Despite similar legislation failing to pass in the House earlier this year, Senator Tom Coburn (R-OK) introduced S. 1045, a bill calling for the termination of tax delinquent federal employees. Tax delinquency is defined by filing a notice of federal tax lien. The bill also prohibits hiring anyone into the federal workforce who is classified as tax delinquent. Federal Managers Association (FMA) National President Patricia Niehaus expressed concern about this legislation to Senator Mark Pryor (R-AR), who is currently the only co-sponsor of the bill. FMA pointed out the legislation unfairly targets members of the public sector, who are statistically more tax compliant than their private sector counterparts. FMA further commented that laws and regulations are already in place in agencies and departments in order to appropriately address federal workers who owe back taxes. 

Washington Post

In the most recent Federal Register, the Office of Personnel Management issued guidance on how federal employees can take advantage of phased retirement. Retirement eligible employees enrolled in both the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) and the Federal Employee Retirement System (FERS) can partake in phased retirement, which offers employees the option to work part time at the end of their careers, while receiving a partial annuity. Employees who take advantage of phased retirement will be required to spend at least twenty percent of their time in mentoring activities, including educating other employees on their duties. Congress granted phased retirement authority nearly one year ago, and the Congressional Budget Office estimated phased retirement will save $427 million over 10 years.

Government Executive

Following a request from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for agencies to reduce their budget by ten percent for fiscal year 2014’s budget, the Department of Defense (DOD) plans to create two budget options, one that ignores the deep cuts of sequestration, and one that prepares for it. President Barack Obama’s FY14 budget plan chose to ignore sequestration, however, Deputy Defense Secretary Ashton Carter commented on the need for DOD to be prepared for any fiscal situation. DOD will present its budgetary plan shortly to the Senate Armed Services Committee. 

In its 2013 legislative agenda, the Federal Managers Association (FMA) called for the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to offer three levels of health care premiums for retirees, dependent upon their coverage. When many federal employees retire, the Federal Employees Health Benefit Plan (FEHBP) becomes a secondary provider to Medicare, reducing FEHBP’s potential financial responsibility. However, FEHBP providers currently continue to charge the government and retirees with Medicare coverage the original premium, which is appropriate for a primary provider, but not for a secondary provider.

In recognition of its close partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Federal Managers Association (FMA) National President Patricia Niehaus recently met USDA Chief Human Capital Officer William Milton to discuss the renewal of FMA’s Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the USDA and other ways FMA can be a resource to the department.

Federal Times

Due to restricted budgets, the White House will not be presenting the Presidential Rank Awards this year due to the bonuses worth tens of thousands of dollars that are carried with them. These awards acknowledge the work of a small fraction of senior executive service members who exemplify the dedication of the federal workforce. Senior Executives Association National President Carol Bonosaro commented, “We cannot afford yet another action which chips away at the few remaining attractors for service in the career executives corps.”

Federal Times

On June 3, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of the ex-wife of a federal employee because he had never updated his Federal Employees’ Group Life Insurance (FEGLI) benefits. Deceased federal employee Warren Hillman never updated his information to name his new wife, Jacqueline, as a beneficiary, causing his ex-wife, Judy Maretta to receive a $124,558 life insurance policy. The Virginia Circuit Court found favor with the second Mrs. Hillman, but in an appeal to the Virginia Supreme Court, Maretta argued that FEGLI policy supersedes any state law regarding beneficiary designation. The U.S. Supreme Court saw an appeal of the case, but sided with the Virginia Supreme Court, stating the state’s law does not reflect the intention of FEGLI codes, upholding Maretta's case.

Federal Times

The Friday before Memorial Day weekend, just under 117,000 federal employees, five percent of the total federal workforce, took leave without pay in order to meet the budget cuts required by sequestration. While some agencies only experienced a partial shutdown, the Internal Revenue Service, Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Management and Budget, and the Housing and Urban Development Department closed completely. Furloughs will continue through the end of September 2013.

In order to better understand health benefit needs of federal employees, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) developed the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program Advisory Group. The Federal Managers Association (FMA) is a member of this newly formed panel, and on May 21, FMA Director of Government Affairs Greg Stanford met with OPM and other organizations to discuss the future and direction of FEHB. OPM created this group of unions and employee organizations to “discuss key FEHB issues and policy decisions.” This is an opportunity for FMA to collaborate and provide feedback to OPM on FEHB program initiatives and inform OPM about FMA’s interests.

Before the holiday weekend, President Barack Obama announced his nomination for Administrator for the General Service Administration (GSA), current Acting Administrator Dan Tangherlini. Shortly before, the President appointed Deputy Director Danny Werfel of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to fill the role of Acting Chief of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Mr. Tangherlini served as Acting Administrator for GSA after an Inspector General’s report found the agency misspent over $800,000 for conferences in the summer of 2010. Mr. Tangherlini promoted efficiency and transparency within GSA, ensuring taxpayer money was being spent wisely. Mr. Werfel comes to IRS after a long career with OMB, and most recently was responsible for administrating cuts resulting from sequestration. 

Washington Post

The recent tornadoes in Oklahoma and Missouri showed great need of assistance from National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) employees, and because of this, the Commerce Department, which oversees NOAA operations, obtained budget flexibility and transferred funds, providing the means to avoid furloughs for NOAA’s 12,000 employees. In a memo to NOAA employees, Acting Undersecretary of Commerce Kathryn Sullivan stated, “While this new plan allows us to avoid furloughs, sequestration remains an ongoing challenge. We must all continue to scrutinize every expense and prioritize our most critical missions and essential operations.”

Federal Times

The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) called upon agencies to develop their fiscal year 2015 budget request five percent below President Barack Obama’s FY14 budget, as well as a five percent reduction in discretionary funding. Additionally, OPM called upon agencies to examine how to reduce fragmentation, duplication, and overlap for greater savings. These cuts are to address spending reductions called for by the Administration and Members of Congress.

Federal Times

Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) wrote to agency Inspector Generals (IG) inquiring to their perspectives on how the sequester will impact agencies. General Services Administration IG Brian Miller expressed to the Senator that sequester budget cuts will create long term expenses to the IG budgets. During sequestration, Miller noted he faces “strained resources,” leaving staff unable to thoroughly examine possible sources of waste, fraud and abuse. 

Federal News Radio

President Barack Obama nominated the former national political director of his reelection campaign Katherine Archuleta to head the Office of Personnel Management (OPM). Along with her campaign service, Archuleta worked under former Labor Secretary Hilda Solis as chief of staff as well as the chief of staff for President Bill Clinton’s Transportation Secretary Federico Peńa. If confirmed by the Senate, she will replace John Berry who served as OPM Director between 2009 and 2013.

