Employee Accountability
Federal employees could be more easily removed under new House bill
Rep. Barry Loudermilk’s, R-Ga., MERIT Act proposes radical civil service reforms, including repealing statutes governing unacceptable performance actions, ending union grievances based on adverse personnel actions and prohibiting furlough appeals.
House Dems ask OSHA to respond to reports that state agencies tipped off employers
“If these allegations are true, it means that our federal funds, meant to ensure safe and fair workplaces, might be enabling exactly the opposite," wrote two lawmakers in a letter to Acting Labor Secretary Julie Su on Tuesday.
Americans mostly like federal agencies, but there’s a partisan gap
A research nonprofit found that Republicans surveyed were more likely to have more negative views of several agencies than in the past.
The federal judiciary has improved its policies against workplace misconduct, but not at all levels
The GAO found that while the judiciary has taken steps to address workplace misconduct, there are gaps at the circuit level, as well as in measuring effectiveness and data reporting.
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.
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Former vice chief of naval operations arrested on bribery, conspiracy charges
Robert Burke, a retired four-star, is alleged to have steered work toward a services company while he was commanding Naval Forces Europe-Africa.
FDIC chairman resigns following toxic workplace allegations
Martin Gruenberg said in a brief statement that he will remain at the agency until a successor is confirmed by the Senate, following calls from lawmakers for him to resign due to systemic harassment claims at the regulator.
FDIC's chairman faces bipartisan criticism following a report about the agency’s toxic culture
Many House Financial Services Committee Democrats expressed doubt about FDIC Chairman Gruenberg’s ability to make workplace culture changes across the agency.
Committee member behind independent report on FDIC harassment says recommendations don’t go far enough
Despite a 2023 expose into systemic sexual harassment allegations within the agency, one official said accusations of troubling behavior continue to permeate the regulator.
VA employee discipline back in the spotlight as lawmakers move new bills
Another measure would provide VA managers with more training on disciplining employees.
How a culture of unaccountability permeates the federal government
COMMENTARY | Accountability is essential for an organization to function effectively.
EPA has a new plan to protect career scientists, but some are questioning its efficacy
Solutions to concerns over accountability and reporting mechanisms are coming soon, EPA official says.
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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.
Federal watchdog launches probe into agency leadership that allegedly allowed widespread harassment to fester
Congressional committees and the agency itself is already conducting investigations into the alleged toxic workplace.
Reports of agency’s toxic workplace and widespread harassment lead to bipartisan calls for investigations
Many women say they had to quit due to the workplace culture.
VA officials reassigned following a House Committee's investigation into harassment allegations
Members of the office tasked with investigating harassment claims have been transferred following an investigation by the House Veterans Affairs Committee into sexual misconduct claims within that office.
Fixing accountability first: Another look at the Restore VA Accountability Act
COMMENTARY | If we really want to rid the VA (and the rest of the federal civil service) of poor performers, we need to find a middle ground between making every employee “at will” and defaulting to today’s status quo.
Biden administration to spend $100M-plus to restore jobs or offer payments to employees improperly fired
The settlement agreement resolves an issue that arose during the Trump administration.
Court opens up more discretion for reducing feds’ punishments
Federal employees facing firings will have an easier time mitigating that discipline to a lower form of punishment under new precedent.
Our Accountability System is Broken. Fix It First
The way we hold federal employees accountable for meeting reasonable standards of performance and behavior is badly broken, and it must be fixed before we can talk about additional reforms, argues one former federal leader.
VA Will No Longer Use Its Marquee Civil Service Reform Law to Punish Employees
The Biden administration unwinds a key Trump legislative victory, citing a series of setbacks the law has endured.
