Pay & Benefits
Feds at Two Major Agencies Would Not Get Paid Parental Leave Under New Law
A law authorizing 12 weeks of paid parental leave for federal workers applies only to Title 5 employees, leaving workers at TSA, FAA and elsewhere fearing they will miss out. Democrats are working to change that.
Oversight
IRS Reforms Free File Program, Drops Agreement Not to Compete With TurboTax
The changes come after ProPublica’s reporting showed how TurboTax maker Intuit tricked customers into paying for tax prep they could have gotten for free.
Management
New Funding for Election Security Assistance Doesn’t Go Far Enough, Experts Say
Ahead of the 2020 presidential election, Congress appropriated $425 million for states to help secure election infrastructure.
Oversight
The Legal Questions Still Unanswered by Trump’s Impeachment
What exactly is abuse of power? And, for that matter, what is “obstruction of Congress?”
Management
Lawmakers Accuse VA of Violating Bargaining Rules in Workforce Order Implementation
More than 70 House Democrats said the department must bargain with its union before it can implement President Trump’s controversial workforce executive orders.
Oversight
Lawmakers Blast DHS for Missing Deadline for Bipartisan Subpoena of Immigration Documents
The House Homeland Security Committee requested information on the administration's policies related to handling of children and families for the second time.
Oversight
Trump Becomes the Third President in U.S. History to Be Impeached
The voted capped a two-month investigation, but it was years in the making.
Management
Congress Will Not Block Mandated Union Contracts in Spending Bill
In a blow to labor groups, a provision blocking the implementation of collective bargaining agreements that have not been “mutually agreed to” by all parties does not appear in the final spending legislation.
Pay & Benefits
Defense Policy Bill With Paid Parental Leave for Feds Goes to President Trump's Desk
Senate approves the annual Defense authorization act, which provides all federal workers with up to 12 weeks of annual leave for the birth or adoption of a child.
Management
Senate Committee Advances Paul Ray’s Nomination to Be Regulations Czar
Panel votes 8-4 to send the nomination to the full Senate.
Pay & Benefits
Bipartisan Spending Deal Includes Average 3.1% Pay Raise for Federal Workers in 2020
Congressional negotiators agreed to use language advocated by Democrats to provide an across-the-board 2.6% pay increase to federal civilian employees, along with an average 0.5% boost in locality pay.
Oversight
Why Congress Would Keep Working During a Government Shutdown
Even if other parts of the federal government shut down, Congress could – and would have to – keep working. A legal scholar explains why and how that is possible.
Oversight
How to Conduct a Trial in the Senate
The Constitution does not provide procedural guidelines for how an impeachment trial is to be conducted—so the senators of 1868 had to figure it out as they went.
Management
Experts Praise New Acquisition Workforce Training Requirements
The “significant” provisions will align the public and private sectors, said one.
Pay & Benefits
New Bill Would ‘Close the Gap’ in Locality Pay for Some Federal Jobs
Legislation in both chambers of Congress would ensure General Schedule and Federal Wage System employees receive comparable locality pay.
Oversight
House Passes Bill that Mandates TSA to Study Emerging Transportation Security Threats
The legislation calls for a task force to look into emerging cyber, chemical, drone and other threats.
Workforce
Survey: Feds Are Concerned About Bills and Holiday Plans With Looming Shutdown
Respondents reported fears of paying bills and holiday plan disruptions.
Oversight
Federal Aviation Administration Will Reconsider Agency’s Oversight of Boeing
“I witnessed a factory in chaos,” a former Boeing facility manager told lawmakers.
Pay & Benefits
All the Federal Workforce Provisions Tucked into the Defense Policy Bill
In addition to providing 12 weeks of paid parental leave, the authorization act offers additional shutdown protections for feds and codifies the federal “ban the box” policy in hiring.
Defense