Management
Supreme Court’s ruling on Chevron framework will lead to policy shifts by federal emergency management and housing agencies
COMMENTARY | The changes the ruling brings will have real-world implications, argues one former FEMA official.
Pay & Benefits
Biden formally announces 2% average pay raise for feds in 2025
The president each August must declare an “economic emergency” to prevent large automatic increases to locality pay from taking effect, in accordance with the Federal Employees Pay Comparability Act.
Pay & Benefits
OPM reminds agencies to grant feds leave to vote
Federal workers are entitled to up to four hours of paid administrative leave to go to the polls, thanks to an executive order signed by President Biden in 2021.
Workforce
VIDEO: More Hatch Act rules for federal employees, explained
The Hatch Act restricts the political activities of federal workers.
Tech
NSF launches AI-driven biotech research program
The National Science Foundation is funding five projects within its new BioFoundries program, which aims to use artificial intelligence to accelerate research in biosciences.
Management
Transparency and urgency are needed to deter agency misconduct and protect federal workers
COMMENTARY | The head of the Office of Special Counsel, the agency that investigates allegations of government misconduct, has a proposal.
News
Impasse on SNAP benefits holds up farm bill
The current law expires at the end of September. Congress appears likely to extend the 2018 farm bill again.
Oversight
Republicans criticize EEOC over nixed one-day furlough
The agency said that no additional funding and a high pay increase for federal employees helped create its budget shortfall, but GOP leaders called it a failure to adjust spending.
Pay & Benefits
Thank goodness for survivor benefits
Even if you have never had a job where you paid into Social Security, you may still be eligible to receive benefits.
Management
GSA has a backlog of 36,000 open fire, safety and health risk conditions in federal buildings
After a complaint to GSA’s inspector general that the agency was violating employee health and safety regulations, auditors found a database of unresolved risk issues at federal buildings across the nation that dated back a decade.
Defense
The agency that dared not speak its name is launching a podcast
The NSA's "No Such Podcast" will interview agency experts in a bid to raise its public profile.
Workforce
Trump calls federal workforce 'crooked,' vows to hold them 'accountable'
In an interview with a right-wing Youtuber, the former president seemingly alluded to reviving Schedule F and other Trump-era policies aimed at making it easier to fire federal employees.
Oversight
GAO wants new Secret Service training plan after Trump assassination attempt
The watchdog recommended the agency implement new training goals for agents in the Presidential Protective Division after a gunman attempted to assassinate Donald Trump in July.
Management
Education Department outlines its testing period for a phased rollout of the new FAFSA form
After this year's federal student aid application encountered a series of glitches and errors the department will begin beta testing the 2025-2026 form with community-based organizations in October.
Tech
Half a billion dollars in grants awarded to boost the EV charging network
The Biden administration also said that the number of publicly available EV chargers has doubled since the president took office.
Pay & Benefits
House subcommittee wants VA to put more of a spotlight on its veteran employment program
In a field hearing of the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity, House members pressed for more insights and potential exposure of the Veteran Readiness and Employment program.
Management
SSI to move its core disability program application online
The initial rollout will be available to adults who have never married and are applying for Supplemental Security Income for the first time.
Management
Federal judge pauses a program that grants protections for undocumented spouses
A Homeland Security Department spokesperson said the agency will defend the program, known as Keeping Families Together, in court. DHS is still allowed to collect applications, but not allowed to approve them.
Workforce
The minority talent pipeline is growing for the intelligence community, but representation is falling
The Office of the National Director of Intelligence’s annual demographic report found that while the Intelligence Community has made strong gains in minority applicants, attrition has led to workforce diversity declines over the past two years.
Management