Current Events

The U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) issued revised Washington, DC, Area Dismissal and Closure Procedures on December 15, 2010. OPM is amending its announcement for early departures to explicitly allow employees to request unscheduled leave and unscheduled telework prior to their individually staggered early departure times. Additionally, OPM will no longer be asking agencies to provide telework data when OPM announces certain operating statuses.

We have a federal budget. More accurately, we have a two week federal budget now that it has been passed by Congress and signed by the President. Who is at fault for the lack of a budget for the current fiscal year? Who will suffer the consequences?

A majority of readers responding to our recent survey think there will be a government shutdown; many (not a majority) think that they will get paid regardless of the shutdown; and that neither party will benefit from the event.

Congresswoman Jaime Herrera Beutler (R-WA) intends to introduce legislation next week that would call for a 10% pay cut for Congress, the President, and Vice President.

The House of Representatives has passed a bill to provide funding for the federal government. Here is a listing of the amendments that were approved as part of this process.