Washington Post

Five-term New Jersey Senator Frank Lautenberg (D) passed away on Monday, June 3, due to complications from viral pneumonia. The people of New Jersey first elected the Senator to office in 1982, and while he retired in 2000, he returned to office in 2002. During his time in Washington, Mr. Lautenberg served on the Appropriations; Commerce, Science and Transportation; and, Environment and Public Works Committees. Governor Chris Christie (R) announced he will appoint a temporary replacement for the Senator until a special election can take place this upcoming November. 

Federal News Radio

Department of Defense (DOD) Secretary Charles Hagel announced on May 14 that civilian DOD employees can expect eleven days of unpaid leave starting July 8 through the end of September in order to meet deep budget cuts required by sequestration. Furlough days will save the DOD an estimated $1.8 billion and employees can expect furlough notices to be issued starting on May 28. 

In a reversal of policy, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) will now reimburse Supervisory Transportation Security Officers (STSOs) for up to one half of their professional liability costs. The Federal Managers Association (FMA) led efforts along with Chapter 400, Transportation Security Management (TSA), and met with congressional leaders, staff and senior level officials at the Department of Homeland Security; and, sent numerous letters and made phone calls urging a review and reversal of the policy as applied within TSA. Thanks to this revision in policy, as issued by TSA Acting Administrator John Pistole, STSOs no longer entirely carry the burden of paying for this insurance so necessary for their line of work.

From June 10-12 in Arlington, Virginia, attendees to the Government Performance Summit, this year themed, "Science of Data: Unlocking Information for Improved Insight" will gain actionable insights into leading visionary, agile and innovative programs; help understand, identify and achieve program, personnel and personal success for your agency and team, and; find more efficient and sophisticated ways to use data by unlocking its meaning for program improvement. 

The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) saw a stark increase in retirement claims in the first four months of 2013, adding to the problem of addressing the backlog. In order to gain more information on the reasons behind the backlog and its effects, the House Subcommittee on the Federal Workforce, U.S. Postal Service, and the Census held a hearing on May 9, entitled, “Is OPM Processing Federal Worker Pension Claims on Time?” Chairman Blake Farenthold (R-TX) and Ranking Member Stephen Lynch (D-MA) heard testimony from OPM Inspector General Patrick McFarland, OPM Associate Director of Retirement Services Kenneth Zawodny, Government Accountability Office (GAO) Director of Information Management and Technology Resource Issues Valerie Melvin, National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association (NARFE) President Joseph Beaudoin, and Economic Systems, Inc. President and CEO George Kettner on the state of retirement systems and how OPM can improve.

Federal Times

After it was brought to light that the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Cincinnati office targeted conservative groups applying for tax-exempt status, former acting Commissioner of the IRS Steve Miller testified before the House Ways and Means Committee on the actions of the agency.

The Federal Managers Association (FMA) has long supported the repeal of the Government Pension Offset (GPO) and the Windfall Elimination Provisions (WEP). GPO prevents government retirees who receive a government pension but did not pay into Social Security from collecting both a government annuity based on their own work and Social Security benefits based on their spouse's work record. WEP further disadvantages many federal retirees receiving Social Security benefits and a federal pension which did not require payment into Social Security. On May 8, Representative Rodney Davis (R-IL) and Senator Mark Begich introduced the Social Security Fairness Act (H.R. 1795/S. 896) to amend the Social Security Act to end this unfair practice. 

Government Executive

Under recently introduced legislation, S. 986, federal senior executives would not be eligible for bonuses while sequestration is in effect. Senator Claire McCaskill’s (D-MO) bill prohibits senior executives from receiving performance awards.

Acting Director Elaine Kaplan of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) presided over her first National Council on Federal Labor-Management Relations on May 15. Federal Managers Association (FMA) National President Patricia Niehaus also attended the meeting as one of the two representatives of federal managers. Executive Order 13522, as issued by President Barack Obama, created the Council to examine best practices of labor-management forums throughout the federal government, promoting effectiveness and efficiency throughout federal agencies and departments. 

During their Day on the Hill meeting with Representative Blake Farenthold (R-TX), Federal Managers Association (FMA) Chapter 125, Corpus Christi Army Depot (CCAD) scheduled to host a town hall for their Member of Congress to address army depot employees’ concerns on the pending furloughs, sequestration, and how the depot can effectively respond to budget restraints. Along with representing the people of the Corpus Christi area, the Congressman is also the Chairman of the Subcommittee on the Federal Workforce, U.S. Postal Service and the Census. 

The 2013 Public Service Recognition Week (PSRW) featured a town hall meeting that gave the public a chance to hear from government leaders on the state of the federal government and the direction it is headed. PSRW is an annual event hosted by the Public Employees Roundtable (PER), of which the Federal Managers Association (FMA) is a member, to honor the daily contributions of federal employees. The town hall was moderated by ABC News and NPR political commentator Cokie Roberts and featured Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, General Services Administration Acting Administrator Dan Tangherlini, and Environmental Protection Agency Acting Administrator Bob Perciasepe. FMA Executive Director Todd Wells and Government Affairs Representative Katie Maddocks heard these leaders’ thoughts on impending furloughs, fed bashing within the media, and the future of federal employee morale. 

Federal Managers Association (FMA) Executive Director Todd Wells and Director of Government Affairs Greg Stanford attended a breakfast to announce the finalists for the 2013 Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medal, the Sammies. The Sammies are organized every year by the Partnership for Public Service and recognize the outstanding work of federal workers throughout the country. The Partnership recognized over thirty public employees for their work to serve their fellow man in seven different categories: the Call to Service Medal, the Career Achievement Medal, the citizen Services Medal, the Homeland Security and Law Enforcement Medal, The Management Excellent Medal, the National Security and International Affairs Medal, and the Science and Environment Medal.

Following long delays at airports across the country, the House and Senate passed legislation allowing spending flexibility within the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in order to avoid furloughing personnel. The Reducing Flight Delays Act (P.L. 113-9) passed in the House by a vote of 361-41, and unanimously within the Senate. Due to sequestration cuts, FAA furloughed employees in order to reduce spending by $637 million. Ten percent of air traffic controllers employed by FAA were scheduled for unpaid leave, which, according to FAA, would have resulted in delaying 6,700 flights a day. Both chambers of Congress hastily passed legislation on April 26. 

