USCIS Furloughs Canceled Following Congressional Pressure
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) was planning on furloughing at least 13,000 employees at the end of this month due to budgetary shortfalls. On Tuesday, Joseph Edlow, the agency’s Deputy Director for Policy, announced the agency will have enough funding to maintain operations through the end of the year following Congressional pressure.
OPM Launches New Records System
The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) is introducing a new records system titled “Federal Competency Assessment Records” that will collect and store OPM data to be used for training and development purposes.
New Fiscal Goals in Place for Agencies to Maintain Public Trust During Pandemic
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the federal government has had to restructure how it handles finances and resources for the American people.
Office of Management and Budget Updates Circular A-11 Budget Guidance
The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) recently introduced their annual update to Circular A-11 guidance for preparing, submitting, and executing the federal budget. This update makes changes to Section 280, which relates to improving customer experience and service delivery.
Federal Workers Deemed Essential Allowed to Restore Annual Leave
A new interim final rule by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) explains how agencies can restore annual leave for employees who are deemed essential during the COVID-19 pandemic. Currently, most federal employees can carry over 30 days of leave to the following year even if they accrue more. However, agencies can restore “use or lose” privileges in extenuating circumstances.
OPM Releases New Guidance on Paid Parental Leave
The Office of Personnel Management issued an interim final rule to implement the Federal Employee Paid Leave Act amendment to the FY2020 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which provides 12 weeks of paid parental leave to certain federal employees who are covered by the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). The act covers parents who recently gave birth as well as those who are adopting or fostering a child.
White House Issues Formal Veto Threat Against House Appropriations Legislation
On Friday, the House passed a spending package for a majority of the federal government. The day before, the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) issued a formal notice announcing plans to veto the legislation, H.R. 7617, if it were to arrive on the president’s desk for signature.
OPM Issues Memo on Implementing Federal Hiring Executive Order
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OPM OIG Details Agency’s Failure to Provide Documents in Letter to Congress
In a letter to House and Senate Appropriations Subcommittees on Financial Services and General Government, the Office of Personnel Management’s Office of the Inspector General (OPM OIG) outlined how the central management agency has failed to comply with the laws requiring OPM to provide the OIG with “timely access to agency records.”
Senior Executives Association, Center for Organizational Excellence Host Press Conference Announcing Report on Transforming Human Capital Management in Federal Workforce
In a press conference Tuesday, the Senior Executives Association (SEA) announced the release of a report detailing ways to build the capacity for change within the federal workforce. The report, led by Study Chair Steve Goodrich of the Center for Organizational Excellence (COE), argues that while most stakeholders agree modernization is necessary, in its current state the federal human capital management system (HCM) is ill-equipped to lead that modernization. The report includes three recommendations with 16 action items spread between them.
OSC Issues Guidance on Black Lives Matter, Hatch Act
In guidance issued last Tuesday, the Office of Special Counsel (OSC) clarified questions relating to use and displays of the phrase “Black Lives Matter” (BLM) while on duty or in the federal workplace. The guidance addresses two central questions: whether BLM terminology is inherently political activity and whether the Black Lives Matter Global Network (BLMGN) is a partisan political group. OSC found the answer to both questions to be no, which under the Hatch Act generally allows employees to engage in BLM-related activity while on duty or in the workplace.
OPM Releases Proposed Rule on Continuation of Benefits, Services During Government Shutdown
In a proposed rule submitted to the Federal Register on July 20, the Office of Personnel Management implements provisions within the FY 2020 National Defense Authorization Act (FY 2020 NDAA) that ensure the continuation of certain federal benefits and services in the event of a lapse in appropriations. The FY 2020 NDAA names certain Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program and Federal Employees' Group Life Insurance (FEGLI) services as emergency services under the Antideficiency Act.
House Lawmakers Aim for Civilian Pay Parity with DoD
In a letter to House Appropriations Committee members on Friday, several lawmakers advocated for pay party with the Department of Defense (DoD). In the FY 2021 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), House lawmakers included a 3.0 percent pay increase for service men and women. The House lawmakers argued Congress should provide civilian federal employees with the same pay raise.
Labor Authority Finalizes Rule on Canceling Union Dues
The Federal Labor Relations Authority announced a new rule published Thursday that would let employees revoke federal union dues payments at any point during the year after one year in the bargaining unit. Previously, employees only had one opportunity a year to cancel their union dues.
Federal Contractors Face August Deadline for Banning Certain Foreign Technology
The Federal Register has published action items relating to implementation of Section 889 of the John McCain National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2019 (FY2019). The interim rule implements a prohibition on contracting with entities using certain telecommunications and video surveillance services and equipment effective August 13, 2020.
Paid Parental Leave Fix Gets Cleared Through House NDAA Committee
The FY 2021 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) has passed out of the House Armed Services Committee with a provision extending paid parental leave benefits to all federal employees. Most federal employees were granted paid parental leave in the FY 2020 NDAA, but in what has been described as a technical error due to rushed drafting, several agencies were excluded from receiving the benefit. The provision within the FY 2021 NDAA would extend coverage to the excluded agencies.
EPA OIG to Review Reopening Plans as House Subcommittee Calls for Increased Oversight
The Office of the Inspector General (OIG) at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced plans to review the agency’s reopening of offices across the country. The notice comes after the House Oversight and Reform Committee’s Government Operations Subcommittee wrote letters to 24 IG offices requesting they oversee agency reopening plans.
White House Issues Executive Order on Federal Hiring
On Friday, President Trump signed an executive order on Modernizing and Reforming the Assessment and Hiring of Federal Job Candidates. The order calls upon agencies to increase use of skills assessments and interviews with subject matter experts in the hiring process, with less of an emphasis placed on degree requirements. The goal, according to the Trump Administration, is to broaden the pool of potential candidates and create a more equitable hiring process.