Management
The Incumbent: Bending the Bureaucracy
President Trump is likely to double down on his ambitious management agenda in a second term, stepping up attacks on unions, taking aim at merit system principles and slashing regulations.
Management
OPM Moves to Formally Shift Administrative Law Judges Out of Competitive Service
Proposed regulations implementing a 2018 executive order confirm that existing judges at federal agencies will not be subject to the change unless they transfer to another agency or leave and return to federal service, but they will no longer be eligible for a number of financial incentive programs.
Oversight
OPM Isn’t Doing Enough to Prevent Political Meddling in Reassignments of Senior Executives, Watchdog Finds
GAO reports that several agencies have made efforts to ensure that they comply with rules designed to prevent capricious reassignment of senior executives by political appointees, but gaps remain and OPM is unwilling to conduct oversight.
Pay & Benefits
TSP to Increase Default Contributions, and More
A weekly roundup of pay and benefits news.
Management
TSP Board Nominees Advance From Committee, But Vote on OPM Nominee Postponed
Senators in both parties last week expressed concerns about OPM director nominee John Gibbs’ fitness for the position in light of Twitter posts that were Islamophobic, anti-LGBT and endorsing debunked satanic conspiracy theories.
Pay & Benefits
Appeals Court Overturns Dismissal of EEOC Attorney’s Retaliation Claims
D.C. Circuit Court finds that a lower court improperly dismissed a lawsuit by an EEOC attorney who said the agency interfered with her pay and benefits and denied reasonable accommodation requests over her filing discrimination claims against federal agencies.
Pay & Benefits
OMB Fails to Offer New Info in Payroll Tax Deferral Memo
Federal payroll processors are pushing ahead with the mandatory deferral of Social Security taxes between now and the end of the year, while warning employees that they will have to pay them back next year.
Pay & Benefits
Union Asks OPM to Loosen Restrictions on Paid Parental Leave
Some requirements of the new benefit program are overly burdensome, particularly if a baby is born prematurely.
Management
After Multiple Delays, OPM to Begin Fielding Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey
The agency will ask all federal employees to respond to the annual Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey across two six-week waves, meaning most results will not be available to agencies or for public viewing until 2021.
Pay & Benefits
TSP Board Nominees Skeptical of China Investment, but Pledge Independence
All three of President Trump’s picks suggested that investing feds’ retirement money in Chinese companies could be too risky, but said they would base any decisions within their fiduciary responsibility to participants.
Management
OPM Nominee Pledges ‘Nonpartisan’ Governance Despite Anti-Islam, Conspiracy Theorist Views
John Gibbs did not apologize for tweets disparaging Muslims or accusing leaders of the Democratic party of engaging in satanic rituals, but said he would not tolerate discrimination if confirmed.
Pay & Benefits
Lawmakers Make Last Ditch Push for Payroll Tax Deferral Opt-Out
Despite efforts, it appears unlikely the administration will reverse course on forcing federal workers to temporarily skip paying taxes that go toward Social Security.
Management
White House Moves to Redirect Funding for Some Diversity Training at Agencies
Citing unnamed “press reports,” OMB said some training conducted by agencies is “un-American” and sows division in the federal workforce.
Pay & Benefits
Payroll Tax Deferral Will Be Mandatory for Eligible Feds, Service Members
The Trump administration has ignored calls to allow federal employees to opt out of the planned deferral of Social Security taxes from lawmakers and federal employee groups.
Pay & Benefits
Lawmakers Demand Answers on Payroll Tax Deferral, and More
A weekly roundup of pay and benefits news.
Pay & Benefits
Planned Payroll Tax Deferrals Create Minefield for Feds
If the deferment is made permanent, employees could see a lower payout in retirement; if not, employees could receive a large tax bill next year, union official says.
Pay & Benefits
Most TSP Funds Continued Ascent in August
Only one portfolio in the federal government’s 401(k)-style retirement savings program ended last month in the red.
Pay & Benefits
Justice Department Employees Urge Leadership to End Pay Disparities
A group of six associations within the Justice Department said the practice of asking job applicants for their salary history fuels inequitable pay.
Management
Agencies Can Improve Hiring Practices on Their Own
They don't need to wait for legislation or support from OPM; they can make key improvements with just a few administrative changes, the Partnership for Public Service reports.
Management
Social Security Denies Lake Charles Employees Weather and Safety Leave Despite Category 4 Hurricane
Just hours after Hurricane Laura made land fall along the western Louisiana coast, employees at the agency’s Lake Charles, La., field office were expected to work from hotel rooms after evacuating ahead of the storm.
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