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CIO Briefing
Union Sues and Democrats Introduce Bill to Block Trump Order Politicizing Civil Service
As opponents of the president’s effort to convert chunks of the federal workforce into at-will employees kick off their efforts to stop the initiative, the administration has signaled that agencies can push forward ahead of schedule.
CIO Briefing
Agencies to Have Wide Latitude In Deciding Which Jobs to Strip of Civil Service Protections
OPM issued initial instructions Friday for implementing a Trump executive order that allows federal policy-making positions to be converted from career jobs to at-will appointments.
CIO Briefing
Governance Experts Assail White House Effort to Strip Federal Employees of Rights
Good government groups, unions and lawmakers were nearly unanimous in their scorching criticism of an executive order that could strip protections for hundreds of thousands and politicize the federal workforce.
CIO Briefing
‘Stunning’ Executive Order Would Politicize Civil Service
President Trump signs directive that will potentially pull thousands of federal employees in "policy-making" positions out of the competitive service, making them at-will employees.
CIO Briefing
Watchdog: White VA Employees Twice as Likely to Be Promoted as Black Workers
The American Federation of Government Employees said Thursday that new data it obtained via the Freedom of Information Act underscores its allegations of systemic racism pervading the Veterans Affairs Department.
CIO Briefing
Senate Democrats Introduce Bill to Make Payroll Tax Deferral Optional
Legislation requiring workers, including federal employees and military service members, to consent in writing to have their Social Security taxes deferred between now and the end of the year has the support of nearly 20 employee groups.
CIO Briefing
Lawmakers Introduce Bill to Protect All Feds’ Leave Following COVID
Although OPM’s current policy only waives the 30-day annual leave cap for essential employees who are unable to use their leave due to their duties responding to the coronavirus pandemic, Democrats in Congress want to extend the waiver to all federal workers.
CIO Briefing
OPM Updates Job Qualifications Following Hiring Executive Order
The Office of Personnel Management is asking agencies for feedback on a draft list of the qualifications required for federal jobs as part of the implementation of a recent executive order emphasizing applicants’ skills and experience, rather simply education.
CIO Briefing
GAO: Federal Agencies Lag in Retaining Veteran Employees
Between fiscal 2014 and 2018, nearly 7% of veterans left federal service, compared with only 5% of non-veterans, the watchdog agency found.
CIO Briefing
Survey: Most Feds Who Have Been Working From Home During the Pandemic Are Afraid to Return to Their Offices
Nearly 80% of teleworking respondents to a new survey from AFGE said they don’t feel safe going back to their traditional worksite.
Policy
Democratic Senators Introduce Bill to Include Feds in Coronavirus Response Decisions
A task force of administration and union officials would make recommendations for how agencies should protect workers during the pandemic.
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CIO Briefing
House Lawmakers Call for Pay Parity Between Military and Civilian Federal Workers
Although the House version of a defense policy bill includes a 3% pay increase for members of the military in 2021, an appropriations bill under consideration effectively endorses only a 1% raise for civilians.
CIO Briefing
House Committee Investigates Whether Officials Misled Congress on OPM-GSA Merger
A recent watchdog group report cited notes from a phone call indicating the Trump administration was advised that the merger plan was illegal, an account that is at odds with what OPM officials testified before Congress last year.
CIO Briefing
New Legislation Would Increase Oversight Over Agency Relocations
Measure would require federal officials to conduct detailed cost-benefit analyses and provide them to inspectors general and the public for review before undertaking any effort to move federal agencies.
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Federal Advisory Group Finds Feds Are Paid 26.71% Less than Private Sector Counterparts
In their annual report, members of the Federal Salary Council recommend updates to datasets used in determining a region’s eligibility to become a locality pay area.
CIO Briefing
New House COVID-19 Bill Includes Hazard Pay for Feds, Strengthens Protections for Telework and Sick Leave
Pelosi on Tuesday unveiled legislation that would provide up to $10,000 in premium pay for federal workers on the front lines of the coronavirus outbreak and would prevent agencies from exempting employees from paid sick leave benefits.
CIO Briefing
House Democrats Urge Leadership to Begin Paid Parental Leave for Feds Early
A group of 12 lawmakers said the new benefit for federal workers, currently slated for implementation in October, should apply retroactively to December.
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House Legislation Would Protect Feds’ Unused Leave During Coronavirus Pandemic
Rep. Jennifer Wexton, D-Va., has introduced a bill that would ensure that federal workers who are unable to take a vacation due to the COVID-19 outbreak will not lose their paid leave.
CIO Briefing
Bipartisan Senate Group Urges Hazard Pay for Feds
Nineteen senators encourage authorization of a 25% pay increase for frontline federal workers during the coronavirus pandemic, along with more guidance enhancing telework, leave and other protections for employees.
CIO Briefing