The Public Employees Roundtable (PER) is taking the lead in celebrating Public Service Recognition Week (PSRW), May 5-11. PSRW is the nationwide public education campaign honoring the men and women who serve our nation as federal, state, county, and local government employees or as members of the Armed Forces.

Federal Times

Starting at the end of May, employees in the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) will face furlough days through September. Every IRS employee is subject to furloughs and notices went out on Monday, April 22. Employees can expect to take leave without pay on May 24, June 14, July 5, and August 30, and possibly two more days in August and September, with no more than one furlough day per pay period. In this way, IRS leaders hope this will ensure employees’ personal finances will be least disrupted. 

The Washington Post

Environmental Protection Agency Acting Administrator Bob Perciasepe informed employees to expect 79 hours of unpaid leave by the end of September 2013 in order to meet demands of budget cuts. The first thirty-two hours of furloughs will be seen before June 15. After that, EPA will revisit the budget to assess if furlough hours can be reduced. 

The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) implements President Barack Obama’s executive order, E.O. 13562, which calls for the recruitment of students and graduates into the federal government. The Pathways Program offers an internship program, a recent graduate program, and the Presidential Management Fellows (PMF) program to draw people to federal government. Federal Managers Association (FMA) member Dr. Paula Sind-Prunier employs an intern through the Pathways Program for the National Transportation Safety Board, and on April 25, she participated in an OPM webinar on the benefits of the Pathways Program.

FOSE is the nation’s premier event for government technology professionals who need tools, resources, and best practices to transition to the cloud, mitigate cyber security threats, and achieve the goals of the DGS while managing uncertainty and the critical need to make it all happen on-time and on-budget. Take full advantage of this opportunity May 14-16 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C. This event is free to government employees!

From June 10-12 in Arlington, Virginia, attendees to the Government Performance Summit, this year themed, "Science of Data: Unlocking Information for Improved Insight" will gain actionable insights into leading visionary, agile and innovative programs; help understand, identify and achieve program, personnel and personal success for your agency and team, and; find more efficient and sophisticated ways to use data by unlocking its meaning for program improvement. This event is free to government employees!

Federal News Radio

Due to budget cuts, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) announced the possibility of delays for processing of retirement benefits. The sequester caused OPM to cut back on call-center hours starting on April 28. Additionally, OPM’s retirement services employees are no longer allowed to work overtime. In a statement on OPM’s website, Ken Zawodny, Associate Director of Retirement Services, commented, “While it is our hope that process improvements developed over the past year will ameliorate some of the adverse effects of these necessary actions, retirees should expect an increase in the time required to process their claims or respond to inquiries. OPM remains committed to assuring that retirees receive the benefits that they have earned, and we will provide an update on the impact of these actions on retirement processing on a monthly basis with our retirement claims processing report.”

The Federal Times

Erskine Bowles and retired Senator Alan Simpson (R-WY) continue to call for cuts to the federal workforce as a means of reducing federal spending. In a report released in April, they continued to call for changes to federal health and retirement benefits in order to save tens of billions of dollars by 2023. Simpson and Bowles specifically call for calculating pension benefits based off of the five highest earning years instead of the current high-three; reducing cost-of-living expenses for federal employees who retire before the age of 62; using a chained-CPI in order to calculate cost-of-living-adjustments; and, providing federal employees with a fixed amount to buy health coverage. According to the report, these changes will save $60 billion over the next decade and cut $40 billion in spending. 

Federal News Radio

Leaders of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee wrote to Gene Dodaro, U.S. Comptroller General, in April calling for an examination of the General Schedule (GS) pay scale for federal workers. Committee Chairman Darrell Issa (R-CA) and Ranking Member Elijah Cummings (D-MD), along with Chairman of the Subcommittee on Federal Workforce, U.S. Postal Service and the Census Blake Farenthold (R-TX) noted how the current federal workforce has changed since the GS system was instituted over sixty years ago and does not reflect the modern times of federal agencies and the work they accomplish. These House leaders called for an examination of the characteristics of federal workers, as well as how the GS system compares to other methods of classification. 

On April 11, Federal Managers Association (FMA) National President Patricia Niehaus wrote to Members of the House of Representatives on the ramifications of the Federal Employee Tax Accountability Act (H.R. 249), as introduced by Representative Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah). The legislation calls for the termination of federal employees who owe an outstanding debt and have a lien filed against them. Additionally, H.R. 249 prohibits federal employment of those with a history of tax delinquency. According to a 2011 report from the Internal Revenue Service, federal employees face a delinquency rate of 3.62 percent, while the general public faces a rate of 8.2 percent.

The Public Employees Roundtable (PER) is taking the lead in celebrating Public Service Recognition Week (PSRW), May 5-11. PSRW is the nationwide public education campaign honoring the men and women who serve our nation as federal, state, county, and local government employees or as members of the Armed Forces.

The House Subcommittee on Federal Workforce, U.S. Postal Service, and the Census held a hearing entitled, “The Federal Employee Health Benefits Program: Is It a Good Value for Federal Employees?” on April 11. Chairman Blake Farenthold (R-Tex.) presided over the hearing, where Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Director of Planning and Policy Analysis Jonathan Foley, BlueCross BlueShield Association Vice President of Government Programs William Breskin, UnitedHealth Group Chief Growth Officer Thomas Choate, Pharmaceutical Care Management Association President and Chief Executive Officer Mark Merritt, and American Federation of Government Employees Public Policy Director Jacqueline Simon testified on the impact of the Federal Employee Health Benefit Program (FEHBP). 

President Barack Obama presented his fiscal year 2014 budget plan on Wednesday, April 10, describing federal spending goals, and included a one percent pay raise for federal employees. Unfortunately, this proposal includes provisions to increase the retirement contributions of federal employees enrolled in both the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) and the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) by 1.2 percent. Additionally, the President called for the use of the chained Consumer Price Index (CPI) to measure inflation. Chained CPI usually offers lower percentages for determining cost-of-living adjustments (COLA), providing less for retirees.

In mid-June, Department of Defense (DOD) civilian employees will face across the board furloughs as a result of the sequester. DOD will cut about eight percent of its spending in hopes to reign in the federal budget. However, there are military installations that operate under a working capital fund (WCF). WCF installations are funded by contracted workload, and do not rely on the appropriations process. Because of this the Federal Managers Association (FMA) wrote to Secretary of Defense Charles Hagel, urging him to exempt these installations as they do not affecting federal spending, and would not impact the sequester.  

