Employee Policy
USPS gets Christmas present
The year-end holiday season was kind to the U.S. Postal Service, generating business that resulted in a 4.3 percent increase in operating revenues for the first quarter of fiscal 2015 over the same period a year before.
Retirement
Bill would lower employee pension contribution rate
A House lawmaker has reintroduced the Federal Employee Pension Fairness Act, which would repeal measures that increased the amount that newer federal employees must contribute to their pensions.
Retirement
OPM retirement claims backlog doubles
The Office of Personnel Management last month took in 18,629 new retirement claims, resulting in a month-end backlog of nearly twice the number of claims that were in its inventory at the end of December.
Nextgov
GAO's High-Risk List Adds IT Acquisition and Veteran Health Care
Multiple Capitol Hill sources confirmed to Nextgov that IT acquisition and operations and veteran health care are now included.
Employee Policy
DHS dials back employee space in revised HQ plan
The Department of Homeland Security's has revamped its headquarters consolidation plan to cut the cost of the project by reducing the square footage per employee.
Employee Policy
Park Police union calls for more resources; cites terrorist activity
The Fraternal Order of Police committee that represents U.S. Park Police warned the head of the National Park Service that its force needs more staff and financial support to adequately protect U.S. monuments and their visitors from terrorist attacks.
Employee Policy
DISA launches new DOD online collaboration tool
The Defense Information Systems Agency last week announced it is rolling out an online collaboration tool that lets Defense Department employees worldwide access secure web conferencing, instant messaging and chat capabilities.
Route Fifty
Should the Garden State Abolish Its County Governments?
A state assemblyman from North Jersey wants to do away them. But he might want to take a South Jersey field trip first.
Nextgov
Need a Job? Cyber Command Is Halfway Full
The Pentagon is at the midway point of staffing a projected 6,000-person Cyber Command.
Defense
IG Probes Air Force 2-Star’s Treason Charge
General reportedly said A-10 pilots who tell Congress about the aircraft’s capabilities are committing treason.
Nextgov
What Kind of Federal CIO Will Tony Scott Be?
Tony Scott officially takes the reins of the Obama administration’s $84 billion IT budget next week.
Management
Obama Administration: Climate Change Is ‘An Urgent and Growing Threat’ to National Security
A new national security document from the administration puts climate change front and center
Management
11 Major Agency Reforms in Obama’s Budget
Consolidations, expansions and staffing change proposals in the fiscal 2016 blueprint.
Management
Liabilities Overshadow Postal Service’s ‘Fantastic Quarter’
USPS loses $754 million to start fiscal 2015, despite massive revenue growth.
Management
EPA Watchdog Dings Itself For Not Always Vetting Job Applicants' Credentials
The inspector general office says it needs to require managers to verify the work history and references of potential hires.
Management
The Case For Intense Background Checks For Hires
Research firm Muddy Waters has adopted a distinctive hiring process which relies on outside researchers to poke holes in candidates’ backstories.
Management
IRS Re-Hired Employees Who Performed Poorly or Misbehaved
Watchdog finds repeat hires with overdue taxes, unexcused absences or criminal records.
News
Jeb Bush Is No Anti-Government Crusader
Would-be GOP presidential contender calls for “smarter, effective government.”
Defense
British Access to NSA Spying Was Illegal, Court Rules
The surprising rebuke could portend further legal challenges in Europe to the U.S. government’s international surveillance programs.
Oversight