Pay & Benefits
Senate version of bill to standardize retiree COLAs emerges
The reintroduction of the Equal COLA Act by Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Calif., comes just weeks after the 2024 cost of living adjustment announcement revived complaints about how the government calculates annual increases across retirement systems.
Management
The Women’s Bureau has spent 100 years improving work for women — but the House wants to eliminate it
For the first time in at least a decade, the House has put forward a funding bill that includes no money for the only federal agency to “represent the needs and interests of working women.”
Defense
The Pentagon may never get to the bottom of that famous UFO video
The DOD’s office is creating a way for former government employees to reach out with information about UFOs.
Defense
Senate confirms first woman to lead Navy, key joint staff vacancies
However, hundreds of confirmations are still blocked by Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala.
Management
House speaker pitches funding plan with rolling shutdown threats
Different agencies would face different shutdown deadlines under House GOP proposal.
Management
House GOP proposal to link IRS cuts to Israel aid draws quick, bipartisan criticism
House Republicans are so far ignoring Biden's request to link the aid with hiring surges at immigration and border security agencies.
Pay & Benefits
Senate panel advances measures to overhaul federal workers’ death benefits, agency customer service
The money families of federal workers who die while on the job receive in gratuity and funerary benefits has not been updated since 1997.
Workforce
New House speaker has a plan to avoid a shutdown—and to overhaul the civil service
Mike Johnson is giving his Republican colleagues options to keep agencies open while the larger spending fight plays out.
News
After three weeks of stalemate, Louisiana's Mike Johnson is elected speaker of the House
Johnson, who does not have a strong bipartisan track record, will be tasked with working with the Democratic-controlled Senate on a quickly approaching Nov.17 government funding deadline.
Management
GOP’s House paralysis is a crisis in a time of crises
The House remains in limbo, with action needed as budget deadlines loom and a war between Israel and Hamas threatens to spread to other fronts.
Pay & Benefits
Lawmakers revive bill to let ex-temps make catch-up retirement contributions
Currently, Federal Employees Retirement System employees who began their careers as temporary or seasonal workers must work longer to receive their full retirement benefits.
News
Jordan’s bid to be House speaker ends after rejection by GOP in closed meeting
The closed-door meeting came after Rep. Jim Jordan’s third attempt to win sufficient support from Republicans, who hold a slim majority in the House.
Management
Senate lawmakers float plan to revamp agencies’ customer service
The Improving Government Services Act would require agencies to develop plans to implement private-sector customer experience best practices into how they interact with members of the public.
Workforce
The latest GOP speaker nominee has a history of targeting federal employees
Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, has orchestrated shutdowns and called for drastic reductions in federal agency rolls.
News
House stalled again after rejecting Jim Jordan as speaker a second time
Jordan plans to talk with the Republicans who voted against him and hopes to win those who flipped Wednesday back to his side.
Defense
Budgetary limbo could cost the Navy Department $26B in missing or ‘misaligned’ funds
Comptroller lays out the price of a full-year continuing resolution if Congress can’t pass a 2024 budget.
News
Ohio’s Jim Jordan fails in bid for U.S. House speaker, leaving chamber paralyzed again
Jordan was unable to clinch the votes needed to hold the gavel amid concerns about his agenda and frustrations with his history inside and outside of Congress.
News
Jim Jordan gains support as vote nears for U.S. House speaker, but outcome still in doubt
The Ohio congressman will need the backing of nearly all the chamber’s 221 GOP lawmakers in order to hold the highest office in Congress.
Workforce
Senate bill would codify remote work, increase telework reporting
The Telework Reform Act also would authorize noncompetitive hiring of military and law enforcement spouses into remote work positions.
News