President Barack Obama’s FY14 budget proposal included the utilization of a chained consumer price index (CPI) as a measure for calculating cost-of-living-adjustments (COLA) for Social Security and retirement benefits. Currently, COLAs are calculated using a traditional CPI that measures overall inflation measured by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Social Security held a hearing on April 18 to examine the different methods available to adjust COLAs in order to sustain the Social Security program and to ensure beneficiaries receive correct compensation. Chairman Sam Johnson (R-Tex.) and Ranking Member Xavier Becerra (D-Cali.) heard from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) Associate Director of Economic Analysis Jeffrey Kling, BLS Commissioner Erica Groshen, the Moment of Truth Project Executive Director Ed Lorenzen, Social Security Works Co-Director and the Strengthen Social Security Coalition Co-Chair Nancy Altman, and Public Trustee for Social Security Charles Blahous on the different methods for calculating COLAs and the future of Social Security. 

At the end of his four year term as Director of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), John Berry announced he will step down. During his term, Director Berry faced multiple obstacles, including retirement backlogs, restructure of USAJobs, and a three year employee pay freeze. Despite this, he was able to lead initiatives on hiring reforms for students and interns; and, extend federal health benefits to first responders, such as certain firefighters and emergency medical technicians. The Federal Managers Association (FMA) worked closely with Director Berry on the National Council on Federal Labor-Management Relations. The Council actively promotes labor-management forums to encourage open discussions about best practices within the federal government, leading to efficient and effective completion of departmental missions and goals. 

Earn your degree in mobil-ology at the 13th semi-annual Spring Town Hall Meeting on Tuesday, April 30, 2013, at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C. The all-day conference will study the rise in telework, mobile work, and how to ensure your workforce is secure on-the-go. Hear from more than 50 speakers as government and industry leaders discuss best practices in telework and mobility. Registration is complimentary for government employees.

The Department of Defense (DOD) plans on instituting fourteen days of furloughs for civilian employees beginning in mid-June. This cut would result in a twenty percent reduction of take home pay for employees. Knowing what a devastating effect this would have on Navy personnel, Secretary of the Navy Raymond Mabus spoke out against the sequester and furloughs. During a hearing before the House Armed Services Committee, he testified, “The department will continue to maintain the capabilities required to ensure that the Navy and Marine Corps is the finest expeditionary force in the world; however, proper resourcing is needed to maintain our capacity for global operations." 

Over the past several years, Congress has examined where the federal government can reduce spending in order to right the country’s fiscal ship. In its 2013 annual report on duplicative federal programs, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) found thirty-one areas where agencies can improve efficiency and effectiveness, and eighty-one actions for the Administration or Congress could take to address these problems. The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee held a hearing on April 9, titled, “Reducing Waste in Government: Addressing GAO’s 2013 Report on Duplicative Federal Programs,” and heard testimony from Comptroller of the United States Gene Dodaro on GAO’s report. 

As one of his final acts as Director of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), on April 12, John Berry unveiled the Wall of Honor, a memorial for federal employees who gave their life while in the line of duty. This Wall of Honor features fifty-two stars, one for each state, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. Territories, and is housed in the OPM headquarters in Washington, D.C. It marks the first time civilian employees from the executive branch will be honored for their service and the sacrifice they gave. House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) and Representative Frank Wolf (R-Va.) spoke at the ceremony, and Federal Managers Association (FMA) Executive Director Todd Wells, and FMA Director of Government Affairs Greg Stanford attended the unveiling ceremony. 

After a year of delays and a report from the National Academy of Public Administration (NAPA), on April 12, the Congress and President Barack Obama partially repealed the Stop Trading on Congressional Knowledge (STOCK) Act (P.L. 112-105). The STOCK Act required executive and legislative branches to post financial disclosures on senior level federal employees. The law originally intended to deter senior federal employees from using institutional knowledge for financial gains. NAPA however reported posting the financial status of senior federal officials could pose as a security threat. The legislation the President signed into law, P.L. 113-07, still requires Members of Congress, the President, the Vice-President, and Senate confirmed executive branch officials to comply with financial disclosure requirements.

During a March 28 press briefing, Department of Defense (DOD) Secretary Chuck Hagel announced that not only will furloughs be delayed until June, but also that civilian defense employees will only be furloughed for fourteen days instead of the initial twenty-two. The continuing resolution signed by President Barack Obama on March 26 provided DOD with an increase of $10.4 billion to operations and maintenance provided this flexibility in furloughs. Despite the decrease in furloughed days, however, Secretary Hagel stated DOD will still fall $22 billion short.

On April 11, the House Subcommittee on Federal Workforce, U.S. Postal Service, and the Census will hold a hearing on the state of the Federal Employee Health Benefit Plan (FEHBP), entitled, “The Federal Employees Health Benefit Program: Is It a Good Value for Federal Employees?” The Government Managers Coalition (GMC), of which the Federal Managers Association (FMA) is a member, wrote a letter supporting the establishment of a “Self Plus One” option for FEHBP. FMA has touted the benefits of a “Self Plus One” option for several years in its issue briefs. 

The Public Employees Roundtable (PER) is taking the lead in celebrating Public Service Recognition Week (PSRW), May 5-11. PSRW is the nationwide public education campaign honoring the men and women who serve our nation as federal, state, county, and local government employees or as members of the Armed Forces.

In a March 28 letter to Department of Defense (DOD) Secretary Chuck Hagel, Maine Senators Susan Collins (R) and Angus King (I) expressed their gratitude towards DOD for working towards lowering the impact of furloughs brought on by the sequester. Currently, DOD civilian employees face fourteen days of furloughs, amounting to twenty percent of lost wages. Furloughs were originally to last twenty-two days, yet because of the continuing resolution to fund the government, DOD gained extra funding, allowing for spending flexibility. DOD delayed the implementation of furloughs until mid to late June and will last through September 2013. During this time, Senators Collins and King noted military readiness supported by the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard will be hindered.  

Representative Stephen Lynch (D-Mass.) introduced legislation calling for an increase in oversight and regulation of prescription drug costs within the Federal Employee Health Benefit Plan (FEHBP). The Federal Employees Health Benefits Program Prescription Drug Integrity, Transparency and Cost Savings Act (H.R. 1367) caps prescription drug prices for FEHBP enrolled federal employees. According to Lynch, FEHBP participants pay fifteen to forty-five percent more than federal employees who are enrolled in Medicare, Medicaid, and health programs through the Department of Veterans Affairs.  

