Pay & Benefits
Senate spares feds in payroll tax bill
Democratic chamber excludes provisions that would reduce federal compensation, but legislation is expected to fail in the House.
Pay & Benefits
Great Expectations
If you’re retiring at the end of the year, here’s what you should be prepared for.
Defense
Proposal aims to offset costs of sequestration through staff reductions
Bill would downsize the federal workforce by 10 percent and use the savings to counteract one year of defense and nondefense spending cuts.
Oversight
Congress now shooting for weekend wrap-up
If lawmakers' optimism proves founded, then they will avoid a partial government shutdown for the third time this year.
Oversight
White House publishes shutdown plans
As many as 600,000 employees could be furloughed if lawmakers do not extend funding past Friday, according to one estimate.
Pay & Benefits
The Week in Comments: Is another shutdown coming?
The best in reader reaction to recent articles.
Oversight
Lawmakers decry extended pay freeze to finance payroll tax holiday
Sen. Ben Cardin, D-Md., says he’s confident chamber’s Democrats will oppose any measures reducing federal compensation to pay for tax cut.
Pay & Benefits
OMB to feds: Prepare for the possibility of a shutdown
For many agencies, the latest stopgap spending measure runs out Friday.
Pay & Benefits
House passes bill that includes extension of federal pay freeze
GOP plan to finance payroll tax holiday clears first hurdle; omnibus spending bill could be at risk, prompting speculation about the possibility of a shutdown.
Pay & Benefits
USPS delays closing postal facilities
Move comes at the request of lawmakers, agency says.
Pay & Benefits
Lawmakers call for extension of mass transit commuter benefits
The subsidy will return to maximum of $125 a month -- from $230 a month now -- if action is not taken.
Pay & Benefits
Veterans hiring reaches new heights
Twenty-eight and a half percent of new hires in 2011 were veterans -- the highest percentage in 20 years, OPM reports.
Oversight
Retirement applications up 24 percent from last year
News report finds 2011 likely will be busiest year for federal retirements since 2001.
Pay & Benefits
About 130 employees take SBA buyouts, early outs
The offers were extended to about 300 Small Business Administration employees.
Pay & Benefits
Reid wants passage of payroll tax package before recess
The Senate leader may also be tying the fate of a separate $900 billion-plus spending plan to the tax break.
Pay & Benefits
GAO recommends OPM improve group life insurance disclosures
Incomplete information could lead federal employees to pass up FEGLI for the wrong reasons, watchdog finds.
Pay & Benefits
House vote expected Tuesday on bill containing pay freeze
Legislation extending payroll tax holiday also would increase amount feds contribute to their pensions.
Pay & Benefits