News
These are the 2024 winners of the ‘Oscars’ of government service
A team of Labor Department employees who discovered that teenagers were being used to work on dangerous machinery in slaughterhouses across the country won the award for federal employee of the year.
Management
Hundreds of cities get federal help to make streets safer
The $1 billion funding announcement is the second round of grants this year. To date, the federal government has provided money for safer streets to nearly three-quarters of the country.
Management
Biden’s FEMA director tried to fix the agency. Did she succeed?
Deanne Criswell discusses new reforms at FEMA, funding challenges and how the agency approaches emergency response.
Management
House GOP members unveil $3B VA supplemental funding bill
The legislation is intended to cover a budget shortfall at the department through the remainder of fiscal 2024.
Oversight
MSPB to update rules to make operations smoother without a quorum
An interim final rule slated for publication next week updates the Merit Systems Protection Board’s procedures to allow the agency to take more actions without a full slate of political appointees.
Management
A Management Agenda for 2025 and beyond: Pivoting from outcomes to results
COMMENTARY | When it comes to creating a government that solves the country’s big problems, the people just don’t believe it’s happening. Here’s how to fix that.
Oversight
Navy secretary violated the Hatch Act, OSC finds
The Office of Special Counsel also determined Education Secretary Miguel Cardona did not break the Hatch Act and concluded that federal employee activity related to Project 2025 is not prohibited under the law.
Management
Trump vows to establish an 'efficiency commission' with Elon Musk at the helm
The former president said the Tesla CEO has “agreed” to head up a task force aimed at cutting federal programs.
Pay & Benefits
Are you financially prepared for retirement?
If you haven’t started, consider making a retirement plan. Now.
Defense
Congress will land on $833B defense budget—and a CR of unknown length, top HASC lawmaker says
Another supplemental funding package might be possible later in fiscal 2025, Wittman says.
Tech
White House cyber czar launches a new hiring sprint
The federal government’s main occupational series for IT jobs saw 3,000 open positions in fiscal 2024.
Workforce
D.C. lawmaker reintroduces measure to grant whistleblower, OSHA protections to congressional workers
The Congress Leads by Example Act would afford employees of the legislative branch whistleblower and OSHA retaliation protections, along with parental bereavement leave benefits.
Tech
Major agencies are close to meeting September zero trust deadline, federal CIO says
The deadline is linked to a sweeping 2021 cybersecurity executive order.
Oversight
The Postal Service achieved most of its peak season goals in 2023, so why did performance slide?
The USPS inspector general found that despite accurately forecasting air demand and adequately staffing for its busiest period, the agency still saw some on-time delivery and inventory delays.
Management
Biden administration seeks more Social Security funding, election and transition provisions in possible CR
The Office of Management and Budget made the requests as part of the process by which the White House and Congress prepare for the potential need to pass a short-term continuing resolution in September.
Pay & Benefits
The sunsetting of the Tax Cuts & Jobs Act: What federal employees need to know
COMMENTARY | Learn about the potential changes and start planning now to mitigate any adverse effects on your financial situation.
Oversight
Cost of VA’s Digital GI Bill has nearly doubled amid delays and contract challenges
The agency’s Office of Inspector General said in a new report that initial contract requirements for the Digital GI Bill platform “were unclear and included unrealistic expectations.”
Oversight
IRS is behind on Biden policy to not increase audits for households under $400K
TIGTA reports that the IRS has not developed a methodology to comply with a 2022 directive that bars IRA funding from being used to increase audits on households earning $400,000 or less annually.
Workforce
Forest Service chief signals budget belt-tightening is on the horizon for FY2025
Chief Randy Moore said in a statement that the agency is preparing for a pared-down appropriation following the end of the Inflation Reduction Act and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding.
Pay & Benefits