People

Trump freezes federal pay for 2019

Consistent with his fiscal year 2019 budget proposal, President Donald Trump announced plans to freeze federal pay. But Congress will have the final say over whether feds get a pay raise.

People

OPM rescinds guidance after ruling on workforce orders

The federal government's HR agency withdrew portions of guidance issued in response to President Trump's three workforce executive orders after they were invalidated by a district court ruling.

Modernization

Why modernizing human capital systems is so hard

Treasury, DOD and others are working to modernize talent management, but budgetary, cultural and political challenges complicate their progress.

People

Ruling on union activity is big, but far from the final word

Although a federal district court invalidated a range of provisions regarding union activities across a trio of executive orders, the aftermath of the ruling at the agency level remains unclear.

People

Federal court upends Trump's workforce orders

A federal district court ruled that key provisions in three executive orders were invalid because of conflict with existing law.

People

Are hiring authorities helping agencies?

The Office of Personnel Management found that HR officials say special hiring authorities are used differently across agencies, and some may be unknown to hiring managers.

Cybersecurity

Army cyber protection teams upgrade training with a 'real' city

A task force from the Army cyber protection teams face off against industrial control systems in a week-long cyber training exercise.

People

GAO presses OPM for better data on employee misconduct

A new report from the GAO flags multiple holes in the way OPM collects for employee misconduct. OPM thinks GAO doesn’t understand the law.

People

Zielinski to take over as GSA's top IT buyer

With Kay Ely's coming departure, longtime federal IT presence Bill Zielinski is taking over as assistant commissioner of the IT category at the Federal Acquisition Service.

People

Employee empowerment and improved performance: The missing link

It has long been assumed that empowering employees can boost an organization's performance, Steve Kelman notes, but new research finally delivers the data to prove it.

People

Civic Digital Fellows showcase a second year's work in Washington

Thirty-six students from across the country spent the summer tackling tech challenges that ranged from data transparency to website redesign to machine learning.

People

NBIB move to DOD looks increasingly likely

National Background Investigations Bureau Director Charles Phalen discusses the Trump administration's plan to move the organization under the Defense Department.

Cybersecurity

Stop overextending your cybersecurity staff

By burning precious staff hours on tasks that can be automated, organizations are risking team burnout and "direct and measurable damage" to the mission.

People

New bill would restore IRS critical pay for IT hires

A new bill by Sens. Rob Portman (R-Ohio) and Ben Cardin (D-Md.) would reinstate a key hiring tool to boost IT talent at the Internal Revenue Service.

People

Federal unions push back against 'chaos'

In court, at agencies and at rallies, federal employee unions are battling what they're calling an unprecedented assault on the workforce.

Cybersecurity

Nakasone: Why DOD needs to engage industry despite controversy

NSA Director and U.S. Cyber Command head Gen. Paul Nakasone said that engagement with the private sector is paramount even when there’s reticence.

People

MSPB inches closer to addressing massive backlog

A Senate panel advanced three nominees to serve on the Merit Systems Protection Board, a step towards ending the board's longest-ever period without a quorum.

Acquisition

NBIB pilot looks to contractor data to speed clearances

A planned National Background Investigative Bureau pilot program taps contractor hiring data to speed clearance checks.

People

Dems on Trump reorg: 'Where's the data?'

Democrats in the Senate are reluctant to support the Trump administration's reorganization plan before OMB provides the underlying analysis used to justify claims it would lead to smoother governance.

People

House panel approves bill to expedite fed firings

The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee advanced a bill that would make it easier to fire federal employees for poor performance or misconduct.