Oversight
Budget Negotiators Agree on One Thing: Avoiding Another Shutdown
First conference committee meeting reinforces other divides, sets up fight over sequestration.
Pay & Benefits
Federal Retirees Will Receive 1.5 Percent COLA Next Year
Increase is one of the smallest since the current formula was put in place.
Pay & Benefits
House Backs Bill to Cut VA Bonuses
Democrat-sponsored legislation would cap performance award budget at $345 million annually.
Pay & Benefits
Thousands of Feds Withdrew Retirement Investments During Shutdown
Those employees will now miss six months of personal and agency contributions to their Thrift Saving Plans.
Pay & Benefits
Labor Dept. Tells States Furloughed Feds Must Give Back Unemployment Benefits
Federal employees should not receive ‘time and a half for not working,’ House Republicans say.
Pay & Benefits
Feds’ Annual Charity Drive Gets One Month Extension Due to Shutdown
Eligible charities now have until Jan. 15 to solicit donations from federal employees.
Oversight
Issa: Let All Americans Into Feds’ Health Plan
Oversight committee chairman’s bill would open up FEHBP to all citizens.
Pay & Benefits
Democrats: Leave Federal Employees Alone
Many pay and benefits issues could be on the table during renewed budget negotiations.
Management
Federal Agencies Lost 6,000 Jobs in September
The government has shed 87,000 jobs in the last 12 months.
Pay & Benefits
New Bill Would Protect Federal Retirees from Predatory Lenders
Legislation would target companies offering unfair ‘pension advances’ to veterans and former feds.
Pay & Benefits
Feds Who Received Unemployment During Shutdown Must Return Payments
Tens of thousands of federal employees filed for unemployment benefits while furloughed.
Management
Unions Warn of Low Morale, Retirement Wave Amid Continued Budget Uncertainty
'This could all happen again' in January, NTEU leader says.
Pay & Benefits
Shutdown Deal Allows 1 Percent Pay Raise in 2014
Congress, which agreed to freeze its own pay, can still block the increase.
Pay & Benefits
More Uncertainty Awaits Feds After the Shutdown
Increased workloads also are a concern.
Pay & Benefits
These Agencies Have the Most Feds Returning From Furlough
NSF, FCC and NASA were among the most furloughed.
Pay & Benefits
Union to Supervisors: Stop Making Sick Feds Work
Managers are threatening disciplinary actions against excepted workers who opt into furlough status, AFGE says.
Pay & Benefits
Furloughed Feds Aren’t Just Worried About Smaller Paychecks
Work that isn’t getting done includes military base repairs, kids’ educational activities and astronomical experiments.
Pay & Benefits
Shutdown Could Halt Feds' Leave Accrual
Employees already furloughed from sequestration will stop earning time off first.
Management
More Agencies Announce Furlough Plans
NRC, federal courts and State Department will furlough their employees if shutdown continues.
Pay & Benefits