Management

Feds in marine program compensated better than nonfederal counterparts

Differences in salary, annual leave and other benefits cause divisions within Commerce program’s multisector workforce.

Management

Ethics office seeks to extend post-employment ‘cooling off’ period to all of SES

Move would would widen pool of top officials subject to limits on contacts with their former agencies.

Tech

Defense tech agency boosts telework to prevent exodus

The Defense Information Systems Agency is giving certain employees more chances to work from home, in anticipation of headquarters relocation.

News

Protest of tech contract upheld over trade law provisions

Case highlights difficulty technology contractors have complying with rules on where items can be manufactured.

Defense

Study sees no need to replace Air Force tankers

Report contradicts longstanding Air Force claims that aircraft were aging and in disrepair.

News

Postal overhaul bill held up in Senate

Two senators place holds on bill, saying they want more time to study its provisions.

Defense

Outlook uncertain for bill creating Katrina recovery organization

President cites fiscal, operational concerns in opposing measure.

Pay & Benefits

Getting Credit

Make sure you get proper credit for all of your federal service when retirement time comes around.

News

Reservists' Raises

None

News

Weight Loss, Brain Loss

None

News

Budget office predicts slight increase in deficit this fiscal year

Relative to the size of the economy, deficit expected to remain about the same as last year – not accounting for policies yet to be passed by Congress.

Pay & Benefits

Democrats introduce bill to force FAA contract arbitration

Air traffic controllers back bill in the midst of tense negotiations over pay.

Management

Union asks IRS to bring contracted work back in-house

Agency says it has no plans to exercise authority to weigh shifting certain projects from contractors back to federal employees.

News

Mayors seek more federal support for disaster response

Local officials ask that the military no longer be viewed as a “resource of last resort.”

Defense

Senate budget adviser sees DHS funding increase

Senior staffer says it's the "only budget in town that is going to continue to see growth."

News

Panel: Performance-based contracting not a panacea

Despite the hype, no single contracting tool or oversight technique can fix all the government’s problems, panelists say.

Defense

Senators prepare to put Pentagon on notice over Guard cuts

Congress is increasingly wary of efforts to downsize state-run units.

Management

Postal Service lobbies against reform bill

Agency says Senate legislation likely to burden Postal Service with employees' military pension costs, limit managerial flexibility.

Pay & Benefits

Benefits Bills

Congress is considering acupuncture coverage, tax-free student loans and a variety of other new benefits for federal employees.

News

Unappealing Option

None