Fedweek

Legislation (HR-2175) reintroduced in the House would centralize purchasing of prescription drugs in the FEHB program, a proposal raised numerous times in various forms. The measure also would revise certain other drug pricing and contracting procedures in the program. The House meanwhile has passed HR-2146, which would allow penalty-free TSP withdrawals in any form for law officers, firefighters and air traffic controllers retiring at age 50 or later. A general 10 percent penalty—there are exceptions—applies for taking withdrawals before age 59 ½ unless the account holder retired at age 55 or later. That long has been an issue for employees in those occupations, who can retire at age 50 with 20 years of service—or, if under FERS, at any age with 25 years. Also, the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee has approved S-434, which would subject federal employees to mandatory removal for certain misconduct involving security clearance investigations, as well as imposing new restrictions on contractors involved in clearance determinations.