Employee Policy

New cybersecurity breach exposed feds' info

The Office of Personnel Management notified more than 48,000 federal employees that their personal information may have been compromised in yet another breach of systems used for security clearance background investigations.

Employee Policy

IRS to freeze hiring

IRS plans to freeze hiring and overtime except in the most critical situations due to budget cuts in the fiscal 2015 budget approved by Congress.

Nextgov

Most Federal Agencies Wouldn’t Be Able to Bounce Back from a Sony Hack

60 percent of federal agencies lack contingency plans in the event of a cyber emergency.

Management

The Limits of Obama's Clemency

The president granted pardons and commutations to 20 on Wednesday, but many more wait.

Oversight

Congress Fails to Confirm Postal Nominees, but USPS Says It’s Found a Workaround

Agency had prepared a plan B in the event of congressional inaction.

Defense

The New White House Fence Could Wind Up Being Really, Really Tall

An independent panel has a few recommendations for the Secret Service about how to fix the presidential perimeter.

Defense

Air Force Cancels 2015 Layoffs: ‘Enough is Enough’

Voluntary separation programs will be made available.

Management

White House Floats New Climate Guidelines for Energy, Infrastructure Development

The administration is releasing new plans instructing federal agencies to assess greenhouse-gas emissions as part of a broader effort to address climate change.

Management

Library of Congress Will Preserve The Big Lebowski as a Historical Piece of American Culture

The National Film Preservation Board selected the Coen brothers’ film for preservation.

Management

Budget-Crunched IRS Revamps Exempt Organizations Division

Unit that birthed targeting controversy speeds up applications processing.

Route Fifty

Nebraska, Oklahoma Join Forces to Challenge Colorado Marijuana Law

Recreational weed in the Centennial State has strained law enforcement elsewhere, neighboring officials say.

Management

How to Avoid the Disaster of Leadership Vertigo

It's when your brain tells you one thing and the facts tell you another.

Management

FEMA Spent Billions on Disaster Assistance Overhead During the Last Decade

The agency allocated nearly $13 billion for expenses related to compensation, travel and supplies for disaster relief personnel from fiscal years 2004 to 2013.

Nextgov

48,000 Federal Employees Potentially Affected by Second Background Check Hack

OPM is alerting more than 48,000 federal employees their personal information may have been exposed following a breach at KeyPoint Government Solutions, which conducts background investigations of federal employees seeking security clearances.

Pay & Benefits

Beware of Scams

Fraudsters are waiting to separate you from your retirement savings.

News

The Ambassadorial Confirmation Scorecard

The Senate just confirmed a slew of nominees, but there are many others who remain in limbo.

Route Fifty

Kansas State Workers Sent Home Because of Bedbugs

An office cubicle chair is reportedly home to a nest of the pests.

News

The New American Ambassador to New Zealand is a Former Baseball Player

Banking executive Mark Gilbert has raised millions for Obama -- and played seven games in 1985 for the Chicago White Sox.

Management

The Most Intelligent Groups Aren’t Just a Bunch of Smart People

It turns out that you can measure and predict group intelligence, and that the same factors affect both face-to-face and online groups.

Nextgov

What did Federal CIOs Learn about Cybersecurity in 2014?

After a tough year, agency CIOs say it’s time for new approaches to rooting out and responding to cyber incidents.