Fedweek

The spending bill contains language criticizing the VA for allowing reprisal against whistleblowers, although it did not reflect language pending in both the House and Senate to require discipline of those who take retaliation. Those proposals are widely expected to be revived in the new year, however, along with bills to apply the shortened appeal rights enacted last year for VA SES members across the entire VA workforce. Under those plans deadlines for filing an appeal and for getting a decision from the MSPB hearing officer would not be as tight, but key provisions such as the chance of a default judgement in favor of the agency and the loss of further appeal rights beyond the initial stage would apply. Several other measures would lengthen the probationary period for newly hired employees from one year to 18 months or two years.