Management
Congress averts a shutdown, setting up a lame duck fight in December
A stopgap funding bill is heading to Biden's desk as Congress staves off a pre-election shutdown.
Oversight
Senate report details widespread Secret Service failures in Trump assassination attempt
Lack of communication and leadership led to USSS errors, though the agency maintains no individual employees were to blame.
Management
Agencies must disclose excess supply policies under bill headed for enactment
Under the legislation, which awaits the president’s signature, agencies must designate an official to identify potentially useful unused items like office equipment and furniture from across the federal government.
Pay & Benefits
Multiple FEHBP carriers will offer 'comprehensive' IVF coverage next year
Biden administration officials said that two nationwide insurers in the federal government’s employer-sponsored health care program will offer $25,000 worth of in vitro fertilization and other fertility treatments.
Pay & Benefits
House takes another stab at a bill reimbursing new veterans for emergency care
Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash., is hoping a reintroduced version of the RELIEVE Act will finally close the VA’s emergency care coverage loophole after Congress previously dropped the measure from the fiscal 2024 supplemental funding package.
Management
A new Senate bill would make it easier to track appointees’ confirmation status
The Improving Senate Confirmation and Vacancy Oversight Act would create a publicly accessible dashboard to track the status of a president’s nominees to the 1,300 Senate-confirmed appointments across government.
Pay & Benefits
Why do employees want to be feds? Benefits are a big reason
In a 2023 OPM survey, 90% or more of federal employees said that the availability of health and retirement benefits are important to them.
Updated
Workforce
Air Marshals say they are reaching a ‘breaking point’ amid brain drain and ‘punishing’ schedules
The federal law enforcement personnel say they need a fresh start in a new agency.
Updated
Tech
FBI raids government IT and cyber contractor Carahsoft
The FBI confirmed the raid but declined to provide further details.
Tech
Expedited STEM and cybersecurity hiring authority extended
OPM grants direct hire authority to agencies when there’s a lack of candidates or major hiring needs.
Tech
Agencies score a record number of A's on the latest Federal IT Acquisition Reform Act scorecard
GAO Information Technology and Cybersecurity Director Carol Harris said the biannual review has saved the government a total of roughly $31.4 billion since it first began in 2005.
Oversight
Nearly 40% of FAA air traffic control systems need urgent updates, GAO reports
Several systems, some which aid in navigation and communications, did not have modernization efforts in place, the GAO said.
Pay & Benefits
Lawmakers force a vote on eliminating the windfall elimination provision
Reps. Abigail Spanberger, D-Va., and Garrett Graves, R-La., have secured the 218 signatures needed to force a vote on legislation that would kill two controversial tax provisions affecting some feds’ retirement benefits.
Management
Bipartisan deal looks to punt shutdown threat into December
Congressional leaders vow to act quickly to pass stopgap, Secret Service funding, by Sept. 30 deadline.
Tech
GAO to unveil its findings on outdated FAA tech systems
The congressional watchdog's forthcoming report will examine legacy air traffic control systems and the agency’s modernization efforts.
Management
Customer experience bill passes Senate committee
The proposal is one of many that moved through House and Senate committees last week, including a transparency bill that brings additional congressional oversight to the General Services Administration.
Management
Secret Service acknowledges ‘failures’ in protection of Trump in Pennsylvania shooting
The acting director said an investigation revealed communication “deficiencies” between law enforcement personnel.
Workforce
NTEU becomes latest federal worker union to endorse Harris
Unions affiliated with the AFL-CIO previously swapped out their Biden endorsements for the vice president shortly after he announced his withdrawal from the 2024 presidential campaign in July.
Defense
Air Force braces for new nuclear-war scenarios
With more nuclear players and weapons around the world, U.S. forces need to be ready, a top service leader says.
Management