The language reflects opposition to policies from Republicans, primarily in the House. Image: Cristi Dangeorge/Shutterstock.com
The general government spending bill that has started moving in the House contains a number of federal workplace policy provisions, some aiming to bar enforcement of Biden administration initiatives.
The measure for example would bar:
* enforcement of the administration’s executive orders on DEIA for the federal workforce and of the “equity action plans” of agencies covered by the bill, including OPM itself;
* enforcement of another Biden order for agencies to support voting and that also opened the way for expanding paid time off for federal employees to vote or to perform roles such as poll worker; and
* reimposition of COVID-19 vaccine or mask mandates in the federal workplace of the sort the administration imposed and later lifted.
That language reflects opposition to those policies from Republicans, primarily in the House. The measure does not however contain proscriptive language on another area of GOP focus, telework and building occupancy levels. Such language could yet be added though, with the administration due to report soon on the rates and impact of telework, as ordered by a budget measure earlier this year.
Another provision would bar investments in the TSP in mutual funds that use environmental-social-governance criteria in selecting companies for their funds. While that would not affect the TSP’s core portfolio—stock and bond index funds and lifecycle funds containing mixes of them—the TSP has said such a requirement would cause it to close its mutual fund window feature, saying it lacks the resources to monitor the investment practices of the more than 5,000 mutual funds available there.
The bill also would continue several long-standing policies that are renewed annually in the appropriations measure. These include a general requirement that FEHB plans cover prescription contraceptives and a general ban on coverage of abortions; and a requirement that nondisclosure agreements affecting federal employees contain a notice that employees remain free to make whistleblowing disclosures to IGs, the OSC or Congress.
It also would continue bans on “lifestyle” type training that is not directly work-related and on conducting “Circular A-76” studies that can lead to contracting-out federal jobs.
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See also,
How Do Age and Years of Service Impact My Federal Retirement
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