Pay & Benefits
New year, new benefit changes
Some 2024 changes that may benefit federal employees and retirees.
Management
Another stopgap spending bill in the works as Congress struggles to avert a shutdown
A few lawmakers have called for shutting down the government in order to get the changes they want on immigration and border policy enacted.
Oversight
House subpoenas VA over sexual harassment allegations
The department has asked for time to conduct its own investigation, but in a bipartisan vote, lawmakers declined to wait.
Defense
House Democrat from Pennsylvania calls for defense secretary to step down
Rep. Chris Deluzio, a freshman lawmaker and Iraq war veteran, said in a statement Wednesday that he had “lost trust in Secretary Lloyd Austin’s leadership of the Defense Department.”
Defense
DOD’s AI adoption efforts are starting to pay off, Pentagon official says
The Defense Department considers emerging technologies at “the center of how we think about planning for what the future of the military should look,” according to the head of the Pentagon’s Force Development and Emerging Capabilities office.
Management
House holds initial proceeding in GOP effort to impeach DHS secretary
Democrats, Biden administration call the attempt to impeach a cabinet secretary for the first time in nearly 150 years a politically motivated distraction.
Management
Intelligence agencies need to make SCIFs more accessible for employees with disabilities, GAO says
The watchdog examined the facilities agencies use for processing classified information, finding that some barriers that prohibit access remain.
Defense
Political holds hurt military readiness
COMMENTARY | A veteran contends that a hold on the promotion of an Air Force colonel who urged his peers to talk about racism and its effects on the military is a step backward.
Pay & Benefits
A new rule allows the VA to adjust disability compensation to prevent overpayments
The rule, set to go into effect on Jan. 11, would allow the department to suspend or pause disability compensation for Defense Department servicemembers also receiving active service pay.
Oversight
Watchdog finds ‘sufficient’ cyber threat sharing at agencies, but barriers remain
The Intelligence Community Inspector General’s biennial update on cybersecurity information sharing noted that progress has been made over the past two years, but some agencies reported running up against roadblocks.
Workforce
IRS plans to continue hiring spree despite setback in new budget deal
The agency hopes to hire 20,000 employees in fiscal 2024.
Oversight
In emails, a contractor tries to orchestrate a new federal transplant policy
The documents raise fresh questions about the Health and Human Services Department's ability to effectively oversee its transplant contractors.
Management
How Space Force is raising its cyber defenses
The newest service is building in-house cyber teams but also needs to work more closely with U.S. Cyber Command, a deputy chief of space operations says.
Management
Congress pivots to full-year funding bills after bipartisan agreement on spending levels
Deal would avoid major cuts but appropriators have just 10 days to avoid a partial government shutdown.
News
When veterans in crisis can’t get help
Two veterans sought psychiatric care at a VA clinic in Chico, Calif. They were bounced between virtual providers and struggled to get support in the threadbare system. A staffer worried, “We are going to kill someone.” Then tragedy struck.
Management
10 surprising things about the ‘deep state’—starting with the Roman Emperor Caligula
COMMENTARY | There are basic truths that never go away, a former dean at the University of Maryland School of Public Policy explains.
Defense
One more hold: USAF colonel who urged conversations about racism
Missouri senator blocks promotion of author of “Dear white colonels” op-ed.
Management
Education Department withholds payments from student loan servicers
The department says Maximus' Aidvantage subsidiary, EdFinancial and Nelnet are not sending timely and accurate statements to borrowers.
Management
10 strategies HHS could use to bolster its preparedness for public health emergencies
COMMENTARY | The Health and Human Services Department should lean in on improving employee engagement and collaboration, writes one observer.
Tech
Agencies eye synthetic data to help train and test AI
The Department of Homeland Security and Chief Data Officers Council put out calls recently for products and insight on synthetic data generation.
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