Author Archive
Defense
Spy Agencies Stopped Collecting GPS, Phone Location Data Last Year
The decision came in the wake of a Supreme Court decision restricting law enforcement’s use of such information.
Tech
The Pentagon Has Officially Taken Over the Security Clearance Process
The Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency is now responsible for conducting 95% of the government’s background investigations.
Management
State Department Lost 12% of its Foreign Affairs Specialists in Trump’s First 8 Months
Overall workforce losses were higher than 6 percent.
Management
Delayed Security Clearance Reforms Could Increase Costs for Agencies
Continuous evaluation could remain a pipe dream as cash-strapped agencies get no guidance from the top.
Management
Senator Calls On Agencies to Streamline Programs for Entrepreneurs
The Government Accountability Office reported in 2012 that each of the 52 entrepreneur support programs at Commerce, SBA and other agencies overlapped with at least one other program.
Management
Shulkin Stresses Accountability of VA Employees While Defending His Own
VA chief says reporters did not do their homework before accusing him of wasting taxpayer money on personal excursions during a trip to Europe in July.
Pay & Benefits
OPM Loosens Restrictions on Emergency Leave Transfers
Employees can donate hours to a specific emergency, or bundle them together and let their agency decide how to allocate them.
Management
State Department Rejoins Presidential Management Fellows Program
The agency will accept a handful of fellows in 2018 after unexpectedly withdrawing from the PMF program this year.
Pay & Benefits
Women Still Underrepresented in the Highest-Paid Federal Jobs
The situation has improved over the past decade, but it remains the case that the more a job pays, the more likely it is to be filled by a man.
Management
Zinke Cracks Down on Sexual Harassment in National Park Service
Almost 39 percent of National Park Service employees say they've experienced harassment within the last year.
Management
Lawmakers Want Answers on 'Unacceptable' Security Clearance Backlog
OPM and Defense Department argue over which is better able to oversee the clearance process.
Pay & Benefits
Bill Targeting Security Clearance Backlog Advances in Senate
The legislation would reinstate backlog reporting, plus push agencies to honor each other's clearances and implement continuous monitoring.
Pay & Benefits
Senate Panel Approves 60% Increase in Buyout Payments for Feds
The $15,000 bump in VSIPs could make leaving government more appealing to employees as agencies look for ways to decrease the size of their workforces.
Pay & Benefits
Senate Overseers to Consider Bill Raising Maximum Buyout Payment By $15K
The legislation comes as agencies plan to downsize their workforces at the direction of the Trump administration.
Management
Lawmakers Open Bipartisan Investigation Into Top Agency Officials' Travel Costs
Trump says "we'll see" when asked if he will fire HHS chief Tom Price over alleged overuse of private jets on the taxpayers' dime.
Management
Thousands of Federal Employees Volunteer as Surge Force for FEMA Relief Efforts
Program had been limited to employees inside DHS but is now open governmentwide.
Management
National Weather Service Develops New Career Path for Meteorologists
Initiative will help aspiring forecasters advance their careers while relieving the burden of administrators in charge of hiring and promoting.
Pay & Benefits
Veterans in Government Made $11,000 Less Than Non-Vets in 2016
Veterans are half as likely to find themselves in professional positions than non-vets in the executive branch.
Management
More than 32,000 Feds Are Responding to Hurricanes Harvey and Irma
Agencies across the government have pitched in on federal response and recovery efforts to disasters on two fronts.
Tech
GSA Awards Contract for $700B Federal Charge Card Program
Citibank and U.S. Bank will potentially run the government program until 2031.