Showing solidarity with federal employees who are furloughed due to sequestration, President Barack Obama, Department of Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel, Attorney General Eric Holder, Department of State Secretary John Kerry, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, and Department of Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew stated they will either donate part of their salary to charity or return it to the Treasury. Furloughed federal workers face losing up to twenty percent of their salary once furloughed. President Obama and Secretary Kerry announced they are giving up five percent of their pay, and Attorney General Holder stated he will give up his pay for every day Department of Justice workers go without pay. 

Earn your degree in mobil-ology at the 13th semi-annual Spring Town Hall Meeting on Tuesday, April 30, 2013, at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C. The all-day conference will study the rise in telework, mobile work, and how to ensure your workforce is secure on-the-go. Hear from more than 50 speakers as government and industry leaders discuss best practices in telework and mobility. Registration is complimentary for government employees.

Department of Defense (DOD) Under Secretary Robert Hale announced the department will not see furloughs next year, regardless of its finances. While DOD gained some spending flexibility with the passage of the continuing resolution (CR) last month, funding will still fall short. In order to combat these problems, DOD issued hiring freezes, laid off temporary employees, cut back on travel, and reduced maintenance. If these cuts do not meet DOD’s financial demands, Hale commented reductions in force and involuntary separations will be considered. 

Following a third delay of implementation, the National Academy of Public Administration (NAPA) issued a March 2013 report to Members of Congress and the President on the Stop Trading on Congressional Knowledge (STOCK) Act (P.L. 112-105), bringing attention the fact that the law poses a security threat to senior executives. P.L. 112-105 calls upon executive and legislative departments to post financial disclosures of senior level federal employees online. NAPA found posting financial information raised the concern of identity theft and privacy. The organization urged congress to indefinitely postpone implementing the STOCK Act, especially since there are already safeguards in place to ensure federal workers do not misuse institutional knowledge for financial gain.  

One of the many benefits of your Federal Managers Association (FMA) membership is a chance to win a FMA-Federal Employee and Education Assistance Fund (FEEA) Scholarship. Every year, FMA members and their families win educational scholarships that assist with the costs of obtaining an education. In addition to the FMA Scholarship, applicants are also entered into FEEA's general scholarship competition as well, giving you two opportunities to apply for scholarships with just one application. Also, grandchildren of FMA members now qualify to apply for an FMA Scholarship. Please take advantage of this outstanding membership benefit!

The National Council on Federal Labor-Management Relations met for the second time this year on Wednesday, March 20. As first established in 2009 by an executive order (E.O. 13522), the Council calls upon federal departments and agencies, as well as representatives of federal managers and employees, to develop best practices promoting effectiveness and efficiency within the federal government. The Federal Managers Association (FMA) is one of the two organizations on the council representing managers. At this most recent meeting, members of the Council eagerly discussed the current climate of the federal workforce and the state of employee morale.

In the spring of 2012, the General Services Administration (GSA) came under fire for reckless spending for conferences in July and August of 2010. An audit from the GSA Inspector General found the agency spent over $2,700 per attendant. Because of the misuse and mismanagement of funds, GSA terminated several leaders, including Paul Prouty, the former GSA Region 8 Commissioner. However, on Monday, March 11, Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) found Prouty innocent of any wrongdoing. MSPB Administrative Judge Patricia Miller ruled there was no evidence to support the allegation Prouty knew of excessive spending of funds.

Federal employees found themselves between a rock and hard place in order to keep the federal government running. In an agreement to continue funding the government through September 2013, the House and Senate agreed to legislation (H.R. 933) on March 21, extending the federal pay freeze through December 2013, adding a third year to the original two year plan. Additionally, this continuing resolution (CR) does not address the across-the-board cuts of sequestration. The CR’s $984 billion spending package includes funding for appropriations bills addressing the Department of Defense, Department of Homeland Security, and Department of Veterans Affairs, and military construction. This marks the third year Congress avoided developing a budget through the appropriations process, and instead relied on a CR to keeping funding levels stagnant.   

Major General Robert E. Wheeler, Deputy Chief Information Officer for Command, Control, Communications, and Computers and Information Infrastructure, for the U.S. Department of Defense, will present the luncheon keynote address at the 13th semi-annual Spring Town Hall Meeting on Tuesday, April 30 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C. Hear from more than fifty government and industry speakers at the all-day training, which will discuss best practices for telework and mobility in targeted sessions focusing on telework leadership, workforce management, and mobile workforce management strategies. Registration is complimentary for government employees.

Early in the morning on Saturday, March 23, the Senate passed a fiscal year budget along party lines by a vote of 50-49. Since FY10, Congress relied on a continuing resolution (CR) to fund the federal government, keeping spending levels stagnant. The legislation, S.Con.Res. 8, sets spending levels for fiscal years 2015 through 2023. Senate Budget Committee Chairwoman Patty Murray (D-Wash.) originally introduced the legislation, which also includes a provision reversing sequestration and does not impact federal retirement benefits.

Mirroring a budget plan introduced last year, the House approved budget legislation calling for changes to federal retirement benefits and the size of government, while keeping the sequester intact. Representative Paul Ryan (R-Wis.), Chairman of the House Budget Committee, introduced his plan for the fiscal year 2014 budget on Tuesday, March 15. The legislation, H.Con.Res. 25 calls for increases to pension contributions from federal employees; uses the highest five years of earning to calculate benefits, moving from the current“high-three;” defers cost-of-living adjustments for federal retirees until the age of sixty-two; and, reduces the number of federal employees by ten percent through attrition by 2015. On March 21, H.Con.Res. 25 passed within the House by a vote of 221-207, closely following party lines, with only ten Republicans voting against the legislation. 

In a joint hearing before the House Oversight and Government Reform Subcommittees on Federal Workforce, U.S. Postal Service and the Census; and, Economic Growth, Job Creation and Regulatory Affairs, leaders within the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), Department of Agriculture (USDA), and the Department of Commerce addressed the difficulty of cutting agency budgets, despite the threat of sequestration. Chairman Blake Farenthold (R-Tex.) and Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) expressed their dismay with federal agencies inability to reduce budgets. The hearing, titled, “Sequestration Oversight: Understanding the Administration’s Decisions on Spending Cuts and Furloughs,” addressed of the Office of Management and Budget’s directive to federal agencies to continue normal spending and operations five months before the sequester was to take effect.

During a full committee markup, the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee approved legislation which calls for the termination of federal employees who the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) deemed delinquent on their taxes. The Federal Employee Tax Accountability Act (H.R. 249), as introduced by Representative Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah), targets federal employees who are in outstanding debt to the federal government and a public lien has been filed. Further, the bill prohibits employment of those with a history of tax delinquency. The bill passed by a voice vote on March 20.

