News

IRS headquarters to remain shut for months

Repairing extensive damage from flooding will cost tens of millions of dollars; employees may start returning in the fall.

Defense

Finalists for 2006 public service medals lauded

Employees serve as an inspiration to a new generation of public servants, senator says.

Management

EEOC seeks to offer buyouts, early outs to headquarters employees

Funds freed up would be used to hire investigators, mediators and attorneys for field offices.

Management

Forest Service ends controversial fleet maintenance contract

Contract was the one of the first awards under May 2003 rules that sparked debate about employee appeal rights.

Pay & Benefits

House panel backs 2.7 percent military pay raise

Action likely to set off a battle to provide a similar increase for civilian federal employees; President Bush has proposed 2.2 percent.

Management

Trade official nominated to be next OMB director

Bush urges Senate to move quickly to confirm Rob Portman as a replacement for Joshua Bolten.

Management

Report: IRS plan to close service centers based on faulty data

Agency pledges to improve accuracy; will not shut any service facilities this year.

Defense

Contest to represent DHS workers will begin in May

Unions say upcoming fight over 21,000 Customs and Border Protection employees will not hinder effort to challenge personnel reforms.

Management

Interior secretary resigns; will leave at end of month

Gale Norton says she will take a break and then return to the private sector.

Management

Federal program performance up slightly, OMB reports

More than 70 percent of programs rated for the 2007 budget are deemed “adequate” or better.

Management

Homeland Security chief financial officer to step down

President announces intention to nominate new Senate-confirmed CFO, as required by a 2004 financial accountability law.

Management

VA violated law in funding outsourcing studies, GAO says

Department argues that law only bars unsanctioned use of health care funds for formal competitive sourcing studies.

News

Report: OMB should increase health care cost estimates for job competitions

Costs assessed federal employee teams haven’t changed in years and are too low, GAO says.

Management

Congress backs 3.1 percent raise, competitive sourcing measures

House, Senate negotiators approve union-backed changes to job competition rules.

Tech

Agencies lose ground on e-gov section of management score card

Six agencies see scores drop, primarily because of failure to reach key milestones.

Tech

Challenge of contract to upgrade federal jobs site rejected

GAO rules that OPM’s choice of a firm to enhance USAJOBS was reasonable, despite higher cost of its proposal.

News

Program reviews strain OMB, agency staff

Assessments fail to provide enough specific suggestions for improvement, GAO says.

Management

Report: EEOC failed to weigh all reorganization options

Agency officials didn’t consider all of the advice contained in an outside report before moving forward on restructuring, GAO finds.

Management

Park Service updates management policies

Proposed policy includes strict guidelines for approving construction projects.

Management

Most agencies meet first ‘strategic sourcing’ deadline

Initiative requires analyzing three types of major purchases to find ways to cut better deals.