Pay & Benefits
Panel approves student loan forgiveness for public servants
Bill seeks to update 1993 law that authorized income-contingent loan repayment programs.
Pay & Benefits
Survivor Savings
Employee group representative proposes allowing surviving spouses to hold on to TSP accounts.
Pay & Benefits
Definition of 'telework,' measure of benefits still lacking
Many agencies don’t have a handle on how many employees actually work away from the office, and lack ways to quantify productivity gains.
Oversight
VA official says bonuses needed to retain top executives
Lawmakers raise questions about department’s performance review boards.
Pay & Benefits
Employee groups back automatic TSP enrollment, new default fund
Officials decide to hold off on three other potential changes, including restrictions on where funds are invested.
Pay & Benefits
House appropriators approve 3.5 percent civilian pay raise
Move follows authorization of equal increase for military service members.
Defense
Homeland Security launches graduate academy
The 18-month program is free, but students must complete two years of service at their agencies upon graduation.
Oversight
Survey finds increased satisfaction with federal benefit programs
The Thrift Savings Plan, employee and retiree health benefits and retirement annuities fare the best.
Oversight
Firm outlines steps to successful workforce reforms
Agencies implementing pay for performance need to focus more on how to handle subpar workers, consultant says.
Defense
Panel votes to return inspectors to Agriculture Department
Bush administration adamantly opposes proposal to take inspectors out of Homeland Security Department.
Pay & Benefits
Retirement Checklist
The five things you should do before you retire from government.
Defense
Appropriators block funding for DHS personnel reforms
Congress approved $20 million for the overhaul for fiscal 2007; Bush administration has requested $15 million for next year.
Pay & Benefits
House panel backs 3.5 percent civilian pay raise
Move echoes approval of similar increase for military service members.
Pay & Benefits
Auditors question Pentagon projections for health care savings
Increasing TRICARE enrollment fees and deductibles is unlikely to achieve the $9.8 billion in savings Defense expects, GAO finds.
Pay & Benefits
Advocates sketch plan for public service academy
Blueprint sets academy apart from existing programs, addressing recent criticism that a new institution is unnecessary.
Pay & Benefits
Riskier TSP funds bring greatest gains for May
Fund made up of fixed-income bonds was the only option to lose ground.
Oversight
GAO to challenge eligibility of employees to unionize
Agency is hiring private legal counsel, plans to contest petitions of more than a third of employees who filed for an election.
Pay & Benefits
Labor leader seeks boost in mileage reimbursement rate
Midyear adjustments are unusual, but union official says recent gas price increases merit a higher rate.
Pay & Benefits