Pay & Benefits

Figuring out the ‘Fork in the Road’

The Trump administration’s “deferred resignation” offer has federal employees scrambling for answers and facing tough choices.

SSA: It could take more than a year to implement the WEP and GPO repeal

Though Congress acted on a bipartisan basis last year to pass legislation ending two controversial tax provisions that affected some federal workers and other public servants, it failed to give the Social Security Administration any money to implement it.

OPM unveils its major plans and policy goals for federal health care in 2026

The Office of Personnel Management's 2026 Federal Employees Health Benefits program roadmap focuses on cutting red tape for feds and retirees while staying committed to key health care priorities—here’s what it could mean for you.

Congressional Republicans mull plans to gash feds’ pay, benefits and job security

GOP lawmakers are once again considering a litany of proposals that would require federal workers to pay more in exchange for less retirement and health care benefits.

Feds affected by L.A. fires are eligible for paid leave transfers

OPM is allowing federal employees to donate their paid leave time to fellow feds impacted by the ongoing wildfires in California, a practice becoming more commonly deployed during increasing natural disasters. 

Democrats introduce bills to provide feds 4.3% average pay raise in 2026, standardize retiree COLAs

Lawmakers have reintroduced annual bills aimed at setting a marker for the upcoming federal pay raise debate and to end bifurcated cost-of-living increases for federal retirees.

How to prepare for an unexpected retirement

Some readers with fears about the future of their jobs under the next administration reached out for advice.

Congressional Republicans dial up multiple bills to cull telework flexibility 

The 119th Congress has started early on reintroducing or debuting new plans to reduce telework capabilities at federal agencies.

OPM set to finalize rules standardizing General Schedule, blue collar locality pay maps

The final rule implementing the long-requested adjustment to the Federal Wage System’s map of wage areas won’t be published until after President-elect Trump’s inauguration.

EEOC: The federal gender pay gap gets worse with age

The discrepancy between what men and women make in the federal government is substantially larger for those over 40 years old than that of their younger counterparts.

The Social Security Fairness Act: What we know so far

It may take time to implement this new law -- here’s what you should know for now.

The forgotten keys to agency performance: Senior Executives

COMMENTARY | To help agencies better address their performance management, it could be time to take a fresh look at senior executives, and how they are compensated.

OPM outlines pay, benefits rules for appointees resigning on Inauguration Day

The federal government’s HR agency also highlighted the ramifications of Jan. 20 coinciding with Martin Luther King Day for D.C.-area federal workers.

Biden signs windfall elimination provision repeal into law

The Social Security Fairness Act ends both the WEP and the government pension offset, increasing the Social Security checks for more than 2 million retired public servants.

Feds claims just 7% of available funds from OPM breach settlement, remainder returns to Treasury

Only a few thousand current federal workers, former employees and applicants cashed in from 2015 hack.

Thrift Savings Plan funds end the year on the downswing

Only one of the portfolios within the federal government’s 401(k)-style retirement savings program finished December in the black.