Pay & Benefits

Implement locality pay changes quickly, salary council urges OPM

The annual list of recommendations, made in February but made public this month, did not alter the map of locality pay areas, but reiterated the importance of proposals already tentatively approved by the Biden administration.

Workforce

USPS begins issuing layoff notices to some employees

The Postal Service hopes to find new jobs for those impacted, but it has not detailed the reasons for the cuts.

Oversight

Records agency to DHS: Look into your watchdog’s use of text messages 

This comes after a hearing two weeks ago that raised concerns among some lawmakers about how the IG uses and retains records of electronic messages. 

Defense

Republicans want to ax a Pentagon budget office that aims to save taxpayers money

GOP lawmakers say the CAPE office is ignoring their amphibious-warship directive, which DOD says arrived too late to shape the current budget.

Workforce

Federal Employee Unions Endorse Biden for Reelection

Labor leaders described President Biden as “the most labor-friendly president in history.”

News

FEMA’s Buyout Program Reduces Flood Risk. But Does It Deepen Segregation?

A new study shows how federal money for managed retreat may also fuel white flight.

Defense

Space Force Unworried by Predictions of Commercial-Launch Consolidation

There’s “certainly enough capacity,” the service’s No. 2. officer said—though “more is always better.”

Tech

No 'Systemic Risk' to Government Networks From Latest Breach, CISA Says

The nation’s cyber defense agency confirmed it was providing assistance to several federal agencies that have been impacted in an apparent global cyberattack.

Pay & Benefits

Conservatives: End Annual Across-the-Board Pay Raises for Feds and Cut Benefits

The Republican Study Committee’s fiscal 2024 budget proposal would favor targeted “merit-based” pay increases and drastically reduce federal employees’ retirement and health care benefits.

Management

Government has a policy over people problem, civic tech leader argues

In a new book, Code for America founder Jennifer Pahlka argues that government implementers need more authority to avoid becoming risk-averse compliance agents.

Management

New Report Identifies Over $100B in Potential Government Services Savings

The government’s overlapping, fragmented and duplicative services are costing billions of dollars annually, a Government Accountability Office report claims. 

Management

Congress Is Still Heading Toward a Shutdown Despite the Budget Deal, Democrats Say

House Republicans are voting on spending bills that would cut funding below the frozen levels lawmakers agreed to as part of the debt ceiling negotiations.

Management

A Bill to Hamstring Agency Rulemaking Passed the House Despite Veto Threat

The Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny Act would require all new major regulations by federal agencies to first be approved by both the House and Senate.

Workforce

Adjusting Jobs to Protect Workers’ Mental Health is Both Easier and Harder Than You Might Think

The tasks employees perform are often not what leads to their mental health degradation. Instead, an employer’s culture and the way its jobs are designed play big roles.

Pay & Benefits

Even The Best Federal Health Benefits Won’t Protect You From The Wildfire Smoke

Great insurance and benefits only helps you to manage potentially terrible consequences. Better to prevent.

Defense

Air Force Lab Seeks Higher-Risk, Higher-Reward Breakthroughs

At the Defense One Tech Summit, AFRL's tech chief says the lab wants to answer science questions that have never been asked.