Defense

VA seeks to improve treatment of women vets

A draft report says females suffer more from service-related issues than males and are less likely to access health care benefits.

Viewpoint

More Cuts On the Way

Federal employees are in line to do more to close the government’s spending gap. Here are five budget trends to watch.

Briefing

Serving Up Annuities

The Office of Personnel Management is finally chipping away at its 50,000-plus backlog of retirement claims, but many are still in limbo.

Defense

Senators join forces to contain TRICARE hikes

Bipartisan bill would cap increases to certain health insurance fees in the program.

Pay & Benefits

House approves military pay raise

Chamber’s 2013 Defense authorization bill also rejects administration’s TRICARE premium hikes for retirees.

Pay & Benefits

Panel advances military pay raise

House appropriators approve 1.7 percent pay boost for service members in fiscal 2013.

Pay & Benefits

Defensive Positions

Pay and benefits top the list of worries for military families, according to survey.

Oversight

Lawmakers urged to bring Hatch Act into the age of telework and social media

Legislation revising the law prohibiting feds from certain political activities doesn’t address technological advances.

Pay & Benefits

Uncle Sam scales back on bonuses

The government handed out $43 million less in merit awards in 2011 than in 2010.

Pay & Benefits

Panel rejects proposals to raise military retirees’ health care premiums

House committee approves minor co-pay increases, but says Obama’s TRICARE hikes go ‘too far.’

Pay & Benefits

House passes fed pension hike

The bill requires government employees to contribute an additional 5 percent to their retirement benefits.

Management

Uncle Sam wants you, at every age

Final rules issued on government’s new strategy to attract students and recent grads of every generation.

Oversight

Whistleblower agency alerts White House to troubling pattern in aviation safety

Special counsel recommends more oversight of FAA, in an unusual report combining multiple allegations of safety lapses.

Pay & Benefits

Feds would pay more for pensions under House bill

Budget panel advances legislation requiring government employees to contribute 5 percent more toward retirement benefits starting in 2013.

Management

Service to America finalists announced

Thirty-three feds will compete for nine medals with cash awards between $3,000 and $10,000.

Pay & Benefits

Retirement claims backlog shrinks

OPM received fewer retirement applications in April and was able to chip away at its inventory.

Oversight

Postal watchdog keeps an eye on potential closures

Commission head is hopeful USPS will move slowly to close or consolidate post offices.

Pay & Benefits

Bill would boost TSP contribution rates

Draft legislation would link automatic increases and automatic enrollment in the Thrift Savings Plan.

Pay & Benefits

Senators plead for grace period on shuttering post offices

Bipartisan group of lawmakers wants to delay closures scheduled to begin May 15 until Congress enacts reform.