Author Archive
Workforce
New bill would create federal grant program for digital upskilling
The proposed Digital Skills for Today’s Workforce Act would add digital skills training to grant programs that provide education and professional development services in an effort to boost the talent pipeline.
Oversight
When -- and how often -- are SBA staffers going into the office? A senator wants the agency's IG to find out
Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, continued her criticism of federal agencies’ use of telework, calling for the Small Business Administration’s inspector general to investigate its office utilization rates after its administrator disputed the GAO’s findings.
Pay & Benefits
VA is trimming its PACT Act claims backlog, but enrollees may be on the ‘low side’
Veterans Affairs Secretary Denis McDonough says that the department is quickly processing new claims made by veterans exposed to toxic substances during their military service, thanks, in part, to robust hiring, but warns that those claims may not have hit their peak yet.
Pay & Benefits
Bill wants to solve the coverage gap for National Guard and reservists by extending VA eligibility
Legislation from Rep. Joe Neguse, D-Colo., proposes to expand VA health care benefits to personnel in the reserve components when not on active duty to help ensure “force readiness.”
Management
OPM rule removes Social Security numbers from mailed documents
The federal HR agency finalized a rule Friday that would help prevent potential identity theft by restricting the inclusion of Social Security numbers in mailed documents and establishing criteria for protecting the information.
Oversight
VA claims appeal board errors are the target of a new House bill
The Veterans Claims Quality Improvement Act seeks to mitigate errors made by the Board of Veterans’ Appeals with new training, performance evaluations and required reports to Congress.
Oversight
Contentious FBI headquarters plan looms over House hearing on real estate footprint
The House Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management sought to examine the FBI’s strategy for managing its overall office space requirements, but the ongoing controversy over its potential new headquarters again took center stage.
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Workforce
Coast Guard hasn’t assessed how many future aviation personnel it needs, report says
The service is in the midst of modernizing and consolidating its aircraft fleet, but it’s also facing workforce challenges that could alter how many vehicles the Coast Guard ultimately needs.
Management
New bill would convert unused government buildings into affordable housing
Reps. Adam Schiff and Jimmy Gomez, D-Calif., cosponsored legislation that would direct the Housing and Urban Development Secretary to help refashion certain federal, state and local government properties into affordable residential rental projects.
Management
OMB overhauls federal grant guidance to simplify it for recipients
The Biden administration offered new updates to the Uniform Guidance that governs federal grant programs, aiming to slice red tape and simplify the language recipients use to apply for funding.
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Workforce
OPM issues its final rule for Schedule F protections
The federal HR agency finalized its rule offering protections for career civil servants meant to safeguard against the potential reemergence of the Trump-era Schedule F policy.
Management
Special Counsel’s office cites whistleblower protections in immigration judge gag order
The Office of the Special Counsel highlighted its recent enforcement actions of Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act provisions to curb agency efforts to chill employee speech.
Management
Nuclear regulators should weigh climate change risk to power plants, report says
A GAO report found the Nuclear Regulatory Commission needs to factor more risk from the impact of more extreme natural events in how it licenses the safety of power plants.
Oversight
Bill would axe classified access for feds charged with a crime
Legislation sponsored by Rep. Mikie Sherrill, D-N.J., appears tailored to allegations of Donald Trump's retention of classified documents, but would remove almost any federal employee’s access if they were charged with specific offenses.
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Management
GAO: USPS international mail volumes fell due to higher costs, pandemic restrictions
A new report found that international mail volumes fell by roughly 64% between fiscal 2017 and 2022, driven by a mix of price increases and COVID-19 impacts, but the increases helped the postal service cover costs.
Pay & Benefits
DOD, other agencies could better transition service members to civilian life
GAO officials said the Defense, Veterans Affairs and Labor departments could better collaborate to provide more at-risk veterans “warm handovers” to help transition them from military service to civilian life.
Oversight
House GOP members want info on IRS’ alleged AI ‘financial surveillance’ of citizens
House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, and Rep. Harriet Hageman, R-Wyo., requested more details about the tax agency’s use of artificial intelligence in its enforcement efforts in a letter published Wednesday.
Pay & Benefits
OPM taps insurance carriers to service new USPS benefits exchange
The federal HR agency conditionally selected 32 carrier applications to provide health coverage to U.S. Postal employees, annuitants and family members starting in 2025.
Management
GOP bill aims to limit IRS’ use of AI
The legislation — cosponsored by Reps. Clay Higgins, R-La., and Eric Burlison, R- Mo. — could look to put new restrictions on the tax agency’s deployment of AI in its revenue enforcement efforts and require staff to launch new investigations.
Pay & Benefits