President Trump’s Budget Proposes Major Cuts to Federal Retirement System
Released today, President Donald Trump’s fiscal 2018 budget proposes a series of cuts to the federal retirement system that would significantly impact current retirees and employees, plus future federal employees, according to federal financial experts.
Budget Cuts to IG Offices will Prove More Costly in the Long Run
Inspectors general from 24 agencies say they are suffering under President Donald Trump’s hiring freeze.
Lawmakers Push for Increased Cyber Hiring and Training
Three Democratic Congress members sent a letter this week suggesting the government borrow private-sector practices to improve federal hiring and training in order to bolster the cybersecurity workforce.
Top 7 Things to Know about the Budget, and How Civilian Agencies Came out Ahead
Lawmakers agreed on a deal early Monday morning to fund the government and avoid a shutdown by week’s end.
Will President Trump Settle for Border Wall Funding at a Later Date?
Days away from a potential government shutdown, President Trump and Republican Congressional leaders are at odds on funding the President’s wall.
Officials Lament Possibility of Another CR
With two weeks to go until government funding runs out on April 28, and considering Congress has not passed a budget on time for seven of the last eight years, Congress is working on borrowed time for its 2017 budget.
Agencies, Good-Government Groups Address Congress on Civil Service Reform
The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs committee held a roundtable last week for agencies and good-government groups to weigh in on civil service reform.
Democrats Push Back Against IRS Budget Cuts
While President Trump’s budget proposal includes $239 million in cuts to the IRS, Democrats are pushing back with a request of their own for the tax-collecting agency.
President Trump Rolls Back ‘Blacklisting’ Rule
This week, President Donald Trump signed House Joint Resolution 37, which stated Congress’ disapproval of the Fair Pay and Safe Workplaces rule, in addition to stating that “such rule shall have no force or effect.”
President Trump Plans to Give Federal Employees a Raise
The Trump administration announced plans to recommend a 1.9 percent pay raise for federal workers to take effect January 2018, according to a budget document and senior budget official.
Senate Democrats Draw the Line on Funding
Members of the Democratic leadership in the Senate are urging Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) to carefully consider what will be included in the essential government funding bill that must pass next month, warning that they would shut down the government if any “poison pills” – such as funding for the proposed border wall – are included.
More Lawmakers Request Hiring Freeze Exemptions
Following reports that several military bases have had to shut down childcare programs due to the hiring freeze, two Republicans on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee (OGR) sent a letter requesting an exemption from the freeze.
Trump Proposes Increase in Defense Budget with Cuts to Non-Defense Spending
With the prospective $54 billion increase in the budget for the Department of Defense, the Trump administration is expected to offset those costs through cuts to non-Defense agencies.
Senate Debates Empowering Federal Managers, Civil Service Reform
Lacking the fireworks that have become a staple of many congressional hearings on federal workforce issues in recent years, last week a bipartisan cadre of Senators on the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs hosted a conversation between lawmakers and representatives of federal executive, management, and labor-level employees.
Congress United on Whistleblower Protections
Members on both sides of the aisle are seeking clarity from the new administration on how recent directives may impact federal employees and their perceptions of whistleblower rights.
Feds Are “The Swamp” Says House Majority Leader
In an op-ed published in the Wall Street Journal, House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) took on a popular phrase from President Trump, outlining that “the greatest threat to America’s people, economy, and Constitution” is the federal bureaucracy.
Virginia Senators Grill OMB Nominee on Hiring Freeze
One day after signing an across the board hiring freeze, with limited exemptions for military personnel and national security purposes, President Trump’s pick to lead the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) was met with a sharp line of questioning from Democratic Virginia Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine.