Spending Account Program Gets More Flexible
Several improvements in the flexible spending account program for federal employees have been ordered in light of a recent Treasury …More
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Sign up Now! Free eNewslettersGovernment-Wide Reforms Could Stall
The House Transportation-Treasury appropriations bill also imposes a cut in accounts at the Office of Personnel Management that otherwise could …More
Further Action on Raise Pending
The measure containing the pay raise, the Transportation-Treasury appropriations bill, is pending a full House vote; an effort could be …More
3.1 Percent Raise Targeted
Federal employees stand to get a 3.1 percent raise in January 2006 under a spending bill approved by the House …More
COLA Count Slips in May
The inflation index used to set the January 2006 federal retiree cost-of-living adjustment dropped 0.1 percentage points in May. With …More
GAO Raises Cost, Equity Concerns
At the hearing, the Government Accountability Office threw some cold water on hopes of those seeking action on the WEP …More
Hearing Held on WEP, GPO
The House Social Security subcommittee has held a hearing at which it heard from groups representing federal employees and state …More
Expert’s View: FERS Air Traffic Controller Retirement
Retirement benefits for air traffic controllers under FERS differ not only from those of other FERS employees but also from …More
Measure Links Funds to Telecommuting
The House has passed a spending bill covering the departments of Justice, State and Commerce (HR-2862) along with the Small …More
Loan, Transit Bills Also Advance
Meanwhile, the Government Reform Committee also has approved: HR-1765, which would make student loan reimbursements tax-free and encourage agencies to …More
Retiree Premium Conversion Bill Clears Committee
The full House Government Reform Committee has approved a bill (HR-994) to allow federal retirees (along with military retirees) to …More
Key Spending Bill Moving in House
The House is working on the Transportation-Treasury spending bill for fiscal 2006, the measure that traditionally is the vehicle for …More
Restrictions also Sought for USDA
Meanwhile, the House has passed an appropriations bill (HR-2744) covering the Agriculture Department that prevents the department from contracting-out rural …More
DoD Contracting Restrictions Advance
The House version of the Defense Department appropriations bill (HR-2863) for the upcoming fiscal year would continue certain restrictions that …More
Last TSP Open Season Drawing to Close
Effective at the end of this month, the Thrift Savings Plan’s long-standing practice of conducting twice-yearly open seasons will end. …More
New Policies on Recruitment, Relocation and Retention Incentives
The Office of Personnel Management has issued new fact sheets on the use of recruitment, relocation and retention incentive payments—known …More
Measure Would Expand Veterans Preference
Language in the House-passed 2006 Defense Department authorization measure (HR-2528) would expand veterans preference rights for hiring into federal jobs …More
Correction on CSRS LEO Retirement
In the Expert’s View column of June 1 it was incorrectly stated that if you are a law enforcement officer …More
Expert’s View: CSRS Air Traffic Controller Retirement
Most air traffic controllers are subject to mandatory separation on the last day of the month in which they become …More
Other Policies Also Would Mirror Civil Service
The measure further would repeal recertification requirements for Senior Foreign Service officers; a similar requirement for Senior Executive Service members …More
Annuitant Policy Would More Closely Track Civil Service
The bill also would make several changes designed to have foreign service personnel policies more closely track civil service policies …More
Concerns Voiced on Foreign Service Changes
The Bush administration has raised several objections to a bill (S-600) pending a Senate vote that would make several changes …More
TSP Updates Rules in Several Areas
The Thrift Savings Plan has issued final rules updating several policies, including a provision carrying out a law enacted last …More
Military to Civilian Conversion Continues
The Defense Department converted some 7,600 military positions to civilian employee or contractor performance during fiscal 2004, the Pentagon has …More
Base Closing Opposition Flares Up
As Congress continues to work on the fiscal 2006 authorization bill for the Defense Department, opposition to the planned round …More
What’s Ahead on NSPS
The Defense Department has finished the “meet and confer” period with unions representing its employees over the new national security …More
Assessment of Building Security Efforts
The Congressional Research Service recently reported on efforts to improve security in federal buildings, concluding that “the successful integration of …More
How the Current Law Works
Under current law, benefits for CSRS employees with part-time service are calculated using a two-step process. For workers with service …More
Part-Time Retirement Fix Again Before Congress
Legislation once again is pending before Congress (HR-480, offered by Rep. Jim Moran, D-Va..) to change a provision of CSRS …More
‘Retirement Wave’ Coming Toward Shore
The much-discussed “retirement wave” of Baby Boom federal employees likely will hit the government within several years, according to responses …More
