Another FLTCIP Hearing but No Solutions
Last week, members of Congress held a hearing to further discuss the massive premium hikes for federal long-term care insurance enrollees, but little more was uncovered.
Oklahoma Senator Produces Federal Government “Wastebook”
In his second annual “wastebook,“ entitled Federal Fumbles: 100 Ways the Government Dropped the Ball, Senator James Lankford (R-OK) outlines what he refers to as a “small fraction of the wasteful and duplicative spending from our government over the last few years.”
Funding Deadline Approaches as Congress Returns to DC
Congress has returned to Washington to finish out the lame-duck session, with the deadline for lawmakers’ top priority fast approaching.
Board Dismisses Case for Repeated Failure to Shorten a Petition for Review
The Merit Systems Protection Board appeal of a GS-13 Physical Security Specialist with the United States Navy was dismissed with prejudice after the MSPB found that the employee repeatedly failed to file a “perfected petition.”
Trade Association Urges Senate to Prioritize IT Modernization During Lame Duck
The Professional Services Council, an Arlington, Virginia-based trade association that represents hundreds of tech companies, sent a letter last week to Senators on both sides of the aisle, urging the Senate to take up the Modernizing Government Technology (MGT) Act of 2016.
Freedom Caucus Chair Criticizes Comey on Clinton Investigation
Chairman of the Freedom Caucus, Representative Jim Jordan (R-OH), criticized FBI Director James Comey’s decision to inform Congress of new information found in the investigation of Hillary Clinton’s use of a private email server.
Federal Circuit: Employees Entitled to Receive Only Salary of Position, Not Duties
The Federal Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed an MSPB decision finding that a GS-13 General Services Administration (“GSA”) employee who claimed that after a temporary promotion he continued to perform the duties of a GS-14 employee was not constructively demoted.
Hiring Freeze Would Cause Increased Delays at SSA for Social Security Claims
Under the House of Representatives’ funding bill, the Social Security Administration (SSA) would receive $772 million less than the $11.1 billion requested by President Obama, and the Senate’s bill would allocate $582 million less for the agency.
FMA and Congress Deliver Wounded Veterans a Well-Earned Benefit
Beginning November 5, 2016, managers have a new tool at their disposal to better accommodate our nation’s wounded veterans.
This Week on FEDtalk: How ICE HEROs Rescue & Protect Exploited Children
Many are surprised to discover the Immigrations and Customs Enforcement agency has a sizeable branch devoted to investigating online child exploitation crimes. Not only does this unit exist, but ICE also trains military veterans for elite analyst careers in this field via its Human Exploitation Rescue Operative (HERO) program.
Retired Feds to Receive Small COLA Increase
Federal retirees, who did not receive a cost-of-living increase last year, will see a modest adjustment of 0.3 percent in 2017.
Religious Compensatory Time Challenges for Managers
In a recent IG report, employee abuse of Religious Compensatory Time (RCT) at the EPA resulted in big payouts and potential additional payouts.
MSPB: “Convincing Mosaic” Not a Legal Requirement for Proof of Discrimination
The Merit Systems Protection Board (“MSPB”) clarified the legal requirements for proving an affirmative defense of EEO discrimination after the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit affirmed that its use of the phrase “convincing mosaic,” considered a type of circumstantial evidence, was meant to be a metaphor, rather than a legal test.
Congressman Introduces At-Will Legislation for Feds
Rep. Todd Rokita (R-IN) is the most recent member of Congress to introduce legislation in search of accountability for wayward government employees. The Promote Accountability and Government Efficiency Act would make all federal employees at-will, eliminating the due process protections currently afforded to them.
MSPB Clarifies Constructive Suspension Jurisdiction
The Merit Systems Protection Board vacated an administrative judge’s dismissal of a constructive suspension case after finding that the employee nonfrivolously alleged that she lacked a meaningful choice of whether to go to work against her doctor’s orders.
MSPB Overrules Three Prior Decisions
A former employee’s second Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (“USERRA”) appeal regarding an alleged hostile work environment was dismissed for lack of jurisdiction by the Merit Systems Protection Board as it found that re-litigating the issues on appeal was barred by the doctrine of collateral estoppel.
Congress is Cutting it Close on Spending Again
As the deadline to pass a Continuing Resolution (CR) fast approaches, legislators are debating how to advance a spending bill and prevent another government shutdown.
OPM Pushes for Death Benefits Increase
With Congress back for a brief period, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) is pushing a legislative proposal to increase the current death gratuity rate for civilian workers killed on the job in addition to the funeral allowance allotted.