Workforce
Forest Service chief signals budget belt-tightening is on the horizon for FY2025
Chief Randy Moore said in a statement that the agency is preparing for a pared-down appropriation following the end of the Inflation Reduction Act and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding.
News
Impasse on SNAP benefits holds up farm bill
The current law expires at the end of September. Congress appears likely to extend the 2018 farm bill again.
Oversight
Republicans criticize EEOC over nixed one-day furlough
The agency said that no additional funding and a high pay increase for federal employees helped create its budget shortfall, but GOP leaders called it a failure to adjust spending.
Pay & Benefits
House lawmakers plan to force a vote on bill to kill provision that cuts some feds' retirement pay
The Social Security Fairness Act would abolish two tax provisions that reduce retirement benefits for some federal workers.
Pay & Benefits
Senator says rule to stem Head Start employee turnover could bar children from early education
The HHS rule would require wage and benefit increases for Head Start staff, but Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., claimed the proposed changes would reduce funded, if vacant, slots in the education program.
Oversight
GOP lawmakers raise concerns over DHS report redactions, OIG cooperation
Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, and Rep. Barry Loudermilk, R-Ga., pressed the Homeland Security secretary in a letter to explain why the department has redacted information in some of its reports to Congress and has allegedly restricted its inspector general’s access.
Management
Several House Democrats urge USPS to implement heat safety protections for workers
The Biden administration in July issued a proposed rule to protect employees working in extreme heat, but more than 70 members of Congress want the USPS to implement those protections before the rule goes into effect.
Workforce
Teleworking feds are spending 60% of their time working in person, OMB says
In a congressionally mandated report, the Office of Management and Budget rebuffed many common complaints by congressional Republicans about the popular workplace flexibility.
News
Congress aims to boost enforcement at the border – with Canada
New Senate legislation aims to hire more U.S. Border Patrol agents to help monitor understaffed areas on the Canadian border.
Oversight
Whistleblower hearing spotlights Coast Guard handling of sexual misconduct
Congressional investigations into sexual assault and harassment in the military branch began after a media report found the Coast Guard Academy covered up misconduct.
Oversight
Senators ask Social Security for info on AI work
Though the Social Security Administration has been using artificial intelligence tools in some form for two decades, the lawmakers stressed the need to engage the public as it explores new technologies like generative AI.
News
Congress limps toward the end of a disappointing session, with just 78 laws to show
A divided Congress has shepherded fewer bills to the president this session, often fostering little consensus in 2024, and things don't look to improve during election season.
Pay & Benefits
Cassidy ties proposed 30% pay and benefits cuts to federal telework
The Louisiana Republican has introduced bills to bar federal workers from receiving locality pay if they telework at least once per week and excising locality pay from all future feds’ pensions.
Management
New Senate bill aims to codify Chevron deference with congressional intent
Sen. Ron Wyden’s, D-Ore., Restoring Congressional Authority Act would reimpose judicial deference to federal agencies in clarifying regulatory intent after the Supreme Court struck down a 40-year precedent in June.
Workforce
Conservative senator seeks to ban official time at federal agencies
Eliminating federal compensation for unions’ time spent representing employees would shred a decades-old compromise at the heart of federal labor issues.
Pay & Benefits
Senate appropriators endorse 2% pay raise for feds next year
With neither chamber in Congress willing to override President Biden, his plan to increase federal workers’ pay by 2% on average appears headed for implementation later this year.
Management
Senate appropriators propose $500 million budget increase for Social Security overhead
The decision to include $14.7 billion for the Social Security Administration’s administrative budget sets up a fight with the House, which is proposing a nearly half billion-dollar cut.
Workforce
Democrats demand employee protections after a GAO report reveals sexual misconduct in federal courts
More than 30,000 employees work as law clerks, staff attorneys, office managers and other positions within the federal judiciary, which includes the U.S. Supreme Court, circuit and district courts.
Management
Senate bill could reduce feds salary to $1 if they don’t respond to congressional requests
The Upholding Standards of Accountability Act would require agency leaders to testify before congressional committees after publishing any new major rule, among other provisions, in the wake of the Chevron deference decision.
Oversight
House sends the Billion Dollar Boondoggle Act to president's desk
The chamber also approved two other bills to improve oversight of federal agencies.
Almost There!
Help us tailor content specifically for you: