Pay & Benefits
Senate appropriators pass 3.9 percent civilian pay hike
Figure is more generous than the raise proposed by Bush, but matches that approved by the House Appropriations Committee.
Pay & Benefits
Lawmakers question Thrift Savings Plan investment strategy
Some call for active rather than passive fund management.
Pay & Benefits
Playing Catch Up
The federal government would do well to follow the private sector’s lead on benefits for same-sex partners.
Pay & Benefits
Senate panel approves 3.9 percent civilian pay raise
Adjustment matches the figure recently approved by the House Appropriations Committee.
Defense
Democrats: Medicare physician pay cuts could hurt Tricare
Tricare reimbursement rates are linked to those for Medicare, meaning the proposed 10.6 percent cut could affect service to soldiers and veterans.
Pay & Benefits
Researchers downplay generational differences
New studies indicate that older federal employees actually have many of the same core values as their younger colleagues.
Defense
House subpanel approves bill to help soldiers terminate service contracts
Bill gives service members financial protection if deployed for more than 90 days, or transferred to another base.
Defense
Legislation extends residency rights to military spouses
The bill amends a law that allows soldiers to keep one state of residency regardless of where military orders send them.
Defense
Border officers get retirement benefits boost
A legislative provision that took effect over the weekend gives Customs and Border Protection officers law enforcement status.
Pay & Benefits
Mail Call
Answers to readers questions about creditable service and calculating annuities.
Oversight
Advocates outline plan to protect whistleblower rights
The new administration should create an Office of Government Transparency and Openness, panel says.
Pay & Benefits
CDC’s human capital plan overlooks contractors, GAO says
Agency told to include a growing outside workforce in strategy for globalized mission.
Pay & Benefits
The Price of Public Service
There’s more to the federal pay reform debate than dollars and cents.
Tech
Generation Y seeks more interaction with government online
Report says younger citizens rely on blogs and social networking tools for information.
Oversight
Most federal benefit programs use electronic payments, GAO reports
But less than half of the programs know what percentage of payments is issued using online methods.
Defense
Bush administration streamlines security clearance process
Executive order requires agencies to use common standards, reciprocal recognition.
Pay & Benefits
TSP moves forward on spousal benefits, IT modernization
But automatic enrollment legislation sparks debate over default funds and the investment board’s power.
Defense