Management
Trump Administration Asks Court to Allow Agencies to Implement Workforce Orders Immediately
Government argues it would suffer “irreparable harm” if required to wait 45 days before an existing injunction against three controversial executive orders is lifted.
Tech
5 Ways To Protect Yourself From Cybercrime
A leader of a new effort to teach cybersecurity to local community organizations and the public at large offers some basic tips to get everyone started.
Pay & Benefits
Trump Administration Calls for Fewer Performance Awards, Stricter Rating System for Feds
Only civil servants who deliver what the "American public should be able to expect" should get bonuses, OPM says.
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
Trump Administration to Explore Making It Easier for Federal Employees to Cancel Union Dues
Labor officials decry the effort as a misuse of legal precedent to bust unions.
Management
Lawmakers: Discussion of Furloughs at OPM Was 'Premature and Unnecessary'
Officials should have considered furloughs or layoffs as a last resort in addressing the agency's budget shortfall, senators say in letter demanding more information.
Pay & Benefits
Retirement Backlog Grows, Bills Would Expand Veterans Benefits and More
A weekly roundup of pay and benefits news.
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.
Management
OPM Announces New ‘Data Scientist’ Job Title
Officials hope that an "unofficial" data science marker for federal jobs could help both with recruitment of new federal workers as well as improve evidence-based policymaking and data management efforts.
Workforce
OPM Doesn’t Anticipate Furloughs in October
Acting Director Margaret Weichert sought to reassure employees that their jobs were safe despite a recent dust-up with lawmakers.
Management
OPM Still Lacks Legal Analysis of Proposed Merger with GSA
Lawmakers in both parties expressed outrage at the lack of documents provided to support the Trump administration’s proposal.
Management
House Approves 3.1% Pay Raise and Blocks OPM Furloughs, Merger
Lawmakers dealt the Trump administration’s proposal to merge OPM and GSA another setback.
Management
Federal Staffing Problems Are Inextricably Linked to Pay Problems
When workforce issues impede an agency’s service to the public, it’s more than a line in the budget.
Management
'People Are Crying When They Come Into Work:' Unions Protest OPM-GSA Merger
Lawmakers said they will try to amend an appropriations bill to block the acting OPM director from following through on her threat to lay off 150 agency employees.
Pay & Benefits
Federal Employees Suing OPM Score Win in Lawsuit Over Data Hacks
Appeals court overrules district-level finding, says federal employee unions have standing to sue.
Pay & Benefits
More than Half of D.C.-Area Feds Say Agencies Aren’t Supportive of Telework Amid Metro Closures
Majority of respondents to a GovExec.com/Government Business Council survey report that the temporary shutdown of six Metrorail stations would have at least a moderate impact on their ability to do their jobs.
Management
OPM Leader Threatens Furloughs, RIFs if Congress Doesn’t Approve GSA Merger
The administration has given lawmakers until the end of June to greenlight the merger, or else roughly 150 OPM employees could lose their jobs this fall.
Pay & Benefits
Appeals Court: ICE Did Not Have to Bargain Over Pay Changes
A three-judge panel found that Immigration and Customs Enforcement was within its rights to reduce overtime pay for employees because the change complied with a governmentwide rule.
Management
OPM Proposes Legislation to Clarify Probationary Periods, Expand Hiring Eligibility
The federal government’s HR agency also hopes to remove a cap on interns at federal agencies.
Oversight