Defense
‘What am I here for?’: Military families frustrated by delayed promotions, withheld raises and lives put on hold
For more than half a year, one Republican senator has blocked military promotions on the Senate floor over his disapproval of the Defense Department’s abortion policy.
Oversight
USPS says mail theft is getting worse, but its plans are so far incomplete and yielding few results
The mailing agency must flesh out its strategies to address rising crime rates, Postal Service watchdog says.
Pay & Benefits
The federal retirement backlog just hit another recent record low
The Office of Personnel Management’s inventory of pending retirement claims from former federal workers reached its lowest level since 2017 for the second time this year.
Management
Agencies can begin submitting congressionally mandated reports to online system this month
Reports mandated by federal law will be uploaded to a centralized online portal maintained by the Government Publishing Office on Oct 16.
Tech
New CISA, NSA guidance highlights pain points in identity and security management
A public-private working panel recommends vendors invest more in security measures like multifactor authentication.
Workforce
Biden’s FAA nominee promises renewed focus on reversing air traffic controller understaffing
There is bipartisan support to quickly address the shortfalls.
Management
OPM reminds agencies of new telework reporting requirements
As agencies prep to increase in-person work this fall, the federal government’s HR agency is calling on officials to collect better data on telework and remote work usage in their workplaces.
Pay & Benefits
World Investor Week: Learn more and protect yourself
The global campaign promoted by the International Organization of Securities Commissions aims to raise awareness about the importance of investor education and protection.
Management
With shutdown uncertainty still in the air, agency leaders need plans to support employees, expert says
The federal budget process is awash in volatility following the ouster of House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, and one health expert says agency leaders should not just plan for a shutdown, but also how to best support their employees through one.
Workforce
House passes bill to limit education requirements for federal cyber roles
The push for skills-based hiring is already underway in the executive branch, where the Office of Personnel Management is reworking qualification standards for some government jobs.
Tech
The White House’s tech team, 10 years after HealthCare.gov
Mina Hsiang, the administrator of the U.S. Digital Service, was on the team that saved the flawed website supporting Affordable Care Act enrollment 10 years ago. Now, she leads the tech team born from that crisis.
Management
OPM announces expansion of ‘continuous vetting’ security clearance process for current feds
After a successful pilot, the federal government’s HR agency and the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency set a goal of enrolling all employees in non-sensitive public trust positions in the new process for reviewing existing security clearances by the end of fiscal 2024.
Management
The next shutdown deadline is looming as Congress languishes after McCarthy’s ouster
An already tight timeline is condensed with half of Congress being effectively incapacitated.
Management
National lab isn’t properly tracking sensitive and high-risk property, OIG says
A new report from the Energy Department’s inspector general found that Brookhaven National Laboratory hadn’t adequately classified crucial property, including “lasers, oscilloscopes, chemical /biological equipment … that accounted for approximately $183 million” in value.
Pay & Benefits
A closer look at 2024 Federal Employee Health Benefits premiums
Wondering how the increase might impact your FEHB plan choice? We’ll walk you through it.
Oversight
Report: DHS, USPS failing in their requirements to screen for opioids in the mail
A 2018 law aimed at preventing drug producers from shipping their goods through the mail is not being implemented, IG says.
News
U.S. House votes to remove Kevin McCarthy as speaker
It isn’t immediately clear how the House will proceed in the coming days.
Workforce
OPM extends flexible hiring of military spouses
Interim regulations will allow federal agencies to hire the spouses of military service members outside of the traditional competitive hiring process through 2028.
Tech
Senators push for USPS identity proofing to thwart AI-generated deepfakes
The U.S. Postal Service already offers identity proofing services for some government agencies.
Tech