Pay & Benefits
Postal Service Floats Big Cuts to Employee Pay, Leave and Benefits
New postal workers would no longer earn a pension under preliminary business plan.
Management
House Appropriations Bill Would Block Impasses Panel from Imposing New Union Contracts
Federal labor groups have frequently accused agencies of engaging in bad faith “box-checking” collective bargaining negotiations, in an effort to fast track proposals to an all-Republican board.
Pay & Benefits
Trump’s White House Staff Is Smaller and Better Paid Than Obama’s
Acting Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney is the top earner at $203,000 a year.
Nextgov
Scammers Are Impersonating Government Agencies More Than Ever
The Federal Trade Commission warns that criminals’ “favorite ruse” is pretending to be from a government agency.
Management
How Behavioral Science Could Improve Federal Programs
The private sector has been using psychological insight for years to promote certain outcomes.
Oversight
Investigation of Secret Border Patrol Group Launched as New Degrading Facebook Posts Surface
A ProPublica story revealing demeaning posts directed at Latina lawmakers prompted widespread revulsion.
Route Fifty
Digital Driver’s Licenses Could Become a Real Option in Some States
Several states have run pilots for digital driver’s licenses, which would allow residents to supplement plastic ID cards with smartphone apps. But as the technology becomes more of a reality, experts are worried about the privacy implications.
News
4 Ways To Move Beyond Gridlock In Touchy Debates
"We need to listen to other viewpoints and try to understand the other side. If we cannot talk and listen to one another, then there is no hope for change."
Defense
U.S. Army Making Synthetic Biology a Priority
New thermal cloaking, insect proof uniforms are on the horizon, if the U.S. can get out in front of China.
Workforce
Presidential Hopeful Vows to Double the Number of Career Diplomats at State
Democratic candidate would create new recruiting pipelines and pay structures to boost workforce.
Route Fifty
DNA Evidence Will be Stored for 50 Years Under New State Law
The policy aims to give victims of sexual assault and prosecutors ample time to track down and convict offenders.
Management
OPM Announces New ‘Data Scientist’ Job Title
Officials hope that an "unofficial" data science marker for federal jobs could help both with recruitment of new federal workers as well as improve evidence-based policymaking and data management efforts.
Defense
Pentagon Advised to Keep Better Tabs on Defense Industry Before Reforming Payments
Impact of performance pay and contractor borrowing hasn’t been studied for 30 years.
Nextgov
OMB Adds Customer Experience, Data Policy Updates to Annual Budget Guidance
The Office of Management and Budget released an update to Circular A-11, outlining how agencies should be thinking about their fiscal 2021 budget requests.
Management
National Archives Needs Better Handle on Agency Electronic Records, Says Watchdog
Challenges come from outdated technology, uncertain inventory of agencies.
Pay & Benefits
All TSP Funds Rebound in June
After a lackluster May in which most offerings lost value, every fund in the federal government’s 401(k)-style retirement savings program grew last month.
Defense
Inside the Secret Border Patrol Facebook Group Where Agents Joke About Migrant Deaths and Post Sexist Memes
The three-year-old group, which has roughly 9,500 members, shared derogatory comments about Latina lawmakers who plan to visit a controversial Texas detention facility on Monday, calling them “scum buckets” and “hoes.”
Management
The Reasons Your Change Initiative Will Fail
Most people focus too much on the results and not enough on the relationships that will yield the results.
Defense