Management
Trump Vetoes Defense Policy Bill Over Base Names, Unrelated Internet Law
The House has already scheduled a vote after Christmas to override the president’s long-threatened rejection of the annual Defense authorization act, which also includes an expansion of federal employee leave benefits.
Pay & Benefits
No New Locality Pay Areas in 2022
The president’s pay agent declined to authorize a number of recommended changes to existing locality pay areas, overruling a federal advisory board.
Pay & Benefits
Spending Agreement Would Allow 1% Pay Raise, Fails to Ban Schedule F
Provision in the fiscal 2021 omnibus appropriations bill would give feds until the end of next year to repay payroll taxes deferred by the Trump administration from September through December.
Management
OPM Proposes Prioritizing Job Performance Over Tenure in Layoffs
Officials at the Office of Personnel Management are seeking to finalize a provision of President Trump’s controversial workforce executive orders before he leaves office.
Pay & Benefits
A Guide to Pay and Benefits During a Shutdown
Although lawmakers ultimately expect to reach a deal on federal appropriations, failure to pass a bill before Friday’s deadline could lead to a short lapse in funding. Here's what feds need to know.
Management
Broad Coalition of Employee, Advocacy Groups Makes Last-Ditch Effort to Convince Congress to Block Schedule F
With just days remaining until the latest government shutdown deadline, more than 60 organizations are pressuring Democratic lawmakers to ensure spending legislation includes a provision preventing the Trump administration from politicizing the civil service.
Management
As White House Steps Up Schedule F Implementation, ‘Lawmakers Don’t Get It’
Recent moves by OPM are stoking fear that the Trump administration is accelerating plans to politicize federal jobs as the window closes on Congress’ ability to block the move.
Pay & Benefits
House Overwhelmingly Passes Defense Bill With Leave Benefits, Setting Up Confrontation with Trump
Although the 2021 National Defense Authorization Act has bipartisan support in both chambers of Congress, the president has threatened to veto the must-pass bill over unrelated matters.
Management
Advocacy Group Urges Biden to ‘Clean House’ at Social Security, Lessen Impact of Payroll Tax Deferral
Under a proposal floated by the organization Social Security Works, federal employees would have twice as long next year to pay back the payroll taxes they were forced to defer by the Trump administration.
Pay & Benefits
The Federal Gender Pay Gap Is Shrinking, But the Remaining Disparity May Be the Hardest to Eliminate
Although the gap between men and women at federal agencies has fallen from 19 cents on the dollar in 1999 to 7 cents in 2017, the vast majority of the remaining salary discrepancy is “unexplained,” watchdog finds.
Management
Compromise Defense Policy Bill Includes Paid Parental Leave Fix, Allows Feds to Carry Over More Annual Leave
The latest version of the 2021 National Defense Authorization Act does not include House-passed measures blocking the Defense secretary from exempting Pentagon employees from collective bargaining.
Management
Good Government Group Urges Feds to Lobby Congress Against Schedule F
In a rare move, the Partnership for Public Service asked the public to contact lawmakers to muster opposition to the Trump administration’s effort to politicize the federal civil service.
Pay & Benefits
Time Is Running Out for Feds to Change Health Insurance Elections for 2021
A weekly roundup of pay and benefits news.
Pay & Benefits
White House Now Supports 2021 Pay Freeze, but Only for Civilians
The announcement marks a reversal for the Trump administration, which previously proposed a 1% across-the-board pay increase for all federal employees.
Management
House Democrat Calls on Labor Authority to Overturn 'Radical' Changes to Legal Precedent
The Federal Labor Relations Authority in recent months has issued several controversial decisions that have sharply shifted the balance of power in labor-management relationships toward agencies.
Pay & Benefits
TSP Funds Rebound in November
After months of turmoil, the portfolios in the federal government’s 401(k)-style retirement savings program all shot up in value last month.
Management
House Leadership Demands Accounting of Political Burrowing, Schedule F Activities
Lawmakers again urge congressional appropriators to block the Trump administration from implementing its executive order that threatens to politicize the civil service.
Pay & Benefits
Thanksgiving Meals for Military Families, and More
A weekly roundup of pay and benefits news.
Oversight
Lawmakers Seek Watchdog Briefings on Schedule F Implementation
Democrats asked the Government Accountability Office to keep them informed of how the Trump administration is moving ahead with a plan to politicize potentially hundreds of thousands of federal jobs in the coming weeks.
Management