Despite the sequester taking effect on March 1, members of the Federal Managers Association (FMA) met March 4-6, at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington, D.C. for the organization’s 75th annual National Convention and Management Training Seminar. Members met to discuss the direction of the association, the 2013 legislative agenda, and how to combat sequestration and budget constraints. FMA members braved sleet and freezing rain to meet with their Representatives and Senators to discuss their priorities and address concerns the 113th Congress holds for the federal workforce. Attendees heard from government leaders and innovative speakers on the changing role of government and what FMA members can do to raise the bar on efficiency throughout departments and agencies. In contrast to the constant attacks against federal workers, the convention reminded attendees of the excellent work federal managers do on a daily basis and their necessity to ensure a fully functioning government.

Once President Barack Obama initiated sequestration on March 1, federal agencies needed to plan how to address deep across-the-board cuts. Agency leaders face $85 billion in cuts, and many look towards furloughs of federal employees in order to meet reduced funds while trying to meet agency missions and goals. Some agencies have already announced furloughs of up to twenty-two days, which translates to a twenty percent reduction in pay. Most recently, the Department of Labor (DOL) and the Department of Treasury’s Internal Revenue Service (IRS) issued guidance for employees on how mandatory leave will be addressed.

To ensure agencies properly spend tax dollars on sponsored conventions, the House Oversight and Government Reform (OGR) Subcommittee on Federal Workforce, U.S. Postal Service, and the Census held a hearing on February 27. Since the General Services Administration (GSA) spent over $800,000 on conferences in Las Vegas in 2010, OGR has heavily scrutinized conferences sponsored by the federal government to ensure frivolous spending does not take place. In the hearing, titled, “The Road Less Traveled: Reducing Federal Travel & Conference Spending,” Chairman Blake Farenthold (R-Tex.) and Ranking Member Stephen Lynch (D-Mass.) heard from Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Comptroller Danny Werfel, Representative Rush Holt (D-N.J.), and GSA Chief Administrative Services Officer Cynthia Metzler on the importance of conferences and how federal agencies are finding economical and efficient methods to implement them. 

On March 27, the continuing resolution (CR) that sets spending rates for the federal government will expire. In order to keep the government funded, on March 6, the House passed H.R. 933 by a vote of 267-161, providing appropriations for the Department of Defense (DOD), Military Construction (MilCon), Veterans Affairs (VA), and a CR. The bill, as introduced by Representative Hal Rogers (R-Ken.), provides flexible funding for DOD, MilCon, and VA at levels that were reached through a bipartisan process last year in the House. However, the legislation freezes the pay of federal employees through the end of 2013.

While sequestration went into effect on March 1, most federal employees will not see notices of furloughs associated with the cuts until April. In order to avoid these devastating cuts, Representative Blake Farenthold (R-Tex) introduced H.R. 950, the Protecting America’s Civilian Employees (PACE) Act. The legislation calls upon the Office of Management and Budget to report to Congress on how funds could be transferred within federal agencies and departments in order to avoid furloughs and reductions in force.

If Members of Congress fail to act, on March 1 sequestration will go into effect. This means $85 billion in across-the-board cuts for the first year, furloughs of federal employees, and delays of services to the American public. Federal Managers Association (FMA) National President Patricia Niehaus wrote to lawmakers on February 13 expressing FMA’s deep concerns on sequestration and the effects it will have. The threat of sequestration has been present for more than a year, and multiple agency heads have warned about the negative impact of sequestration. Yet Members of Congress have not developed a plan to avoid these cuts.

Closely following party lines, on February 15, the House of Representatives voted in favor of H.R. 273, by 261 to 154. H.R. 273 calls for an extension of the federal pay freeze through December 2013. This bill negates an Executive Order issued by President Barack Obama, E.O. 13633, which provides a pay raise of 0.5 percent to federal workers after March 27, 2013. Additionally, the bill freezes Members of Congress’ pay as well, making this bill politically motivated. If Representatives voted in favor of the bill, it would be seen as a means to curb their salary and the national deficit; if they voted against it, it would be seen as a vote for their own pay raise.

The Federal Managers Association (FMA) is proud to announce the 75th annual National Convention and Management Training Seminar, A Century of Dedicated Service to America, will take place March 3-6, 2013. The event will be held at the Mayflower Renaissance Hotel in the heart of Washington, D.C., and will honor FMA’s 100 years of dedicated service to America with a special Anniversary Gala on March 6.

Not only will does sequestration impose the threat of furloughs, federal employees are also threatened by the fact that Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) contributions will not be made or will be reduced. If Congress cannot develop a solution to avoid the across-the-board cuts as called for in sequestration, federal employees can face furloughs as early as mid-April and reduced budgets for departments. As a result, the TSP advisory board commented that investors who are put on unpaid leave will not receive the same contributions they received before the furlough.

One of the many benefits of your Federal Managers Association (FMA) membership is a chance to win a FMA-Federal Employee and Education Assistance Fund (FEEA) Scholarship. Every year, FMA members and their families win educational scholarships that assist with the costs of obtaining an education. In addition to the FMA Scholarship, applicants are also entered into FEEA's general scholarship competition as well, giving you two opportunities to apply for scholarships with just one application. Also, grandchildren of FMA members now qualify to apply for an FMA Scholarship. Please take advantage of this outstanding membership benefit! 

Appearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee, military branch leaders urged Senators to avoid sequestration before cuts are set to take effect on March 1. They further warned of utilizing a continuing resolution (CR) in lieu of developing a budget through the appropriate appropriations process. The February 12 hearing, conducted by Chairman Carl Levin (D-Mich.) and Ranking Member James Inhofe (R-Okla.), included testimony from Deputy Secretary of the Department of Defense (DOD) Ashton Carter, United States Air Force Chief of Staff General Mark Welsh III, Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Jonathan Greenert, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Martin Dempsey, Commandant of the Marine Corps General James Amos, and Chief of the National Guard Bureau General Frank Grass. Leaders of the military branches urged Senators to avoid these fiscal downfalls for the good of the nation. Cuts from sequestration and the use of a CR would limit the ability of the country’s defense system.

Federal Managers Association (FMA) members and all federal employees continue to face a challenging environment on Capitol Hill. Despite the extraordinary sacrifices federal employees have already made in the name of deficit reduction – far more than any other group – these same employees remain prime targets for further sacrifice. In response, the FMA National Office – in consultation with the Executive Board, chapter leaders and Members-at-Large – has developed our 2013 legislative agenda.

