Pay & Benefits
A Request to Raise Gas Reimbursement Rates to Reflect Skyrocketing Prices, and More
A weekly roundup of pay and benefits news.
Workforce
Supreme Court Makes Federal Officials 'Absolutely Immunized' From Personal Lawsuits
New ruling restricts when individuals can sue federal personnel for misconduct.
Management
Unemployment Insurance Has Been Added to GAO's 'High Risk' List
The government watchdog says more than $78 billion in improper unemployment insurance payments were made in fiscal year 2021, and cited fraud, poor customer service, inequitable access, legacy tech and staffing shortages as key drivers of failure.
Management
The White House Just Pulled Its Nominee to Fill the Still-Vacant Job of Federal Procurement Chief
The Office of Federal Procurement Policy has not had a confirmed leader since the Trump administration, despite the Biden administration's goals to use procurement to advance equity and curb climate change.
Oversight
Lawmakers Grill VA Tech Officials Over Stalled Progress on Cybersecurity
Top cyber officials with the Department of Veterans Affairs told Congress they are opposed to a bipartisan bill seeking to strengthen the agency’s cybersecurity standards—despite its ongoing failures to meet oversight recommendations.
Management
DOE Shares the Playbook for Energy Emergencies
The Energy Emergency Response Playbook for States and Territories is designed to help state officials respond to threats to the energy infrastructure from cyberattacks, man-made damage and weather-related incidents like drought, flooding, storms, extreme heat or earthquakes.
Employee Policy
EEOC: Reentry continues despite COVID-19 spikes; union wants more communication
Bargaining unit employees are expected to double their amount of in-office work next week, despite increasing numbers of agency offices located in high transmission regions.
TSP
TSP participants bemoan bumpy recordkeeper transition
Feds and retirees are reporting problems with setting up new accounts for online access to the federal government’s 401(k)-style retirement savings program—and the agency’s call center has been deluged.
Management
U.S. Tragedies from Guns Have Often – but not Always – Spurred Political Responses
Congress tends to be most likely to act after an assassination or assassination attempt of historic proportions or mass shootings. But sometimes lawmakers do nothing beyond debate new measures.
Tech
How Long Does COVID-19 Vaccine Protection Last?
COVID vaccines provide protection, but immunity wanes over time. Researchers found a drop from 83% after the first month to 22% after five or more months.
Workforce
GovExec Daily: What the TSP Changes Mean For Feds
Erich Wagner joins the podcast to discuss the ways the retirement savings plan is shifting, on the board and with its service provider.
Oversight
A New Law Will Make It Harder to Escape Investigation By Leaving Federal Service
The measure will allow the Veterans Affairs Department IG to subpoena former feds and contractors.
Workforce
The EEOC Will Keep Online Mediation Around Post-COVID
The EEOC had to offer mediation sessions online because of the pandemic and the agency wants to keep the virtual option for the future.
Pay & Benefits
TSP Participants Bemoan Bumpy Recordkeeper Transition
Federal employees and retirees have reported problems with setting up new accounts for online access to the federal government’s 401(k)-style retirement savings program, and the agency’s call center has been deluged.
Management
A New Law Ensures Kids’ Needs Are Prioritized In Natural Disasters and Other Catastrophic Events
“Children suffer the most when these tragedies occur in communities,” one lead lawmaker says.
Employee Policy
Successor to congressional cyber commission wants WH to lead on related workforce strategy
One recommendation: establish cyber excepted service authorities, like the DHS's newly launched cyber hiring initiative, government-wide.
Pay
Podcast: How to negotiate your salary… and everything else
Author Jotham S. Stein joins our partner site GovExec's podcast, and discusses how to gain leverage in work negotiations.
Pay
Federal prisons: Losing staff, and BOP director aims to fix that by October
Steps to boost hiring will include a $1,000 recruitment incentive.
Defense
Raytheon Technologies to Move HQ from Massachusetts to Northern Virginia
The move means the five largest defense contractors will all call the D.C. region home.
Workforce