OPEN Government Data Act Means Changes for Agency Leadership
Last month the Foundations for Evidence-Based Policymaking Act of 2017 passed Congress and was signed into law. Included in this legislation was the OPEN Government Data Act, which requires all non-sensitive government data to be made available to the public. The law established non-political Chief Data Officers (CDOs) to guide agencies in implementing this policy.
Understanding Border Security from the Front Lines
The U.S. borders have inundated news cycles in recent months. To find out what’s really going on, tune in to FEDtalk to hear a group of federal law enforcement professionals discuss what they experience at the border and what they need to do their mission.
Senate Turns Focus To Security Clearance Reform
The NDAA summary report released by the committees includes several provisions impacting the civilian federal workforce. Most notably, the conference agreement provides 12 weeks of paid parental leave to all federal civilian employees.
Trump Expands ‘Buy American’ Order to Federal Infrastructure Projects
President Trump is encouraging federal agencies to buy American-made products with an executive order signed late last week. This order builds on a previous executive order calling for federal financial assistance awards to provide preference to goods, products, and materials produced in the United States. Under the expanded measure, “domestic preference” covers not only iron and steel, but also products containing aluminum, plastics, concrete, glass, and lumber.
GAO Creates New Science and Technology Team
The Government Accountability Office has launched the new Science, Technology Assessment and Analytics (STAA) team, dedicated to using cutting edge research methods to solve Congress’s problems. The team hopes to provide insight and analysis on how federal agencies employ science and technology in dealing with issues such as regenerative medicine, 5G wireless communication, and quantum computing, according to a GAO blog release on the subject.
Bill Would Give Reservist Feds the Choice to Enroll in TRICARE
While much of the news has rightly been dominated by the partial government shutdown and the 2019 pay freeze, the 116th Congress is slowly beginning to turn the gears and get underway. New legislation is being introduced and reintroduced from earlier sessions of Congress. Among the bills that has been reintroduced is the TRICARE Reserve Select Improvement Act (H.R. 613 / S. 164), introduced by Representative Trent Kelly (R-MS) and Senator Steve Daines (R-MT), respectively. This legislation, referred to the House and Senate Committees on Armed Services, would address an issue the Federal Managers Association (FMA) has been working on for several years.
Uncertainty Addressed by FEDS President
As the President of FEDS, I didn’t know whether to celebrate the agreement to fund agencies through midFebruary or to commiserate over the uncertainty that lies ahead.
FEDtalk Covers New Commission Dedicated To Inspiring Americans To Serve Their Country
Last week, the National Commission on Military, National, and Public Service released their interim report, setting the stage for the next year of action. Julie Perkins of Shaw, Bransford, & Roth P.C. hosted a discussion between Commissioner Mark Gearan and Max Stier of the Partnership for Public Service to learn more about what the commission is doing and what our public service needs it to do.
House Introduces Retroactive Pay Raise Legislation For Federal Employees
The NDAA summary report released by the committees includes several provisions impacting the civilian federal workforce. Most notably, the conference agreement provides 12 weeks of paid parental leave to all federal civilian employees.
Absence of Evidence Cannot Favor Agency Defense Against Whistleblower Reprisal Claim
Last week, FEDmanager reported on the Federal Circuit’s decision in Siler v. EPA, on the issue of whether EPA adequately asserted the attorney-client privilege to withhold documents from Siler during the discovery phase of his MSPB appeal his removal from federal service. This week, we report on the portion of the court’s decision that vacated the MSPB’s denial of Siler’s whistleblower reprisal affirmative defense and remanded the matter to MSPB for further proceedings.
Uncertainty Still Looms as Deal is Reached to End Shutdown
Federal workers are returning to their offices after the longest government shutdown in US history. Over 800,000 workers who missed two paychecks as a result of the shutdown are expected to receive back pay this week; unfortunately, the stopgap spending measure only lasts until Feb. 15, setting up another possible shutdown next month.
Internal Revenue Service Struggles to Find Footing Post-Shutdown
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is beginning their busiest season a few steps behind as employees return to work following the government shutdown. As the IRS works to recover, Americans all over the country may feel the impact of this backlog come filing season.
The National Commission on Military, National, and Public Service
The National Commission on Military, National, and Public Service is wrapping up its first year. The bipartisan, 11-member commission--created by Congress--seeks to inspire more young Americans to serve their country. The group releases its Interim Report on January 23rd, which will outline its progress and plans to date.
Bills Introduced To End All Government Shutdowns
The NDAA summary report released by the committees includes several provisions impacting the civilian federal workforce. Most notably, the conference agreement provides 12 weeks of paid parental leave to all federal civilian employees.
Federal Circuit: EPA Made “Baseless” Claim of Attorney-Client Privilege to Protect Draft Notices of Proposed Disciplinary Actions
Recently, the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit reversed a decision of an Merit System Protection Board Administrative Judge, and found that the EPA made no evidentiary showing to prove its claim of the attorney-client privilege to prevent the discovery of draft proposed disciplinary actions.
Former EEOC Commissioner Chai Feldblum Won’t Seek Third Term
A former Commissioner of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), Democrat Chai Feldblum, has been awaiting Senate confirmation for her third term on the commission. On January 2, with the ending of the 115th Congress, the nominations of Feldblum and two others for the EEOC expired. Now, Feldblum has announced she will no longer be seeking a third term.
Communities Rally Together to Assist Furloughed Workers
Furloughed workers in need of relief are finding it, not in the government, but in their communities across the country. As workers approach their second missed paycheck due to the government shutdown, private corporations, religious groups, and community organizations have been working to help furloughed workers make ends meet.
Handling Furlough Fallout
In the wake of the recent government shutdown and subsequent strains on the federal community, we have had many FEDS members contact us with concerns about how to handle current or upcoming furloughs.