Pay & Benefits
Lawmakers revive bill to let ex-temps make catch-up retirement contributions
Currently, Federal Employees Retirement System employees who began their careers as temporary or seasonal workers must work longer to receive their full retirement benefits.
Workforce
State Dept. expands capacity for training and onboarding amid hiring surge
Middle East war demonstrates need for a competent diplomatic workforce, State Secretary Antony Blinken says.
Oversight
Supreme Court lifts restrictions on federal agency contacts with social media firms
The ruling frees up federal agencies to contact social network platform owners about content moderation issues and other matters, pending the resolution of a court case.
Management
How the U.S. Postal Service is doing cloud 'right'
The United States Postal Service CIO explained her agency started its cloud journey early and maintains a business objectives focus for migrations.
News
Jordan’s bid to be House speaker ends after rejection by GOP in closed meeting
The closed-door meeting came after Rep. Jim Jordan’s third attempt to win sufficient support from Republicans, who hold a slim majority in the House.
Management
A stopgap budget might be better for some civilian agencies than an appropriation
Professional Services Council President and CEO David Berteau said Thursday that the uncertain nature of budget negotiations and a looming spending cut baked into the debt ceiling deal means some agencies might be better off being funded at fiscal 2023 levels.
Workforce
Biden seeks federal hiring surge in new $100B emergency funding request
A variety of agencies would collectively add nearly 6,000 employees if Congress provides the supplemental funding.
Workforce
Rep. Jim Jordan’s hardline approach targets federal employees and, by extension, veterans
COMMENTARY | "As lawmakers, it's incumbent upon our representatives to understand the ramifications of their proposals, especially when they negatively impact a group as deserving of our support as veterans," writes Michael Embrich about the GOP speaker nominee.
Workforce
Biden administration pleads for WMD office’s salvation
Hundreds of employees are facing job elimination, leaving the 'sword of Damocles hanging over their head.'
Workforce
Impasses panel preserves telework levels for FEC bargaining unit workers
FEC officials had argued that employees need more “water cooler discussions,” despite the agency’s own assessment of a pilot program finding that increased telework improved agency operations.
Pay & Benefits
Survivor Benefit confusion: part two
What about insurance instead of a survivor benefit election?
Pay & Benefits
Court sides with Biden administration in dismissing federal employee union’s effort to eradicate debt default threat
Federal workers do not have standing after Congress narrowly avoided forcing them to work without immediate pay, judge rules.
Management
Under fire, Social Security chief vows ‘top-to-bottom’ review of payment clawbacks
House members faulted the agency for issuing billions of dollars of payments in error and then, often much later, demanding that beneficiaries pay the money back.
Tech
Login.gov to add facial recognition tech
The General Services Administration is changing its digital identity service to allow users to authenticate themselves by matching against a previously submitted government ID.
Management
Senate lawmakers float plan to revamp agencies’ customer service
The Improving Government Services Act would require agencies to develop plans to implement private-sector customer experience best practices into how they interact with members of the public.
Workforce
The latest GOP speaker nominee has a history of targeting federal employees
Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, has orchestrated shutdowns and called for drastic reductions in federal agency rolls.
News
House stalled again after rejecting Jim Jordan as speaker a second time
Jordan plans to talk with the Republicans who voted against him and hopes to win those who flipped Wednesday back to his side.
Management
COVID relief payments triggered feds to demand money back from Social Security recipients
House and Senate members have called for action on problems at the Social Security Administration.
Tech
IRS announces 13 states where taxpayers could use its Direct File pilot
The agency has yet to commit to a long-term product for the in-house filing tool.
Pay & Benefits