CARE Act Gains Traction With Support From Medical Experts
Lawmakers in the House of Representatives passed a temporary funding measure, or continuing resolution (CR), to fund the government until December 20. House members voted Tuesday with the hopes of moving the legislation to the Senate for a vote later in the week and onto the president’s desk for signature before the current CR expires at midnight on Thursday.
White House Updates AI Strategy
The White House has updated the National AI Research and Development Strategic Plan to emphasize partnerships between the public and private sector. The National Plan was released in February to serve as a national roadmap for handling the research and development of artificial intelligence (AI). The update encourages agencies to expand public-private partnerships to advance AI.
Whistleblowers Testify that VA Retaliation Remains Rampant
Whistleblowers within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) testified before Congress that retaliation against whistleblowers continues to pervade the agency long after Congress passed the VA Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act. Whistleblower and whistleblower rights groups raised concerns regarding the Office of Accountability and Whistleblower Protection (OAWP) created under the law.
Ethics and Accountability for Government Attorneys
Tune in to FEDtalk this week for a discussion of ethics and accountability in the federal government. The guests will cover the Professional Review process for government attorneys and other government ethics considerations.
GREAT Act Reintroduced To Standardize Grant Reporting
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.
OPM Requests Legislative Reforms to Probationary Periods, Hiring Practices
In a letter sent to the Speaker of the House and the Vice President in April but reported last week, Acting Director of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Margaret Weichert requested legislation reforming the hiring process and probationary periods for the federal workforce. Weichert’s request included legislative language Congress could use as a baseline for reforms.
Field Agencies Struggle with Employee Engagement
Analysis by the Partnership for Public Service and the Boston Consulting Group on 2018 Best Places to Work in the Federal Government data shows that employees outside of the DC metro area struggle with lower engagement than those within the area. The report emphasizes the importance of field employee engagement and makes recommendations for management to practice better employee relations.
Appeals Court: ICE Had No Duty to Bargain Before Unilateral Change to Overtime Policy
After warnings from the Office of Special Counsel (OSC) and the Government Accountability Office (GAO), the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) made a change to how it calculated overtime pay. The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) filed a grievance against ICE for unilaterally changing the policy without bargaining with the union. After the Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA) sided with ICE and determined that ICE had no duty to bargain with the union, AFGE petitioned the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit for review of the FLRA’s final order. On June 11, 2019, the appeals court denied AFGE’s petition.
Crenshaw Introduces Bill Creating DHS Acquisition Review Board
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.
Are You Prepared for The High Cost a Chronic Illness Would Bring?
In 2016, researchers from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services estimated that almost 70% of people turning age 65 will need some type of long-term care services in their lifetimes. If you or someone you know has ever had to care for a loved one with a chronic disease or condition, you know the emotional, physical, and financial burden this can create.
Inspector General Report Raises Alarm on Opioids in the Postal Service
A newly released report from the Postal Service’s Office of the Inspector General (OIG) expressed concern with the level of opioids prescribed to Postal Service employees under the Federal Employees’ Compensation Act (FECA) program. While other agencies have seen significant reductions in prescriptions over the last few years, the Postal Service’s prescription count is declining at a much slower pace.
Lawmakers Raise Concerns Over VA, Union Negotiations
A group of 128 bipartisan lawmakers has issued a letter to Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Robert Wilkie regarding on-going negotiations with the union representing 260,000 frontline employees, the American Federation of Government Employees, AFL-CIO (AFGE). Lawmakers expressed concerns regarding the collective bargaining rights of federal employees and adequate care for veterans.
Arbitrator: VA Adverse Action Report Violates Privacy Act
A union grievance protesting the publication of “Adverse Action Reports” (AAR) by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) resulted in an arbitration decision directing VA to remove AARs from its website and to cease and desist the publication of AARs.
Improving Federal Data to Improve the Federal Government
On June 1st, FedTalk hosted three organizations leading the effort to improve the federal government’s operations by improving the data on which it relies.
Navigating Plans for Summer with the National Park Service
Do you know what you are doing this summer? To find out what our National Parks have to offer, tune in to FEDtalk this Friday and start planning your trip!
House Appropriations Legislation Includes Pay Raise For Federal Employees, Spending Boosts For IRS
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.
California and the Pentagon Work Together to Fight Fires
The state of California and the Pentagon have created a cooperative agreement to better spot and tackle destructive fires. In an effort to prevent a recurrence of the deadly fires that swept California last year, the state and the Department of Defense (DOD) will be utilizing Cold War-era satellite technology and expanding drone use.
Whistleblower Discloses Hazardous Conditions at GSA Property
For three years, repeated tests at the Goodfellow Federal Center in St. Louis, Missouri revealed that the building had traces of dozens of hazardous substances that could damage the health of those in contact with the building. A whistleblower disclosure to the Office of Special Council now contends that the General Services Administration (GSA) failed to adequately protect and notify employees of these hazards despite years of knowledge.