Management

Labor Agreement Forced on Education Dept. Employees Curtails Official Time, Cuts Employee Protections

AFGE has filed an unfair labor practices charge against the agency over a collective bargaining agreement that the union never approved.

Oversight

Army Misused Civilian Pay Funds for Other Purposes, IG Says

A watchdog report accuses Army leadership of using compensation funding to pay for other items that had been cut in the budget.

Management

Feds in Work-Life Programs Perform Better at Their Jobs, Survey Says

Although most feds give flexibilities high marks, some managers struggle with evaluation of remote workers.

Management

Lawmakers Prepare Spending Bill to Avoid Shutdown, But Hurdles Abound

A House panel plans to introduce an omnibus bill next week, but fights over the border wall, Planned Parenthood and a New York infrastructure project loom.

Management

OPM Gets a Permanent Director After Nearly 3 Years of Acting Leaders

Senate confirms Jeff Pon to lead the federal government’s HR agency following a lengthy hold on his nomination.

Oversight

Senate Panel Seeks Answers on Clearance Backlog

A government watchdog group put the process back on its high-risk list after pending actions exceeded 700,000.

Management

House Approves Bill to Prevent Political Appointees From 'Burrowing In'

Legislation would require a two-year "cooling off" period before political appointees can take career positions.

Oversight

USDA to Block Social Media Following IG Report Showing an Uptick in Porn Watching

Employees will be barred from visiting 400 websites "not related to official department communications or business," starting Wednesday.

Oversight

The Things Agency Leaders Have Given Up to Get on the Right Side of Ethics Rules

Administration officials have returned a handmade long gun, cancelled a $31K furniture order and considered downgrading flights following public outcry and advice from ethics officials.

Pay & Benefits

TSP Funds End Nearly Year-Long Run of Growth

A volatile February left everything but government securities in the red.

Oversight

Air Traffic Control Privatization Architect Abandons Effort

Measure, attached to FAA reauthorization bill, stalled in the House last fall.

Pay & Benefits

4,000 Feds Soon May Need a New Health Insurance Plan

Scathing inspector general’s report on an FEHBP insurer’s refusal to submit to an IT audit imperils the company’s contract.

Pay & Benefits

TSP Announces New Investment Chief

Previous head of investing, Ravindra Deo, was appointed executive director last year.