If you are a DOD member please let us know if the boost to The VSIP would make you more likely to leave the federal workforce?

Waiting for that $40K buyout?

By Mike Causey, Federal News Radio

In Samuel Beckett’s critically acclaimed play Waiting For Godot, two guys sit around on a stage for a couple of hours waiting for someone named Godot to appear. A few other characters wander in and out. The two men who show up — Vladimir and Estragon — talk. And talk. And talk. Godot never shows up. Sounds great, right? Also sounds familiar. Like maybe your office! At least when the subject is buyouts. Lots of talk, little or no action. Lots of people waiting for the government version of Godot: A VSIP (voluntary separation incentive payment).

Buyouts were popular in the 1990s. The Clinton administration sought them — $25,000 maximum before deductions — to help downsize the government. It worked. More than 230,000 federal workers were bought out, given early retirement, fired or their functions were either consolidated or privatized. At first, they were limited to about 30,000 Defense Department civilians. But later on, buyouts (in combination with early retirement) were extended to other federal agencies. Buyouts appear to have gotten into the DNA of some workers who have been delaying retirement, some for a very long time, in hopes that there is a buyout in their future. With all the talk about downsizing and draining the swamp, some people thought that there would be a new round of buyouts. But there hasn’t been yet…

House Rejects Outsourcing of Federal Jobs in Vote to Block Revival of Circular A-76

By Charles S. Clark, Government Executive

The House on Thursday voted to continue a seven-year-old moratorium on public-private competition to perform certain federal jobs under the long-standing Office of Management and Budget Circular A-76.

A bipartisan amendment by Rep. Matt Cartwright, D-Pa., attached to the fiscal 2018 Defense appropriations bill was approved 253-172.

FMA National President Renee Johnson sent a note of thanks to the members of the House of Representatives who voted in support of the Cartwright amendment.

Federal Managers Groups Largely Support Trump OPM Pick

By Erich Wagner, Government Executive

The Trump administration’s nomination of George Nesterczuk to serve as director of the Office of Personnel Management is already making waves among groups that represent federal workers.

While groups representing managers voiced varying levels of support for the announcement Wednesday, a union official was warier of the choice.