With sequestration set to take place in March 2013, the Senate Appropriations Committee called upon various leaders of federal agencies for a better understanding of how the $85 billion cuts through the remainder of the fiscal year will affect their missions and goals, as well as the public they serve. On February 14, Senator Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.) and Senator Richard Shelby (R-Ala.), Chairwoman and Ranking Member of the committee, presided over the hearing. Daniel Werfel, Federal Controller of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB); Arne Duncan, Secretary of the Department of Education; Janet Napolitano, Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS); Shaun Donovan, Secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development; and, Ashton Carter, Deputy Secretary of the Department of Defense provided testimony. 

As a means to avoid sequestration, Republican members of the House and Senate Armed Services Committees recently introduced legislation calling for reductions in the federal workforce. Representative Buck McKeon (R-Cali.) and Senator Kelly Ayotte (R-NH), the lead sponsors of the bills, call for workforce reductions in the Down Payment to Protect National Security Act (H.R. 593/S. 263). Under the legislation, for every three employee that leave the civil service, federal agencies will only replace one. According to Senator Ayotte, this would result in $85 billion in savings. 

On February 8, Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.) and Representative Frank Wolf (R-Va.) gave praise to federal workers on separate occasions. Both Members of Congress called for greater recognition of federal workers and the work they do on a daily basis for their fellow Americans. Federal employees are under seeming constant criticism against their livelihoods. With sequestration impending in March, lawmakers have been looking where cuts can be taken to avoid across-the-board cuts. While the civil service has already contributed over $100 billion in deficit reduction, Members of the House and Senate have called for further sacrifices from the federal workforce.

March 4-6, 2013, the Federal Managers Association (FMA) will host its 75th annual National Convention and Training Seminar. These action packed days will provide federal managers and supervisors with invaluable information on the changing nature of the federal workforce and how they can improve the efficiency and effectiveness of agencies. Additionally, FMA will celebrate its 100th anniversary. FMA members will meet at the historic Mayflower Hotel in Washington, D.C., to have open discussions on topics of importance to federal managers. 

On Friday, February 1, Representative Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) expressed he would be open to additional cuts to the federal workforce’s pay and benefits, as long as they were part of a package plan, asking for contributions from other groups for deficit reduction. As a result of the federal pay freeze and changes to benefits, federal managers and employees have contributed $103 billion to deficit reduction. Members of Congress are currently faced with developing a means to avoid across-the-board cuts through the process of sequestration set to take place in March 2013.

Following remarks made by Department of Defense leaders on the effects of sequestration, the Army, Navy, and Air Force issued guidance on how the departments are approaching the prospect of the across-the-board cuts. While the branches announced all actions will be reversible if the budgetary situation improves, civilian hiring freezes and layoffs of temporary workers are being implemented. Additionally, military branches are looking at tightened budgets if Congress fails to develop a budget. If instead Congress extends the current continuing resolution, keeping spending levels the same as last year’s, military branches will come short of their financial needs. 

The Federal Managers Association (FMA) is proud to announce the 75th annual National Convention and Management Training Seminar, A Century of Dedicated Service to America, will take place March 3-6, 2013. The event will be held at the Mayflower Renaissance Hotel in the heart of Washington, D.C., and will honor FMA’s 100 years of dedicated service to America with a special Anniversary Gala on March 6.

One of the many benefits of your Federal Managers Association (FMA) membership is a chance to win a FMA-Federal Employee and Education Assistance Fund (FEEA) Scholarship. Every year, FMA members and their families win educational scholarships that assist with the costs of obtaining an education. In addition to the FMA Scholarship, applicants are also entered into FEEA's general scholarship competition as well, giving you two opportunities to apply for scholarships with just one application. Also, grandchildren of FMA members now qualify to apply for an FMA Scholarship. Please take advantage of this outstanding membership benefit! 

During his confirmation hearing on January 31 before the Senate Armed Services Committee, former Senator Chuck Hagel (R-Neb.) addressed concerns of the future of the Department of Defense (DOD), how he would lead DOD through lean economic times and what, in his view, are the most prevalent concerns facing today’s military. Chairman Carl Levin (D-Mich.) and Ranking Member John McCain (R-Ariz.) also questioned Hagel on his positions on U.S. military forces abroad and DOD infrastructure.

The importance of stewardship in the federal workforce was brought to light in a January 2013 report from the Merit System Protection Board (MSPB). During this time of tightened budgets and close overlook of government operations, MSPB noted the need for federal managers to properly address poor performers, cut waste, and provide necessary training to employees to obtain a highly functioning workforce. In her opening letter to the President, Vice President, and Speaker of the House, MSPB Chairwoman Susan Tsui Grundmann stated, “In the current environment, it is more important than ever for federal agencies and federal leaders to demonstrate that they are good stewards of the resources entrusted to them—including the federal workforce.”

With almost unanimous consent, on January 26, the Senate voted 94-3 to confirm John Kerry as the next Secretary of State. Hillary Clinton, who served as Secretary of State during President Barack Obama’s first term, stepped down on February 1. Upon confirmation, Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.) stated, “I believe that Secretary Kerry will be open to systemic reforms within the department while remaining a strong advocate for America’s interests around the world.”

On January 28 and 29, Social Security Administrator (SSA) Commissioner Michael Astrue and Department of Transportation (DOT) Secretary Ray LaHood announced they are stepping down from their positions. Secretary LaHood announced he will stay on until his successor is named. While Commissioner Astrue’s term expired on January 19, he is able to remain in his post until his replacement is named. Sec. LaHood served in President Barack Obama’s Cabinet throughout his first term and Commissioner Astrue held his position since 2007, when he was appointed by then-President George W. Bush.

Tackling one of the obstacles to the national economy, the Senate passed the House bill, H.R. 325, extending the debt limit through May 18, 2013. The bill passed in the upper chamber by a vote of 64-34 on January 31, following House passage a week earlier by a vote of 285-144. President Barack Obama stated he will sign it into law. Representative Dave Camp (R-Mich.) originally introduced H.R. 325, which also included a provision requiring Congress to pass a budget by April 15 or lawmakers will not be paid their salaries. 

During the consideration of the Disaster Relief Act (H.R. 152), Representative Mick Mulvaney (R-S.C.) introduced an amendment to offset the cost of providing assistance to those areas affected by Hurricane Sandy this past October with across-the-board cuts of 1.63 percent to all federal agencies. The motion to include the amendment in the legislation failed by a vote of 162-258. 

