Management
Congress temporarily averts shutdown, but agencies still feel the pain
"Everything just stops," employees say of the devastating impacts of near shutdowns.
Pay & Benefits
The federal firefighter ‘pay cliff’ has been averted, for now
The 45-day continuing resolution preventing a government shutdown also includes language ensuring federal firefighters don’t lose access to recent pay increases whose funding was expected to run out this month.
Pay & Benefits
Report reveals differing federal employee insurance withholding information between USDA, OPM
An OIG audit found differences of federal employee withholding reporting between the two agencies, leading to several employees being charged incorrect life insurance amounts and another wrongly waived from coverage.
Pay & Benefits
TSP funds continued to fall in September
For the second straight month, the vast majority of the portfolios in the federal government’s 401(k)-style retirement savings program declined in value.
Tech
Feds' quantum encryption shift is most 'comprehensive' ever done, official says
Office of the National Cyber Director official Dylan Presman said there has been “nothing like this” effort to move critical assets to quantum-resistant encryption standards.
Defense
Lawmakers, Army headed for a fight over cuts to special operations forces
“It doesn’t pass the smell test,” said one Senate staffer.
Oversight
Disaster recovery projects stall nationwide as FEMA runs out of money
The agency has paused $2.8 billion in spending as it braces for a looming government shutdown.
Oversight
Social Security overpayments draw scrutiny and outrage from members of Congress
SSA recovered $4.7 billion of overpayments during the 2022 fiscal year but ended that year with $21.6 billion of overpayments still uncollected, according to a November 2022 report by department’s inspector general.
Management
Congress averts shutdown with a 45-day stopgap funding bill
Lawmakers passed a bipartisan measure just hours before a funding lapse was set to furlough hundreds of thousands of federal employees.
Defense
How the Pentagon’s big tech bets could suffer if the government shuts down
Anything that needs new money to start or scale could see delays—including the Air Force’s quest to develop robot wingmen.
Pay & Benefits
Federal payroll processor: Oct. 11 is deadline to avert feds’ getting incomplete paychecks
If Congress fails to restore funding to federal agencies, most federal workers will only receive a partial paycheck on Oct. 13.
Management
House fails to advance spending stopgap, pushing government to the brink of a shutdown
Senate will still attempt 11th-hour plan that faces uncertain future.
Workforce
On shutdown eve, the Biden administration adjusts furlough plans at some agencies
Fewer government services will be available during a funding lapse than previously expected.
Management
HASC chair: Space Command's temporary office is insecure. Officials: untrue
After White House scuttles move to Alabama, Rep. Rogers vows to keep SPACECOM from building a permanent HQ in Colorado.
Management
Nearly all national park sites to close during government shutdown
The agency will bar access to most of the nation’s 425 parks, recreation areas, national historic sites and other units, according to a fact sheet from the Interior Department, which oversees the National Park Service.
Management
Ahead of shutdown, House and Senate Dems propose back pay for furloughed contractors
A similar effort to legislate back pay for contractors failed during the 2018-2019 shutdown.
Management
What happens to government devices during a shutdown?
Experts say government-issued devices like phones, computers and even email accounts face heightened security risks during a federal shutdown.
Management
Sen. Kaine eyes another measure to make shutdowns less frequent
The Modernizing the Federal Calendar Act would shift the federal government’s fiscal year to align with the traditional calendar year.
Management
Some federal agencies utilize 25% or less of their headquarters office space, GAO says
As federal employees continued use of telework remains contentious, the watchdog highlighted in a new report that age-old office space problems have become more pronounced.
Pay & Benefits