Measure Contains Some Old, Some New Policy Provisions

The measure would continue several long-standing provisions, including a general ban on abortion coverage in the FEHB program and a general ban on “lifestyle”-oriented training that is not directly related to an employee’s official duties, as well as more recently imposed oversight and reporting requirements regarding agency spending on conferences. The measure also would bar the IRS from paying a performance award or other type of cash incentive payment to employees unless it first considered any instances of misconduct involving them and their personal compliance with federal tax laws. Similarly, the agency could not pay incentives when rehiring former employees without considering those factors. It also would require a report on use of on-the-job time by IRS employees for union-related matters, and a report on the hacking of federal employee personnel files.