Pay & Benefits
Advocates sketch plan for public service academy
Blueprint sets academy apart from existing programs, addressing recent criticism that a new institution is unnecessary.
Pay & Benefits
Riskier TSP funds bring greatest gains for May
Fund made up of fixed-income bonds was the only option to lose ground.
News
Wall between political operatives, agencies crumbling
Critics say White House staffers have crossed the line in pushing Republican interests at agencies.
Defense
Appropriators to take up veterans, homeland security measures
The four bills up for consideration would violate President Bush’s spending requests for individual subcommittees, as well as his overall limit.
Oversight
Senator to try incremental overhaul of food safety laws
A single food safety agency and mandatory recall authority are still goals, but lawmaker is taking a piecemeal approach.
Defense
Border crossing by TB carrier prompts DHS, Hill reviews
Agency procedures for handling the threat worked, but individual border officer allowed entry.
Defense
Homeland Security could face transition problem
Agency may lack bench strength in new administration, because few career employees are in high-level positions.
Oversight
GAO to challenge eligibility of employees to unionize
Agency is hiring private legal counsel, plans to contest petitions of more than a third of employees who filed for an election.
Pay & Benefits
Labor leader seeks boost in mileage reimbursement rate
Midyear adjustments are unusual, but union official says recent gas price increases merit a higher rate.
Oversight
OMB orders agencies to report on competition for contracts
Procurement chief raises visibility of “competition advocate” in agency acquisition shops.
Pay & Benefits
OPM pushes to extend locality pay to Alaska, Hawaii
New proposal seeks to gradually replace cost-of-living allowances with locality payments for areas outside the contiguous states.
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The Buzz
The Army and TSA play serious games, terrorism death toll rises and the lonely commute.
Outlook