FMA staunchly opposes the return of Schedule F which would take away merit protections from tens of thousands of federal employees. We will continue to work with all members of congress to ensure these protections are not rescinded.

FEDweek -

A vote during House consideration of a general government spending bill revealed some opposition among members of the Republican majority there to a potential return during a future GOP administration of an excepted service Schedule F.

On Wednesday, October 25, the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee advanced the FMA-endorsed Honoring Civil Servants Killed in the Line of Duty Act (S. 3029), bipartisan legislation that would honor feds who die in the line of duty by ensuring their survivors receive fair benefits. FMA is proud to stand with Senate Government Operations Chair Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ), Ranking Member James Lankford (R-OK) in their effort as S. 3029 is cleared for consideration by the full Senate.

On Friday, September 8, FMA National President Craig Carter wrote all members of Congress, urging them to finalize Fiscal Year 2024 appropriations and avert a government shutdown. "We are aware that Congressional leaders are seeking a continuing resolution (CR) to allow for more time to finalize FY24 funding," Carter wrote. "We at FMA grudgingly support a CR in lieu of a shutdown. However, if we, as federal workers, never completed our work on time and had to continually ask for a four-to-six-week extension, we would probably be seeking employment elsewhere. By not appropriating funds, and working under a CR every year, this causes extra costs to agencies having to work under the previous year’s budget, and does not allow agencies proper planning opportunities, including being able to buy equipment and supplies in bulk to save money."

To read the full letter, click here.

FMA strongly opposes any efforts to decimate the federal workforce and will continue to push for legislation to disallow Schedule F, or any similar measure, that would recklessly fire or demote federal workers simply for doing their jobs and upholding their oath to support and defend the Constitution of the United States.

Lisa Mascaro, The Associated Press, Federal Times -

With more than a year to go before the 2024 election, a constellation of conservative organizations is preparing for a possible second White House term for Donald Trump, recruiting thousands of Americans to come to Washington on a mission to dismantle the federal government and replace it with a vision closer to his own.

Erich Wagner, Government Executive -

The Pay Compression Relief Act would effectively allow General Schedule employees to receive annual increases to both basic and locality pay, even if they have already hit the federal pay cap.

Recruitment and Selection Through Competitive Examination, and Employment in the Excepted Service (Rule of Many)

Last week the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) proposed a new rule on the federal register regarding hiring for federal agencies. All comments are due on or before September 19, 2023, and FMA plans to provide comments in support of the proposed rule. We welcome hearing from you about any concerns you may have. Additionally, you are invited to comment directly to OPM if you are inclined to do so.

Fighting for a fair and reasonable pay raise for managers is always one of FMA's top priorities.

By Erich Wagner, Government Executive

Members of a key Senate panel last week signaled that they would support President Biden’s plan to grant federal employees and military service members a 5.2% average pay raise next year.

The Senate Armed Services Committee on Friday advanced its draft of the fiscal 2024 National Defense Authorization Act. A committee-published summary of the defense policy bill said the legislation provides an average 5.2% pay raise for both members of the military and Defense Department civilian workers, in line with the proposal set forth in Biden’s fiscal 2024 budget request.

FMA was quoted in this June 6 article published in FedWeek.

The spending limits under the debt ceiling law now in effect will act as the type of budgetary outline that Congress’s internal rules call for it to produce each spring, but which has commonly been bypassed in recent years. That provides amounts to be parceled out among the 12 regular appropriations bills, which then is divided among agencies covered by each bill, and then among the accounts within those agencies.

One key account, called “salaries and expenses,” covers pay and benefits costs for agency employees as well as expenses such as employee training and travel and general office expenses. Some of those costs, such as rent, are fixed, meaning that needed savings would have to come from elsewhere.

FMA contributes a monthly column, "Hear it from FMA," published on FEDmanager.com on a variety of issues and topics. This month we featured FMA Manager of the Year Linda Lentjes.

Linda Lentjes, a member of FMA Chapter 396, Naval Station Mayport, in Jacksonville, Florida, was named FMA's Manager of the Year. She was recognized for this outstanding achievement at FMA’s 85th Annual National Convention and Management Training Seminar.FMA National President Craig Carter praised Lentjes, saying, “I can’t say enough about what Linda means to FMA and the Department of the Navy. She truly lives out FMA’s motto of “advocating excellence for public service. Her wisdom and thoughtful leadership are evident through her exceptional service on FMA’s Executive Board and her achievements at Naval Station Mayport help ensure the U.S. Navy remains the most dominant seafaring force the world has ever known.”

