Fight Over Fed Benefit Cuts
The House version of the resolution includes $32 billion in cuts, likely to employee retirement and health insurance programs.
Management
Small Agency’s Employees Say They Felt Pressured to Report Improved Job Satisfaction
But leader of Chemical Safety Board says big uptick in Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey scores was the result of management improvement initiatives.
Nextgov
Mattis Opposes Splitting Defense CIO Duties
The defense secretary’s letter also objects to a requirement that the Defense Department notify other nations before responding to cyber threats.
Management
House Oversight Leaders Press Tardy Agencies to Reveal Their Travel Costs
Committee chairman threatens Agriculture and Justice with subpoenas.
Nextgov
Could the Senate’s Plan to Speed Up Bid Protests Backfire?
A shorter timeframe to review contracting disputes could put significant stress on the Government Accountability Office.
Management
Do People Like Government ‘Nudges’? Study Says: Yes
Government initiatives to prod people to make better decisions got a lot of attention after Richard Thaler won a Nobel in economics for his working on nudging.
Management
Managers Are Missing Out On The Most Important Part Of Personality Tests
What's most valuable isn't the test itself.
Management
Take 5: How Power Dynamics Shape Our Behavior
Power—or the lack of it—impacts everything from snack choices to economic growth.
Oversight
Play of the Day: 'The Apprentice' For Border Walls
The wall prototypes are showcased near the border and they look like reality show contestants.
Management
To Give Better Feedback, You Must Fully Understand the Agony of Receiving It
We talk a lot about how we need feedback and not enough about how we process it.
Nextgov
Sharing Election Threat Info with States Won’t be One-Size-Fits-All, DHS Says
Cyber threat information sharing strategies will vary state by state based on state preferences, a DHS official says.
Nextgov
This Tool Saves HUD Employees Weeks of Work
House of Urban Development Department employees would take days and even weeks to fulfill lawmakers’ requests until the agency launched CART.
Management
Congress, FBI Already Investigating Potential Abuse of Federal Funds in Puerto Rico's Disaster Response
The federal government has ramped up disaster oversight post-Katrina, but current allegations involve local mayors.
Oversight
Trump's GSA Nominee Wins Bipartisan Praise
Emily Murphy would streamline disposal of excess property, seek economical leasing.
Defense
Slain Soldier's Mother: 'Trump Did Disrespect My Son'
Despite claiming he was better at consoling the families of slain servicemembers than his predecessors, Trump offended the family of La David Johnson and skipped calls and letters to other grieving loved ones.
Management
Lego Is Finally Celebrating the Women of NASA With Their Very Own Set
Astronauts and other key contributors to the space agency's most successful projects are now immortalized in brick form.
Oversight
Senator Threatens to Hold Up OPM Nominee Over Obamacare Rule Spat
Chairman of oversight committee has long sought documents related to a rule allowing congressional staff to purchase insurance on a small business exchange and receive employer subsidies.
Pay & Benefits
Lawmakers Urge Reversal of Defense Per Diem Cuts, Senate Debates Budget Resolution and More
A weekly roundup of pay and benefits news.
Management