Current news and events impacting the federal workforce, both current federal employees and federal retirees.
This bill would end the defined benefit pension portion of the Federal Employee Retirement System (FERS) for new federal government hires starting in 2013. Current federal employees would not be affected, but it would apply to members of Congress.
A federal court decision will have repercussions for federal retirees who prefer to keep their health benefits program in retirement rather than go under Medicare Part A (hospitalization) coverage. To avoid using Medicare Part A, the court rules they will have to give up Social Security benefits and repay all Social Security benefits received.
The Postal Service has announced plans to eliminate about 7,500 positions, close 7 district offices, and offer a voluntary early retirement buyout of $20,000, paid over two fiscal years, for qualifying employees.
Have you ever wondered what would happen to your government benefits and seniority if you found yourself out of federal employment due to a downsizing or an outsourcing decision? Well, as with so many other items dealing with our federal employment, the answer is “it depends.”
Should the existing GS pay system be changed? Should a larger performance element be introduced into the existing system? Are federal employees paid too much or too little?
According to the Justice Department, a senior attorney with Immigration and Customs Enforcement has been sentenced to 212 months in federal prison for taking nearly one-half million dollars in bribes.
You may feel there are plenty of reasons to be depressed: Facing a two year federal employee pay freeze, not having a COLA for two years, and proposed changes that may impact your career or future financial benefits. Here are some ways to combat the depression.
The Fiscal Commission was a bipartisan group created by President Obama to look for ways to reduce the growing federal deficit. A bipartisan group of Senators appears to be working on its own debt reduction plan and cites the Fiscal Commission as its plan’s basis.
As the battle for making government budget spending cuts continues, new proposals continue to be put forth. 3 Congressmen have introduced the Welfare Reform Act of 2011, a bill designed to make welfare programs more efficient.
A Republican sponsored bill recently passed in the House that would cut off federal funds for National Public Radio (NPR). In response to this bill, Congressman Jim McGovern (D-MA) introduced two amendments: one would cut off federal ad spending on Fox News and the other would direct a GAO study of how ad money is spent.
