Workforce
A gender equity group still wants better protections for feds who need abortion care
One year after the Dobbs decision, President Biden signed a new executive order potentially expanding contraceptive access for federal workers, but a gender equity group at the Justice Department says more needs to be done.
Management
Senators try again to weed out past marijuana use as a disqualifier for intelligence jobs
The reform could happen through the fiscal 2024 Intelligence Authorization Act.
Management
VA official expects Oracle Cerner to deliver on $10B EHR contract despite layoffs
While lawmakers and officials expect work to continue as planned, an insider warned that layoffs at Oracle Cerner targeted a clinical team that worked to implement new electronic health record systems.
Pay & Benefits
Draft spending bill cuts telework and bans transgender care for feds, but preserves 5.2% pay raise plan
A House subcommittee's fiscal 2024 spending bill does nothing to override the president’s planned average pay increase for federal workers next year, but it is riddled with policy riders.
Pay & Benefits
How Social Security became less generous
And why the trend might continue in the years ahead.
Management
How a ‘small, but mighty’ agency is working to advance diversity, equity and inclusion
The Farm Credit Administration wants its workforce to reflect the diverse borrowers that rely on the institutions it regulates.
Management
Senate remains divided along party lines as it kicks off the fiscal 2024 funding process
Despite a budget deal and calls for bipartisanship, a fall shutdown remains possible amid disagreements on appropriations levels.
Defense
Republicans rehash vaccine mandate policies in defense authorization bill amendments
House Armed Services Committee markup adds legislation aimed at helping troops who refused the COVID-19 vaccine.
Workforce
Social Security’s staffing crisis is getting dire, union says
Agency management is doing “the bare minimum” to improve workplace conditions amid a daunting workload and morale that is among the worst in the federal government, union officials argue.
Management
A union is still pushing to permanently end the threat of delayed paychecks due to a debt default
The Biden administration will soon have to articulate its views on the constitutionality of the debt ceiling.
Management
Vacant White House cyber post draws concern amid global software breach
In the aftermath of a global cyberattack exposing personal data on millions of Americans, calls are growing for the White House to fill the top slot at the Office of the National Cyber Director.
Management
A new bipartisan bill looks to thwart financial conflicts of interest for top government officials
“The bipartisan HONEST Act will provide greater transparency and safeguard public interest by establishing clear guidelines that prioritize the American people,” said Rep. Nick Langworthy, R-N.Y.
Pay & Benefits
The GOP wants to bring back pay for performance, but a leading expert says it’ll never work
Past pay-for-performance efforts have done “double duty as a kind of way to diminish the unions, go after the rank and file, and that was clear,” a researcher says.
Tech
There’s something DHS can do to help civilian agencies fight cyberattacks
The Homeland Security Department has the power to do a lot more than just issue words of warning.
Defense
The Air Force has moved families 15 times to evade LGTBQ+, racial discrimination
The department started tracking discrimination-related movements in 2021.
Pay & Benefits
Implement locality pay changes quickly, salary council urges OPM
The annual list of recommendations, made in February but made public this month, did not alter the map of locality pay areas, but reiterated the importance of proposals already tentatively approved by the Biden administration.
Workforce
USPS begins issuing layoff notices to some employees
The Postal Service hopes to find new jobs for those impacted, but it has not detailed the reasons for the cuts.
Oversight
Records agency to DHS: Look into your watchdog’s use of text messages
This comes after a hearing two weeks ago that raised concerns among some lawmakers about how the IG uses and retains records of electronic messages.
Defense