A National Dialogue with Arlington National Cemetery
In about twenty-five years, Arlington National Cemetery (ANC) will run out of space as an active cemetery to honor our Nation's veterans.
Despite Lack of Quorum, Board Grants Stay at OSC Request
On July 13, 2017, the Merit Systems Protection Board, currently without a quorum and consisting of only one member (Vice Chairman Mark Robbins) extended a stay of a Department of Veterans Affairs physician’s removal after the request was made by the Office of Special Counsel.
FMA Applauds Bill Providing Fairness to Feds in Combat Zones
When America’s brave warriors step into a combat zone, such as Afghanistan or Iraq, their taxes are forgiven on their military pay.
USASpending.gov Rollout is a Model of Government Done Well
The rollout of USASpending.gov, the culmination of three years of work to implement the requirements of the DATA Act of 2014, represents a laudable example of the federal government successfully tackling an enormous project efficiently and effectively, as noted by Government Executive.
Only One Senate-Confirmed Appointee at Over Half of Major Federal Agencies
Five months after the election of President Donald Trump, progress filling agencies with his political appointees has been decidedly slow, as highlighted by a recent piece in the Washington Post.
District Courts to Decide “Mixed Case” Appeals
Appeals from Merit System Protection Board jurisdictional dismissals of “mixed cases” are properly appealed to federal district court and not to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, the U.S. Supreme Court held last week.
New Agency Scorecards Show Mixed Progress on IT Modernization
Last week, the latest iteration of the biannual scorecard jointly developed by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) and the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee was released.
This Week on FEDtalk: Enhancements & Whistleblower Programs
Tune in this week for a special show on whistleblower programs with the Justice Department’s Deputy IG, a Deputy Counsel at Department of Homeland Security's Office of Inspector General, and the Office of Special Counsel's Chief of Investigation and Prosecution.
Bill Calling for Greater Protections for Whistleblowers Goes to President
A bill to clarify that the Whistleblower Protection Act, in fact, shield federal employees who disobey orders because they are illegal, was presented to the President last week after passing both houses of Congress.
This Week on FEDtalk: Preview the EEOC Executive Leadership Training
Tune in this week for a preview of the EEOC Executive Leadership conference where you can gain the highest quality leadership training through unforgettable experiential learning on the Gettysburg Battlefield Leadership Tour.
Appeals Court Affirms Dismissal of COLA Dispute
After a $232,500,000 settlement agreement was executed in 2000 that also mandated that the United States Office of Personnel Management issue new regulations governing the Cost of Living Adjustment (“COLA”) program, plaintiff federal employees filed suit alleging that the government breached the settlement agreement and both the express and implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing.
Congress Approves Appeals Extension Bill while MSPB Awaits Appointments
The House unanimously passed a bill last week to grant federal employees more time to have their personnel cases heard while Merit System Protection Board’s (MSPB) hands are tied due to lack of political appointments.
Federal Circuit Reverses MSPB Order to Repay OPM Overpayment
After the Merit Systems Protection Board found that a retired federal employee failed to prove that the recovery of overpaid benefits from the Federal Employee Retirement System (“FERS”) would be against equity and good conscience, the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit reversed the MSPB’s decision, finding that the Administrative Judge’s analysis (which the full Board accepted) was not supported by substantial evidence, was erroneous, and that recovery of the overpayment was unconscionable given the “inexplicable” three-year delay by OPM to finalize the retiree’s benefits, and the additional four-year delay between the retiree’s request for reconsideration and OPM’s decision.
President Trump’s FY18 Budget Request: A Race to the Bottom
President Donald Trump unveiled his Administration's fiscal year 2018 (FY18) budget request on Tuesday, May 23rd.
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.
Supreme Court: Veteran Can’t Be Forced to Indemnify Ex-Spouse When Electing Benefits
A retired Air Force Veteran’s divorce decree awarded his ex-wife 50 percent of the veteran’s future Air Force retirement pay, but thirteen years after the divorce, the veteran was found partially disabled due to an earlier service-related injury, and elected to give up an equal amount ($250 monthly) of retirement pay in order to receive disability pay – thereby reducing the value of his ex-wife’s 50 percent share by 50 percent of $250.
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.
Constitutional Individual Right to Carry Firearm Outside Home? Supreme Court Considers Hearing Case
The Supreme Court is considering whether to hear a case which asks whether the Second Amendment entitles ordinary citizens to carry handguns outside the home for self-defense.