20/20 Hindsight
The California wildfires are wreaking havoc among Californians’ houses, businesses, and schools. California’s largest wildfire in state history is all consuming with tough decisions being made each minute to contain the fire and deter further destruction.
USDA Sends 30-Day Notice To Congress On Planned Relocation Of 600 DC Employees
Following recent news that the U.S. Department of Agriculture would be relocating as many as 700 employees across two of its major components, the agency “has initiated the 30-day notice to Congress about its plans to move two bureaus outside the Washington, D.C. area,” according to a Federal News Radio exclusive from Jason Miller.
Trump Signs NDAA Including Acquisitions, Pay Raise For Military
On Monday, President Trump signed the latest National Defense Authorization Act into law, a $717 billion defense legislation package that will provide $639 billion in base funding for the Department of Defense, set aside another $69 billion for a fund called “Overseas Contingency Operations (OCO), and provide $21.9 billion for the Department of Energy’s nuclear weapons programs.
House OGR Planning To Tackle FEMA Sexual Harassment And Misconduct Allegations
House Oversight and Government Reform (OGR) Committee Chairman Trey Gowdy (R-SC) and Ranking Member Elijah Cummings (D-MD) have signaled that they will hold a hearing on recent allegations that emerged following an internal investigation at the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
FMA Celebrates Major Win for DOD Civilian and Uniformed Military Travelers
The Federal Managers Association (FMA) is an organization dedicated to representing the interests of managers in the federal government on Capitol Hill, and one of the primary reasons people join is for our legislative advocacy. Thanks in large part to that advocacy, the Department of Defense (DOD) will soon be prohibited from reducing the long-term temporary duty (TDY) per diems for all DOD civilian and uniformed military travelers based on duration of the assignment.
10 Financial Goals to Reach By Age 40
Once we hit our 40s, we should have a firm handle on our careers, our family relationships, and have built a strong foundation for long-term financial success. To help you get a gauge on where you are, we’ve put together our 10 Financial Goals to Reach By Age 40.
We Need Space: Federal Partnerships in Space Exploration
Catch up on last week’s FEDtalk and hear about the changing face of federal space exploration and research, including the increased reliance on public/private partnerships with academia and private organizations such as Boeing and SpaceX.
Congressman: Quantum Computing Equivalent To Being First To Acquire ‘Digital Nuclear Bomb’
Late last week, Congressman Mike McCaul, the chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, equated the pursuit of a breakthrough on quantum computing to the nuclear arms race, arguing that the technology would be a game-changing tool, according to FedScoop’s Carten Cordell.
Third Circuit: No Sovereign Immunity Waiver Under FTCA for Transportation Security Officers
The Third Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed a lower court decision dismissing a tort claim filed under the Federal Tort Claims Act by an airline traveler who was arrested after an alleged altercation with Transportation Security Officers (“TSOs”).
Take Advantage of the Summer Slump
Summer days can lead to a distracted work force, but productivity doesn’t have to suffer.
This Week: Congress To Consider MSPB And Probationary Period Changes
This Thursday, the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee is scheduled “to hear from the president’s nominees to fill all three open board seats at” the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB), writes Nicole Ogrysko at Federal News Radio, noting that “MSPB’s authorization expired back in 2007.” Perhaps more notably, “It’s also lacked a quorum for more than a year-and-a-half.”
HSGAC Ranking Member’s Seat In Jeopardy
Senator Heidi Heitkamp, the Democratic North Dakota Senator who won the Senate seat in a state that voted 63 percent in favor of Republican President Donald Trump, is facing a tough reelection battle.
Whistleblower Protection Coordination Act Becomes Law
On June 25, 2018, President Trump signed into law the Whistleblower Protection Coordination Act (“WPCA”), which permanently reauthorized a “Whistleblower Protection Coordinator” at each federal agency’s respective Office of Inspector General.
House Bill Would Offer Federal Employees Paid Parental Leave
The Federal Employees Paid Parental Leave Act of 2018 would “ensure that federal employees have access to up to 12 weeks of paid leave for the birth or adoption of a child,” writes Jessie Bur of Federal Times. The bill was introduced last week by Congresswoman Barbara Comstock (R-VA).
FMA’s Take on the Agency Reorganization Proposals
It has been two weeks since the administration formally unveiled its long-awaited agency reorganization plan, called “Delivering Government Solutions in the 21st Century.” We at FMA have heard from many of our members and continue to analyze the merits for reform.
FREE Federal Benefits Guide
Over 9 million current and former Federal Employees and their families rely on some form of benefits from the Federal Government. With the quantity of rules and regulations surrounding these benefits, it’s imperative to have a firm understanding of how these policies can directly affect you.
Senate Wades Into Dispute At Department Of Veterans Affairs
The U.S. Senate last week voted unanimously – 96-0 – to tell the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) that it does not have a right to block the VA Inspector General’s efforts to investigate “records related to VA’s new Office of Accountability and Whistleblower Protection, which the department has refused to provide,” according to Government Executive.
How the Accountability Executive Order Affects You
The White House issued several executive orders on May 25, 2018 affecting the management of the federal workforce.