EPA IG Questions Awards Program
An awards program sponsored by the EPA benefits from having the word “presidential” in its name but may not merit …More
Federal Manager’s Daily Report
Sign up Now! Free eNewslettersManagement Issues in VA Benefits System Continuing
The VA continues to lack assurance that it is meeting its claims processing accuracy and backlog elimination goals, an IG …More
Contingency Plans May Be Needed Later
Federal agencies have finished updating their shutdown contingency plans should a funding lapse occur, although it appears they will not …More
OPM Cites Positives in Viewpoint Survey
This year’s Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey reflects some positive trends, OPM has said in releasing partial results that show 1 …More
Improved Employee Engagement Is a Priority
In a blog post, OPM in particular noted improvement in most agencies in employee engagement, which it said “drives performance …More
DoD Issues Just in Case Memo on Shutdown
DoD has issued a department-wide memo on shutdown preparations stressing to employees who would stand to be furloughed that their …More
SES Performance Rules Finalized
OPM has finalized, in a September 25 Federal Register notice, rules governing performance appraisals and related issues for the SES …More
Agencies More Attuned to Insider Threats, Report Says
Nearly half of agencies have been targeted by insider threats to their data within the last year and nearly a …More
FLRA Issues Guidance on Labor-Management Considerations for Meetings
The FLRA has issued guidance intended to assist management and unions in determining their respective rights and obligations during formal …More
GSA Reaches Out to Private Sector for Data Solutions
The GSA has announced a software programming and data innovation competition to be held October 16 with a goal of …More
Another Attempt Made at Postal Reform
The main congressional advocate of postal reform in recent years, Sen. Tom Carper, D-Del., has introduced a new bill (S-2051) …More
DoD Issues Guidance on Privacy Breach Notices
The Pentagon has issued guidance to DoD components on considerations for making public announcements regarding breaches of private information, an …More
CBO Sees Some Management Burden of Program Improvement Act
A bill aimed at improving program and project management in the government would impose some additional administrative costs, including for …More
Hiring Reform Bill Passes Senate
The Senate has passed S-1580, designed to speed up the process of filling federal vacancies by allowing agencies to review …More
Agencies Urge Better Management of Firefighting
The Agriculture and Interior departments have jointly asked Congress to change the way the government funds firefighting on federal lands, …More
Use Behavioral Insights, Obama Tells Agencies
President Obama has issued an executive order calling on agencies to make fuller use of behavioral science insights in their …More
More Changes in SES Policies at VA Contemplated
The Senate Veterans Affairs Committee has held hearings in preparation to advance a bill that would build on a law …More
More Whistleblower Retaliation Complaints Arising
The Office of Special Counsel has reported a significant rise in complaints of whistleblower retaliation brought there in its role …More
DoD Proposal Would Have Implications for Managers
The Defense Department’s recent proposals for reforming many personnel practices contain several potential important changes directed at careers of supervisors …More
Performance Element Would Be Emphasized
One aspect of personnel management drawing the most attention would be to begin a six-month study, starting as soon as …More
Some Ideas Aimed at Improving Recruitment, Retention
Other aspects of the plan are aimed at improving recruitment and retention in fields where the government historically has had …More
Restrictions on Questioning Job Applicants Proposed
Bipartisan legislation (HR-3470 and S-2021) aims to end the practice of requiring applicants for federal jobs to disclose in their …More
Inventory of Hazards at Federal Sites Still Lacking, Says GAO
The primary agencies responsible for managing federal lands–USDA, Interior, DoD, and Energy–still do not have a complete inventory of actual …More
Ocean Protective Agency Pollutes Ocean, IG Finds
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, an agency charged with protecting the ocean ecosystem, “intentionally and repeatedly discharged untreated bilgewater …More
Improvements Needed in GPRA Reporting, GAO Says
The GPRA Modernization Act requires agencies to publicly explain how they ensure the accuracy and reliability of performance information they …More
IG Lauds Collection of Back Taxes from Federal Employees, Retirees
The IRS is generally successful in its efforts to collect delinquent taxes from federal and military personnel and retirees, in …More
DHS Lacks Controls over Warehouses, Audit Finds
DHS owns or leases storage facilities ranging in size from a shed to a 500,000 square foot FEMA warehouse for …More
‘Pay for Success’ Arrangements Worth Exploring, GAO Says
Federal agencies could benefit from exploring “pay for success” contracting arrangements being tested at lower levels of government, in which …More
Greater Controls Needed Over Email Records at DoE, Audit Says
The Energy Department is “not effectively managing” its email records, an IG report has said, blaming the lack of a …More
Prepare for Headquarters Cuts, DoD Tells Components
The Pentagon has told components to prepare for cuts in headquarters spending, adding that a new definition of what that …More
