Management
USAF cracks down on ‘need to know’ violations in wake of Discord leaks
Wing commander fired, 14 more disciplined after hundreds of documents were posted to a chat platform.
Workforce
House moves to save DHS office, and hundreds of jobs, from elimination
The Senate has just a few months to take action or the office will shutter.
Pay & Benefits
5 highlights of the 2024 Open Season
Open Season for the Federal Employees Health Benefit Program may be over, but it was still filled with new additions and best practices for federal employees and beneficiaries to keep an eye on. Here are some of the highlights.
Tech
GAO to release landmark AI report detailing agency use
The report provides a baseline for the use of artificial intelligence across major non-defense federal agencies and how they are meeting existing requirements.
Management
New bill seeks to codify Trump-era regulation cut rule
Rep. Mike Gallagher’s (R-Wisc.) legislation aims to make permanent the Trump executive order that sought to repeal two regulations for each one introduced.
Management
Biden to invest $8B toward vision for nationwide expansion of passenger rail
The long-awaited grants for construction and planning show that the administration is unfazed by attacks in Washington over the popularity of passenger rail, with nearly every state receiving money.
Tech
Veterans Affairs sheds more light on $14B transformation recompete
The department's main health care agency announces its decision on which companies will be eligible and reveals more on how teams can be structured.
Workforce
Supreme Court vacates ruling restricting president's right to issue federal workforce mandates
The high court ended the case against President Biden's vaccine mandate, calling it moot.
Workforce
Feds are unlikely to get an extra day off at Christmas
With Christmas Day falling on a Monday this year, odds are against federal workers receiving additional time off for Christmas Eve.
Management
OMB adds metrics to digital experience oversight
The Office of Management and Budget is piloting new digital experience indicators based on recently released guidance for the 21st Century IDEA Act.
Workforce
State Dept. employees praise Biden administration for encouraging dissent
The administration has faced some criticism for censoring employee speech related to the Israel-Gaza conflict, but staff say internal channels are open for disagreement.
Management
California wins big as Biden administration doubles down on high-speed rail
The Golden State will benefit from $6 billion in new grants to provide connections in the Central Valley and between the Los Angeles suburbs and Las Vegas. An East Coast route is getting big money too.
Workforce
Looking for tech talent? Broaden your search, IC chief says
The nation’s 18 intelligence agencies should look beyond the nation’s capital if they want to get and keep the best cyber workers, said Adele Merritt.
Pay & Benefits
OPM retirement backlog hits six-year low for third time this year
The number of pending federal employee retirement claims fell under 16,000 for the second time since 2017 in November.
Management
Biden administration boasts it’s including more public input into agency rulemaking
Agencies hope to solicit more perspectives and boost trust in government.
Pay & Benefits
TSP and the magic of compound interest
A few things to consider when deciding if you should contribute to the Thrift Savings Plan.
Oversight
Social Security clawbacks hit a million more people than the agency chief told Congress
At issue is the scope of a problem that has terrified many Social Security beneficiaries and plunged them into financial distress.
Management
20 federal agencies miss the deadline for implementing cyber incident tracking requirements, watchdog says
The Government Accountability Office found that just three federal agencies were in compliance with the Office of Management and Budget’s advanced cyber event logging requirements.
Tech
Hackers exploited out-of-support software to scan federal systems, CISA says
The cyber agency is once again asking agencies to update their software.
Workforce