Budget, TSP, Other Measures on Congressional Plate
Congress returns to work this week from its Memorial Day recess with only about three months of legislative working time …More
Fedweek
Sign up Now! Free eNewslettersGSA Seeks Vehicle Smoking Ban
The General Services Administration, which in 1993 barred the use of tobacco products in GSA fleet vehicles used by federal …More
DoD Authorizes Civilian Hostile Fire Pay
The Defense Department has authorized hostile fire pay for its civilian employees at the Pentagon, the World Trade Center and …More
OMB Moving Ahead on Contracting Revisions
Despite opposition from employee organizations, the Office of Management and Budget says it is moving ahead with a plan to …More
Expanded Police Powers for IG Agents Advances
The Senate Governmental Affairs Committee has approved legislation (S-2530) that would extend to some agents of agency inspector general offices …More
Overseas Jobs to Be Reexamined
The Office of Management and Budget is reviewing the number of federal employees assigned overseas with an eye to “rightsizing” …More
Other TSP Policies Also to Change
The proposed rules also would change policies regarding contributions, loans and withdrawals for those activated for military service, for example …More
TSP Proposes Death Benefit Changes
The Thrift Savings Plan’s governing board has proposed changes in rules affecting death benefits payable under the program. Current TSP …More
Other Bills May Need a Boost
Several other measures of interest to employees and retirees are continuing to draw co-sponsors but with time running short, those …More
Prospects Called Favorable on TSP ‘Catch-Up’ Bill
Another plan that officials say seems to have a strong chance of passage would allow Thrift Savings Plan investors age …More
Civil Service Reforms Still Have a Chance
Although there is little chance of reform of federal pay-setting this year, officials say, there remains a chance that at …More
New SEC Pay System Could Set Precedent
Despite several lingering issues, the Securities and Exchange Commission has put in place a new pay system that civil service …More
Moratorium on Acquisition Staff Cuts Proposed
The Senate DoD authorization bill also would place a three-year moratorium on further cuts in the DoD acquisition work force …More
Senate DoD Bill Includes Buyout, Other Provisions
In addition to the raise language, the Senate measure would: extend by another three years DoD’s authority to pay its …More
4.1 Percent Marker Advances Another Step
Meanwhile, the Senate Armed Services Committee has drafted a fiscal 2003 Defense Department authorization bill that like the House-passed version …More
Administration Opposes Contracting Provision
The Bush administration, in formal comments on the House-passed DoD budget measure (HR-4546) raised objections to a provision that it …More
Raise Formula Might Be Extended
The House Armed Services Committee has said it is “inclined” to extend a special raise formula for military personnel that …More
Air Control Managers Could See Improved Benefits
Meanwhile, legislation has been offered in the House (HR-4760) to allow air traffic controllers who move into management or administrative …More
Law Officer, Retirement May Be Broadened
A measure (HR-4770) to extend the special retirement provisions applying to federal law enforcement officers to Federal Protective Service officers …More
Unions Would Pass on ‘Cafeteria’ Offerings
The American Federation of Government Employees and the National Treasury Employees Union have said in testimony and in prepared statements …More
More Than Two Million Cards in Use
OMB told agencies to review the number of cards they issue, suggesting that they deactivate all current cards and reactivate …More
OMB Cracks Down on Charge Cards
In response to recent inspector general and General Accounting Office reports citing abuses of government-issued travel and purchase cards held …More
Test on Coercion Outlined
A recent decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit laid out the test for determining whether …More
EEOC’s Guidance on Federal Sector Alternative Dispute Resolution
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, which has jurisdiction over disputes within the government over alleged bias on the base of …More
COLA Count at 1 Percent
Through seven months of the 12-month counting period toward the January 2003 federal retiree cost-of-living adjustment, retirees have banked 1 …More
Early Enrollment Applications Still Being Processed
Although early enrollment applications for the federal long-term care insurance program stopped being available May 15, applications received by the …More
No Tax Break Foreseen on LTC Premiums
Meanwhile, the Office of Personnel Management has sent guidance to agencies regarding payroll withholding for employees who sign up for …More
Visit to Cafeteria May Be Ahead
The House civil service subcommittee this week will begin hearings into a concept that has long been discussed as a …More
Transition Period Ahead
Several special considerations will apply during the transition period to the new system. From August 31 through September 15, participants …More
Several Loan Policies Also Changing
The TSP’s new computer system will also bring several changes in how investors may take loans from the program. Under …More