While the deal to avoid the fiscal cliff postponed across-the-board cuts through the process of sequestration until March, the Department of Defense (DOD) warned of the ramifications if Congress does not come to an agreement on how resolve the spending conundrum. In a press briefing on January 10, Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Martin Dempsey spoke to the deep cuts DOD would face if Congress carried through with sequestration. In order to meet the demands of $50 billion in cuts, Secretary Panetta announced DOD will look at furloughs of permanent employees, termination of temporary employees, and freeze civilian hiring. 

On January 15, Representative Ron DeSantis (R-Fla.) introduced legislation (H.R. 273) calling for an extension of the federal pay freeze through December 2013, adding another year to the freeze. The bill would effectively overturn an Executive Order from President Barack Obama, E.O. 13633, which provides a pay raise of 0.5 percent to federal workers after March 27, 2013. 

The Federal Managers Association (FMA) is proud to announce the 75th annual National Convention and Management Training Seminar, A Century of Dedicated Service to America, will take place March 3-6, 2013. The event will be held at the Mayflower Renaissance Hotel in the heart of Washington, D.C., and will honor FMA’s 100 years of dedicated service to America with a special Anniversary Gala on March 6.

One of the many benefits of your Federal Managers Association (FMA) membership is a chance to win a FMA-Federal Employee and Education Assistance Fund (FEEA) Scholarship. Every year, FMA members and their families win educational scholarships that assist with the costs of obtaining an education. In addition to the FMA Scholarship, applicants are also entered into FEEA's general scholarship competition as well, giving you two opportunities to apply for scholarships with just one application. Also, grandchildren of FMA members now qualify to apply for an FMA Scholarship. Please take advantage of this outstanding membership benefit! 

Representative Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah) reintroduced legislation calling for the termination of federal employees who are delinquent with tax payment. The Federal Employee Tax Accountability Act (H.R. 249), introduced on January 15, targets federal employees who are in outstanding debt to the federal government and a public lien has been filed. The bill also prohibits the federal government from hiring individuals with a history of tax delinquency. Rep. Chaffetz introduced the same legislation during the 112th Congress; while it passed within the House, it failed to move within the Senate. 

During the first meeting of the new year on January 16, the National Council on Federal Labor-Management Relations discussed the direction the Council will take in 2013 to ensure it will continue to meet its mission. An Executive Order (E.O. 13522) established the Council in 2009 to review and develop methods of discussion for a cooperative relationship between labor and management within the executive branch. The Federal Managers Association (FMA) has been a member of the Council since its inception, and is one of the two management associations that holds a seat. 

In a January 14 memo to heads of departments and agencies, Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Deputy Director for Management Jeffrey Zients warned of the ramifications if Congress cannot develop a solution to sequestration, set to take place on March 1, 2013. Zients has not issued guidance on the cuts since July 2012, when he advised agencies to continue normal operations. He warned agencies furloughs can happen as a reaction to $85 billion in cuts that are set to take place, greatly affecting services and operations. 

Nominations open for the 2013 Causey Awards

Federal News Radio

Now through July 12, Federal News Radio will accept nominations for the 2013 Causey Awards, recognizing federal employees who have promoted efficiency within their department or agency,improve pay, benefits, human resources and human capital issues in the federal government and in industry.  Past winners included, Kevin O'Brien of the Social Security Administration for leading his agency's telework initiative within the Inspector General's office; Debra Vess of the Department of Treasury, whose work reduced paperwork and improved accuracy for bringing new employees into Treasury; and, Jennie Liming of the General Services Administration for her program to train entry-level employees for leadership positions within GSA's Federal Acquisition Service. 

OPM proposes phases retirements 

By Stephen Losey, Government Executive 

In the most recent Federal Register, the Office of Personnel Management issued guidance on how federal employees can take advantage of phased retirement. Retirement eligible employees enrolled in both the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) and the Federal Employee Retirement System (FERS) can partake in phased retirement, which offers employees to work part time at the end of their careers,while receiving a partial annuity. Employees who take advantage of phased retirement will be required to spend at least twenty percent of their time in mentoring activities, including educating other employees on the retirees' duties. 

Feds can donate leave to tornado victims

By Kellie Lunney, Government Executive

After Oklahoma suffered multiple tornadoes and keeps seeing a rising death toll, President Barack Obama instructed the Office of Personnel Management to establish an emergency program allowing for federal employees to transfer unused leave to employees affected by Oklahoma tornadoes in order to respond to the natural disasters. Similar emergency programs were used after Hurricane Sandy in October 2012 and Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

EPA trims furloughs by three days

By Eric Katz, Government Executive

In a memo to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) employees, Acting Administrator Bob Perciasepe announced between June 16 through September 30, only twenty-three furlough hours will be necessary. EPA employees will already take thirty-two hours of unpaid leave between April 21 and June 15, but through reviewing financial resources and priorities, EPA leaders were able to reduce the number of furlough days.

Secrets of sucess

By Kellie Lunney, Government Executive

With seemingly constant backlash against the federal workforce, furloughs implemented by sequestration only add to the problem of employee satisfaction among federal employees. Most affecting this problem is the state of communication and transparency between managers and employees. However, sequestration has demonstrated the lack of certainty among federal leaders. Federal Managers Association National President Patricia Niehaus commented, "A lot of the time, even when we honestly tell people we don’t know either, it’s hard for them to accept that the boss doesn't know what’s going on. The best thing you can do with uncertainty is to eliminate it." 

No furloughs at Agriculture through September

By Kellie Lunney, Government Executive 

Due to budget cuts in fiscal year 2013, the Department of Agriculture (USDA) is able to avoid furloughs through September 2013. Members of Congress granted USDA the ability to shift departmental funding, preventing 4,800 employees from being furloughed. 

DOD civilian employee can expect eleven days at the most of leave without pay starting July 8, 2013.

Alexandria, VA – In a memo to Department of Defense (DOD) leaders dated May 14, 2013, Secretary Charles Hagel announced the department will furlough civilian employees for at least eleven days. DOD faced deep budgetary shortfalls during FY13, which drove the necessity of furloughs. Furlough days will occur weekly starting on July 8, and run through the end of FY13 in September.

TSA will reimburse officers for up to one half of professional liability insurance costs.

Alexandria, VA – In a reversal of policy, all TSA Supervisory Transportation Security Officers are now eligible for reimbursement of up to one half of the cost to obtain professional liability insurance. As required by law, agencies across the federal government provide this reimbursement to managers. Thanks to this revision in policy, STSOs no longer entirely carry the burden of paying for this insurance so necessary for their line of work. 

By Dave Garrison, Chapter 167 Vice-President

With sequestration looking like a seemingly unstoppable force, I wonder what the general public actually feels about it.