Oversight
Lawmakers: Treat Agency Guidance the Same As Rules and Regulations
New bill would ensure oversight for additional agency policies.
Workforce
NIH Fellows Hope Union Bid Will Bolster Pay and Protections
Organizers hope that forming a union at the National Institutes of Health will help increase pay, benefits and worker protections across academia.
Management
Lawmakers Flock to Prevent Birds From Dying in Collisions With Public Buildings
Animal protection advocates in Congress have been trying for over a decade to get the government to take steps to make federal buildings more bird-friendly.
Oversight
U.S. Customs and Border Protection Investigation Finds Multiple Failings in the Death of 8-Year-Old Girl in Federal Custody
CBP acting Commissioner Troy Miller said in a statement that the in-custody death was “deeply upsetting” and an “unacceptable tragedy.”
Defense
‘Fort Liberty’: Army More Than Half Done Scrubbing Confederate Names from Its Bases
The new name for Fort Bragg is a compromise between airborne and Special Forces, one source said.
Workforce
The Cure for What Ails the Government’s Security Clearance Process: Automation
Most, if not all, of the manual steps traditionally done by federal employees or contractors can now be done by modern technologies, writes one expert.
Management
Senate Passes Debt Deal, Agency Spending Freeze Bill Headed to Biden's Desk
Bipartisan leaders pledge to pass fiscal 2024 funding bills to avoid a sequestration next year.
Management
Federal Agencies Could Save $6B by Electrifying Their Fleets, Report Finds
President Biden has ordered agencies to take swift action to stop buying polluting vehicles.
Pay & Benefits
TSP Portfolios Report a Mixed Bag of May Returns
Most of the funds in the federal government’s 401(k)-style retirement savings plan finished last month down, amid concerns that the United States could breach the debt limit.
Oversight
Thousands of HUD Contractor Employees Need Better Whistleblower Protections, Watchdog Says
Inspector General Rae Oliver Davis warned of a possible “chilling effect” that could make the contractors hesitant to report wrongdoing.
Pay & Benefits
So Many TSP Choices
When it comes time to start taking Thrift Savings Plan disbursements, you have options. Lots of options.
Management
House Passes Debt Deal That Would Freeze Agency Spending
The Senate has just a few days to act to avoid forcing federal workers to miss paychecks.
Management
To Have Better Disagreements, Change Your Words – Here are 4 Ways to Make Your Counterpart Feel Heard and Keep the Conversation Going
Conversational receptiveness can help keep both parties engaged.
Management
Possible Hold Up of FBI Headquarters Funding Slammed by Democrats
“Reasonable people can debate where the new FBI headquarters should be located, but there is no question that a new headquarters is desperately needed,” said Rep. Gerry Connolly, D-Va.
Management
Budget and Tech Challenges Loom Over IRS's Direct File Pilot
The news of the forthcoming pilot was followed this week by a compromise debt ceiling bill that includes reallocating $20 billion of the funding the IRS got as part of the Inflation Reduction Act.
Workforce
An Effort to Make It Easier for Feds to Bust Their Own Union is Blocked by the FLRA
The American Federation of Government Employees applauded the decision, but with a FLRA-mandated union election scheduled for next month, the fight is far from over.
Pay & Benefits
Postal Union Expects a ‘Smooth Transition,’ But Notes Possible Bumps In the Road for the New Health Benefit Program
Employees, retirees and family members are expected to shift to the Postal Service Health Benefits Plan by Jan. 1, 2025.
Management
It’s Time to Act on the Workforce Portion of the President’s Management Agenda
Despite human capital reforms being referenced in recent management agendas, not much has actually changed.
Management
DOJ Has a Newly Updated Policy on Preventing Bias in Federal Law Enforcement
Advocacy groups said the update to a 2014 version is a good start, but doesn’t go far enough.
Tech