Pay & Benefits
What Needs to Happen for Civilians to Get a 2020 Pay Raise
Trump is likely to announce by the end of August his intent to institute a pay freeze, and Congress would need to override him.
Management
Bipartisan Bill Would Restore Administrative Law Judges to Competitive Service
President Trump last year signed an executive order moving ALJs into the excepted service, claiming it was required to comply with a Supreme Court decision. But stakeholders argued it politicized the job.
Pay & Benefits
Federal Health Insurance Program to Restrict Opioids, Potential Social Security Changes for Some Feds, and More
A weekly roundup of pay and benefits news.
Management
Republican Lawmaker Seeks to Outlaw Official Time for Union Representational Work
Bill would end the longstanding practice by which union officials can do representational work during duty hours, although chances of it becoming law are low.
Management
Senate Panel Advances Key Labor Authority Nominee
One week following Catherine Bird’s confirmation hearing, a key committee voted along party lines in favor of her nomination.
Oversight
Bill Advances That Would Deny Bonuses to Feds Found to Have Engaged in Misconduct
Employees would be barred from bonuses for five years following adverse findings in an investigation.
Defense
Esper Confirmed As Defense Secretary, Despite Opposition from Some 2020 Dems
The 90-8 vote ends the longest period in history that the Defense Department has gone without a confirmed leader at the helm.
Tech
Did the U.S. Invent Lyme Disease in the 1960s? The House Aims to Find Out
A decades-old conspiracy theory says Cold War bioweapons research is sickening tens of thousands of Americans a year.
Management
Viewpoint: The Debt Ceiling And Why We Should Kill It
The U.S. hit the debt ceiling in March and is expected to run out of ways to get around the new $22 trillion limit by September. An economist explains why the ceiling is a dysfunctional relic.
Management
Unions Consider Next Steps Following Workforce Order Ruling
The injunction blocking three controversial executive orders by President Trump will remain in place for 45 days to allow unions to consider an appeal.
Management
Esper Assures Wary Senators He'll Keep Military Out of Politics
During his confirmation hearing, the SecDef nominee was asked about Trump, China, and Russia — and not Afghanistan, ISIS, or al-Qaeda.
Management
Labor Authority General Counsel Nominee Vows Impartiality, But Unions Cry Foul
Federal employee unions oppose the nomination of Catherine Bird to vet complaints before the FLRA, citing her work in collective bargaining negotiations on behalf of management.
Defense
Sen. Warren Spars with Defense Secretary Nominee Over His Lobbyist Work
The Democratic presidential candidate said that Mark Esper, who has declined to recuse himself from Raytheon-related decisions, should not lead the Pentagon.
Management
House Passes Defense Policy Bill with Provision to Block OPM-GSA Merger
The must-pass legislation also includes amendments granting paid family leave and protecting feds’ health insurance during shutdowns.
Management
House to Consider Blocking OPM Merger, Other Workforce Proposals Through Defense Policy Bill
Proposed amendments to the annual must-pass Defense authorization bill include measures to safeguard federal workers’ insurance during shutdowns, ban the box in federal hiring and protect whistleblowers.
Oversight
Lawmakers Look Into the Costs of Trump's July 4 'Display of Pageantry'
House appropriators plan hearing as Park Service, Pentagon gather numbers.
Oversight
GOP Senators Pan Proposal to Avoid a Shutdown Through a 1-Year Stopgap Spending Bill
A continuing resolution would hurt military readiness, the lawmakers say.
Pay & Benefits
House Democrats Aim to Add Paid Family Leave for Feds to Defense Policy Bill
A proposed amendment to the fiscal 2020 National Defense Authorization Act would provide all federal workers with 12 weeks of paid family leave.
Management
House Appropriations Bill Would Block Impasses Panel from Imposing New Union Contracts
Federal labor groups have frequently accused agencies of engaging in bad faith “box-checking” collective bargaining negotiations, in an effort to fast track proposals to an all-Republican board.
Management