Pay & Benefits
A basic flaw in the federal pay system
COMMENTARY | The system wasn’t designed to be competitive with the private sector, and that’s a problem in today’s job market.
Oversight
Is Congress on a witch hunt? 5 ways to judge whether oversight hearings are legitimate or politicized
Both Democrats and Republicans have consistently maintained that holding institutions accountable via rigorous oversight is among the most important functions of the legislature, but investigative work can be influenced by partisan considerations.
Workforce
Biden administration to spend $100M-plus to restore jobs or offer payments to employees improperly fired
The settlement agreement resolves an issue that arose during the Trump administration.
Defense
Military nominees still stalled by Tuberville hold, with Senate gone until September
Vacancies raise concerns about military readiness.
Workforce
What the United States can learn from Australia’s recent catastrophic failure to listen to career government experts
COMMENTARY | A hastily launched 2016 program to reduce overpayment of government benefits was plagued by “unfairness, probable illegality and cruelty,” an Australian commission later found.
Management
Trump faces additional charges – 4 essential reads to understand the case against him for hoarding classified documents
A selection of articles from experts with background to put the newly filed charges in context.
Management
House spending bill for the VA renews fight over abortion access, transgender care
Legislation would bar Biden administration from closing Guantánamo Bay detention facility in Cuba.
Oversight
Biden border policies ripped by House GOP as threats to impeach the Homeland Security secretary ramp up
House Republicans hold multiple hearings about immigration at Southern border as part of broader strategy to impeach Alejandro Mayorkas.
Management
Biden grapples with the federal government’s role in a future fraught with extreme heat
Heat is a leading killer, but FEMA has not deployed for it as it has for floods and fires.
Tech
IRS seeks states’ input on its direct file pilot
States have until Sept. 4 to tell the IRS if they’re interested in participating.
Defense
Pentagon’s termination of MyTravel program receives bipartisan criticism
The Pentagon’s reasons for reverting back to its legacy Defense Travel System after seven months “don’t add up,” according to Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C.
Management
How can senior government leaders best leverage the Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey?
COMMENTARY | A lower-than-average employee engagement score may tempt leadership to implement new activities intended to make employees feel happier at work. They should resist this temptation, says one federal executive coach.
Pay & Benefits
When you need to get the most out of your benefits: part two
The second in a series about dealing with serious situations.
Workforce
TSA employees are finally earning similar wages to most other federal workers
Officials on Thursday celebrated the arrival of an up-to-30% pay raise for Transportation Security Administration employees this week, but warned that House spending plans could derail recent progress.
Management
DHS inspector general pays $1.2M settlement to former deputy
Joseph Cuffari has faced widespread allegations of misconduct, though he denies any wrongdoing.
Management
Whistleblower alleges government coverup of UFO sightings, recovery efforts
Former intelligence official turned whistleblower David Grusch told lawmakers that the federal government has conducted “a multi-decade UAP crash retrieval and reverse engineering program” that has collected “non-human” remains.
Management
As Biden boosts legal immigration pathways, an implementing agency is pushed to the brink
Underresourced and overstretched, USCIS is struggling to keep pace with Biden’s immigration legacy.
Defense
Biden picks Gen. David Allvin to be the next Air Force top officer
The general is the service’s vice chief of staff.
Management
Biden taps former Maryland governor for Social Security commissioner
Martin O’Malley served two terms as governor before a failed presidential campaign in 2016.
Pay & Benefits