Pay & Benefits
Federal workers will see the largest increase to their health care premiums in recent memory next year
In a year where insurers have expanded coverage for multiple medical treatments, federal employees will see their Federal Employees Health Benefits Program premiums increase by an average of 13.5% in 2025.
Pay & Benefits
The best dates to retire in 2025
Your annual guide to choosing an optimal day to start the next phase of your life.
Management
USPS delays reforms and promises a smooth election-mail service
The Postal Service is vowing to deliver ballots promptly despite dips in service in many parts of the country.
Tech
FBI’s Carahsoft raid comes amid allegations of price-fixing
The leading IT reseller is in the middle of an ongoing False Claims Act case involving multiple vendors.
Management
Congress averts a shutdown, setting up a lame duck fight in December
A stopgap funding bill is heading to Biden's desk as Congress staves off a pre-election shutdown.
Oversight
Senate report details widespread Secret Service failures in Trump assassination attempt
Lack of communication and leadership led to USSS errors, though the agency maintains no individual employees were to blame.
Management
Agencies must disclose excess supply policies under bill headed for enactment
Under the legislation, which awaits the president’s signature, agencies must designate an official to identify potentially useful unused items like office equipment and furniture from across the federal government.
Pay & Benefits
Multiple FEHBP carriers will offer 'comprehensive' IVF coverage next year
Biden administration officials said that two nationwide insurers in the federal government’s employer-sponsored health care program will offer $25,000 worth of in vitro fertilization and other fertility treatments.
Pay & Benefits
House takes another stab at a bill reimbursing new veterans for emergency care
Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash., is hoping a reintroduced version of the RELIEVE Act will finally close the VA’s emergency care coverage loophole after Congress previously dropped the measure from the fiscal 2024 supplemental funding package.
Management
A new Senate bill would make it easier to track appointees’ confirmation status
The Improving Senate Confirmation and Vacancy Oversight Act would create a publicly accessible dashboard to track the status of a president’s nominees to the 1,300 Senate-confirmed appointments across government.
Pay & Benefits
Why do employees want to be feds? Benefits are a big reason
In a 2023 OPM survey, 90% or more of federal employees said that the availability of health and retirement benefits are important to them.
Updated
Workforce
Air Marshals say they are reaching a ‘breaking point’ amid brain drain and ‘punishing’ schedules
The federal law enforcement personnel say they need a fresh start in a new agency.
Updated
Tech
FBI raids government IT and cyber contractor Carahsoft
The FBI confirmed the raid but declined to provide further details.
Tech
Expedited STEM and cybersecurity hiring authority extended
OPM grants direct hire authority to agencies when there’s a lack of candidates or major hiring needs.
Tech
Agencies score a record number of A's on the latest Federal IT Acquisition Reform Act scorecard
GAO Information Technology and Cybersecurity Director Carol Harris said the biannual review has saved the government a total of roughly $31.4 billion since it first began in 2005.
Oversight
Nearly 40% of FAA air traffic control systems need urgent updates, GAO reports
Several systems, some which aid in navigation and communications, did not have modernization efforts in place, the GAO said.
Pay & Benefits
Lawmakers force a vote on eliminating the windfall elimination provision
Reps. Abigail Spanberger, D-Va., and Garrett Graves, R-La., have secured the 218 signatures needed to force a vote on legislation that would kill two controversial tax provisions affecting some feds’ retirement benefits.
Management
Bipartisan deal looks to punt shutdown threat into December
Congressional leaders vow to act quickly to pass stopgap, Secret Service funding, by Sept. 30 deadline.
Tech
GAO to unveil its findings on outdated FAA tech systems
The congressional watchdog's forthcoming report will examine legacy air traffic control systems and the agency’s modernization efforts.
Management