Oversight

Union files unfair labor practice charge against GAO chief

Group claims Comptroller General David M. Walker has made inappropriate statements undermining employees' rights to organize.

Pay & Benefits

Payband Balancing Act

Some advice for agencies on striking a balance among efficiency, equity and employee acceptance in pay for performance systems.

Defense

State Department urged to beef up mental health support

Foreign Service employees returning from the Middle East may decide not to seek help for emotional problems due to fear of retaliation, officials testify.

Pay & Benefits

TSP board rejects divestiture proposals

Board members strongly oppose legislation that would prohibit investments in companies that do business in countries supporting genocide and terror.

Pay & Benefits

Auditors uncover fraud in federal benefit programs

Inspector general secures the return of more than $106 million to employee health program.

Defense

House blocks funding for DHS personnel reforms

Senate committee approves only $5 million of $15 million President Bush requested for the system in fiscal 2008.

Oversight

Senators urge appropriators to boost SSA administrative funds

Budget resolution calls for an additional $430 million beyond President Bush’s request, to address backlog of disability claims.

Pay & Benefits

Survivor Savings

Employee group representative proposes allowing surviving spouses to hold on to TSP accounts.

Pay & Benefits

Panel approves student loan forgiveness for public servants

Bill seeks to update 1993 law that authorized income-contingent loan repayment programs.

Pay & Benefits

House appropriators approve 3.5 percent civilian pay raise

Move follows authorization of equal increase for military service members.

Pay & Benefits

Employee groups back automatic TSP enrollment, new default fund

Officials decide to hold off on three other potential changes, including restrictions on where funds are invested.

Defense

Homeland Security launches graduate academy

The 18-month program is free, but students must complete two years of service at their agencies upon graduation.

Oversight

Firm outlines steps to successful workforce reforms

Agencies implementing pay for performance need to focus more on how to handle subpar workers, consultant says.

Oversight

Survey finds increased satisfaction with federal benefit programs

The Thrift Savings Plan, employee and retiree health benefits and retirement annuities fare the best.

Defense

Appropriators block funding for DHS personnel reforms

Congress approved $20 million for the overhaul for fiscal 2007; Bush administration has requested $15 million for next year.

Pay & Benefits

Auditors question Pentagon projections for health care savings

Increasing TRICARE enrollment fees and deductibles is unlikely to achieve the $9.8 billion in savings Defense expects, GAO finds.

Pay & Benefits

Riskier TSP funds bring greatest gains for May

Fund made up of fixed-income bonds was the only option to lose ground.

Pay & Benefits

Advocates sketch plan for public service academy

Blueprint sets academy apart from existing programs, addressing recent criticism that a new institution is unnecessary.

Pay & Benefits

OPM pushes to extend locality pay to Alaska, Hawaii

New proposal seeks to gradually replace cost-of-living allowances with locality payments for areas outside the contiguous states.

Oversight

GAO to challenge eligibility of employees to unionize

Agency is hiring private legal counsel, plans to contest petitions of more than a third of employees who filed for an election.