Linda’s career with the Department of Defense has spanned more than 40 years, starting as a GS-2 temporary employee in the administrative field. She rose through the ranks and was selected for the position of Resource and Requirements Director/Comptroller with U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. Fourth Fleet, Naval Station Mayport, Jacksonville, Florida in 2005, where she continues to work today in this leadership position. She embodies the Association’s mission at her agency, in her community, and as a leader within FMA.

The windfall elimination provision and government pension offset are two of FMA's top priorities and we will continue to build support in Congress to do away with this unfair treatment of feds.

Adam Butler and Ross Gianfortune, Government Executive -

Rep. Abigail Spanberger joins the podcast to discuss her plan to put money in feds' and retirees' pockets.

FMA contributes a monthly column, "Hear it from FMA," published on FEDmanager.com on a variety of issues and topics. This month we featured FMA-endorsed legislation that would protect feds in the event of a government shutdown or debt default.

Most bills introduced in Congress languish and do not advance. More than 15,000 bills were introduced in the 117th Congress and 364 of them were signed into law. But sometimes a bill is introduced that is a complete no-brainer.

That is clearly the case with the Federal Employees Civil Relief Act (H.R. 1301 / S. 640), introduced in early March by Rep. Derek Kilmer (D-WA) and Sen. Brian Schatz (D-HI). Their legislation, which FMA swiftly endorsed, would protect feds from negative financial consequences from civil penalties due to situations completely out of their control, including a government shutdown or a debt default. This is about as commonsense as legislation comes.

FMA is working with Congress to protect feds from being unfairly punished in case government shuts down.

Erich Wagner, Government Executive -

The measure would suspend the enforcement of civil penalties related to falling behind on bills until 30 days after the end of a government shutdown or debt ceiling breach.

FMA writes a quarterly column for FEDForum, published on FEDmanager.com, to share our mission and efforts. This quarter's topic was "New Year, New . . ."

New Year, new Congress, new . . . Resolve. The 118th Congress offers a fresh chance to secure a fair pay raise next year, and FMA has renewed vigor and resolve to make important changes to attract and retain the best and brightest to public service.

Federal managers, and indeed all feds, deserve to be treated with respect for their efforts and the work they have performed over many years. Every job they hold and perform daily is because of a congressional mandate. It is not too much to ask that, in return, feds be given the ability to maintain a living wage that provides for them and their families.

FEDweek -

A recently issued report for Congress could serve as a roadmap for looking to federal health insurance and retirement benefits as targets in a deficit reduction effort by the new House Republican majority.

Erich Wagner, Government Executive -

At the annual public meeting of the Chief Human Capital Officers Council, officials said innovations like shared certifications and skills-based hiring are paying dividends. 

FMA's Greg Stanford attended the annual meeting of the Chief Human Capital Officers Council.

How one telework newcomer is managing his employees remotely during the pandemic

FEDweek

The Federal Managers Association is proud to announce the winners of the Association's highest honors and awards. On March 30, we recognized Ken Westlake of FMA Chapter 375 (Environmental Protection Agency, Chicago, Illinois) as FMA's 2019 Manager of the Year. Now, we present the winners of the Gil Guidry Award, the President's Award, the Odell Green Award, FMA's Super Recruiter, and the top regional recruiters of new members. We hope that shining a light on these deserving public servants and sharing a little bit of their stories will help boost everyone's morale in these trying times. FMA is certainly impressed with their accomplishments and thankful for your service to our country and the Association.

Whether permanent or as part of a contingency plan, teleworking requires a combination of culture changes and technology.

The Federal Managers Association (FMA) is hosting its annual national convention and management training seminar in Alexandria, Virginia, March 29 through April 1. The centerpiece of the event is the “Day on the Hill,” when FMA members will meet with members of Congress and their staffs to discuss issues important to their installation, their agency, and to FMA.

Federal Manager's Daily Report

Hear It from FMA, FedManager.com

FEDweek

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.