Pay & Benefits
The Confusing Factor in Calculating Your Retirement Benefit
Determining your length of creditable service can get complicated.
Defense
Acting Defense Chief Cleared of Accusations of Ethics Abuse
Shanahan did not tilt decisions to former employer Boeing, IG concludes.
Management
How to Give Employees Effective Feedback
Managers often create more problems than they solve when discussing performance with staff.
Management
FEMA Showed Weak Mastery of Contracts During Hurricane Response and Recovery
GAO report on $5 billion spent after Harvey, Irma and Maria shows "inconsistencies" in contracting.
Nextgov
DISA Awards Two Contracts to Build a Moat Around the Pentagon’s Internet
The two selected vendors will prototype cloud-based systems that isolate the department’s internal network from the public internet while still allowing employees to browse the web.
Route Fifty
Chalking Tires to Track Parking Violators Is Unconstitutional, Court Rules
A woman filed a lawsuit against Saginaw, Michigan after she racked up 15 parking tickets.
Nextgov
It’s Official: Trump Shifts All Security Clearance Work to Pentagon
An executive order renames the Defense Security Service and sets a timeline for the office to take over background investigations for the entire federal community.
Defense
It’s Getting Harder to Track U.S. Progress in Afghanistan
Almost every metric “is now classified or nonexistent,” says the special inspector general for Afghan reconstruction.
Management
White House's Push for More Oversight of Agency Data Has Some Scientists Concerned
OMB wants to make more agency data public, peer reviewed and reproducible.
Management
White House: Proposed Hiring Rule Was Meant to Help, Not Hurt Ex-Offenders Seeking Federal Jobs
Administration seeks to clarify intent of proposed requirement that applicants disclose participation in pretrial diversion programs, amid outcry.
Route Fifty
Why a County Eliminated Degree Requirements for 82 Types of Jobs
The change will affect the hiring criteria for jobs ranging from budget analysts to parks managers.
Route Fifty
A State Considers How to Help Local Governments Pay for Expensive Murder Trials
A bill in the Ohio legislature would allow counties to ask for state financial support for large capital murder cases.
Nextgov
FAA Greenlights Drone Company to Deliver Food in One Virginia Town
The Federal Aviation Administration gave its first OK to drone company to deliver commercial goods.
Defense
Military Services Fall Short in Responding to Domestic Violence on Bases
Watchdog finds inconsistencies in reporting and documentation.
Pay & Benefits
Lawmakers, DHS Look to Improve Border Patrol Compensation
A weekly roundup of pay and benefits news.
Nextgov
IRS’ Outdated App Security Leaves Taxpayers at Risk of Identity Theft, Watchdog Says
The agency is updating identity verification controls for its suite of web applications, but the effort won’t be wrapped up until 2023.
Oversight
State Department Watchdog to Report Soon on Reorganization, Alleged Political Harassment
Linick’s work plan promises results this year on investigation of former Secretary Rex Tillerson’s aborted restructuring.
Management
GAO is Wrong: Job Classification Cannot Be Fixed
It is the most antiquated and bureaucratic of all federal HR practices.
Management
Lockheed, Frustrated with US Air Force, Eyes Foreign F-35 Sales
The service’s proposed purchase of Boeing F-15s has the company increasing its sales efforts on Capitol Hill, and elsewhere.
Nextgov