DoD Bill Incorporates Special Counsel Reauthorization
The now-signed DoD budget incorporates a separate measure that had previously advanced in Congress reauthorizing the Office of Special Counsel, …More
Federal Manager’s Daily Report
Sign up Now! Free eNewslettersTelework Pilot Program Authority Extended
The House has passed HR-4171, to extend the authority to conduct two telework-related pilot programs through 2020, one for the …More
DoD-Wide Financial Statement Audit Begins
The Pentagon has announced that a department-wide financial audit is beginning, saying that “with more than $2.4 trillion in assets, …More
Leadership, Staffing Problems in VA Program Cited
The VA is not achieving the efficiencies it’s seeking from an initiative to consolidate and simplify the buying of supplies …More
House Seeks Stronger DHS Emphasis on Cybersecurity
The House has passed HR-3359, designed to put greater emphasis at DHS on cybersecurity by redesignating its National Protection and …More
Senators Concerned about Reorganization at State
Senators involved in foreign affairs matters have sent several letters to the State Department expressing concerns about the ongoing reorganization …More
Congress Backs Outside Audits of VA
The House has joined the Senate in passing S-1266, which authorizes the VA to contract with a nonprofit organization that …More
Agencies Pressed to Respond on Leave for Political Activities
The Republican leaders of the House and Senate committees overseeing federal workplace issues are pressing agencies to respond to their …More
Agencies Reminded on Cyber Workforce Act Requirements
OPM has reminded agencies of the required next step, and of steps to follow that, under the 2015 Federal Cybersecurity …More
More Flexible Appointment Authorities Needed, Report Says
Federal agencies need more flexibility to flexibility to hire employees to temporary or term appointments when a permanent employee for …More
IG Raises Concerns about DHS Protection of Personal Information
The DHS office of health affairs has not put in place an effective structure to meet requirements for safeguarding personally …More
Employee Engagement Emphasis Showing Results, Says Report
Ongoing agency efforts to get and keep their employees more engaged in their work are showing results, the Partnership for …More
Best Places to Work Results Vary by Agency
The latest Best Places to Work in the Federal Government report once again shows substantial variation among agencies, with NASA, …More
IG Points Out Overlap, Other Management Issues at State
The State Department suffers from management problems including overlapping or dispersed authority and “inexperienced staff, insufficient training, staffing gaps, and …More
Court Overturns FLRA on Bargaining Obligation
A federal appeals court has overturned an FLRA decision regarding the scope of bargaining obligations, holding that an already existing …More
Directive Issued on Use of Mobile Devices in Secure Workspaces
The Committee on National Security Systems has issued minimum standards for departments and agencies regarding use of mobile devices in …More
Greater Coordination on Building Security Sought
Although the Federal Protective Service is no longer one of its subagencies, the GSA still has responsibilities for the physical …More
More Attention to Clearance Backlogs Sought
The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee has issued a report calling for more disclosure regarding the status of …More
Tracking of Audio Conference Costs Called Lacking at EPA
The EPA needs to improve the oversight of its spending on audio conference services, on which it spent more than …More
New Cadre of Innovations Fellows Announced
The GSA has selected the latest cadre of ten Presidential Innovations Fellows, who serve as what the agency describes as …More
Senators Seek Fuller Attention to Open IG Recommendations
Legislation (S-2178) newly offered in the Senate seeks to bring more attention to IG findings that agencies have not addressed …More
Annuity Overpayments an Ongoing Issue, Says IG
OPM’s longstanding problem of overpayments of annuities after the recipient’s death is continuing, and while most such cases involve failure …More
GAO Calls for More Oversight of Contractor Compliance with Employment Laws
The Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs’ own policies are limiting its ability to enforce affirmative action and anti-discrimination obligations …More
OPM’s Guidance on Determining Who Works in a Shutdown
With a potential partial government shutdown only days away–federal agency spending authority expires Friday (December 8) unless extended–it’s time for …More
Guidance Defines Management Discretion in Shutdown
OPM guidance on partial agency shutdowns induced by appropriations lapses outlines several areas of management discretion beyond the initial determinations …More
Special Considerations for Work Policies in Shutdowns Explained
OPM guidance on partial government shutdowns addresses several work scheduling issues that may arise. These include: A furloughed employee may …More
Report Criticizes VA Follow-up on Complaints about Care
VA medical centers are falling short in their obligation to investigate and, if warranted, address concerns that may arise about …More
Intelligence Community Expands Artificial Intelligence Emphasis
The Office of the Director of National Intelligence has announced a competition to “explore opportunities for artificial intelligence and other …More
Agencies Reminded to Report Travel, Relocation Spending
GSA has issued a bulletin to agencies reminding them of the requirements to report their travel, transportation and relocation spending …More
Probation Bill Shows Split Between Management, Labor Interests
A pending House vote on a bill (HR-4182) to extend the standard competitive service probationary period from one year to …More
