A recent Congressional Research Service report assessed the impact of potential automatic cutting in many government programs that could begin in January under terms of last year's debt ceiling agreement unless a law to prevent them is enacted. Continue ›

The House could vote as soon as this week on the annual DoD authorization measure, following approval last week by the Armed Services Committee. Continue ›

The House DoD bill notably does not include authority to conduct two additional rounds of base closings next year and in 2015 as the Pentagon has requested. Continue ›

Legislation (S-743) has been passed in the Senate to boost legal protections for federal whistleblowers, a bill that has been offered for many years and that has come close to final passage several times. Continue ›

A key Senate committee is set to consider this week a bill to loosen certain Hatch Act political activities restrictions, following an earlier delay of the bill over an issue relating to policy for certain state and local government employees who also fall under the restrictions because their programs receive federal funding. Continue ›

In reaction to the GSA conference scandal, OMB has ordered that agencies cut spending on travel by 30 percent from their fiscal 2010 levels starting in fiscal 2013—although with limited exceptions related to national security, diplomacy and certain other purposes. Continue ›

Sick leave is the gift that keeps on giving, writes benefits expert Reg Jones. Continue ›

OPM has finalized rules to carry out a 2010 executive order that overhauled federal career developmental programs by creating the Pathways Program, consisting of two new programs plus the pre-existing Presidential Management Fellows program which primarily places those with advanced degrees in federal jobs with the opportunity to convert to competitive service status. Continue ›

In John Doe v. Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, 2012 MSPB 42 (3/27/12), the MSPB ruled that the Pension Benefit Guaranty's Corporation's ordering of an appellant to undergo a fitness for duty examination (FFD exam) and concomitant [...] Continue ›