When Congress set up the Transportation Security Administration, it gave the brass what amounted to a blank check in personnel issues: hiring, firing, promotions, assignments and work tours.

This made sense in the rush to tighten airport security following the 4 hijackings of September 11, 2001.

It also made sense to many politicians to have sworn, trained federal workers — rather than so-called rent-a-cop operations — handle airport security.

There have been no U.S. hijackings since then.

But . . .

Times, people, attitudes and anxiety levels have changed. Many who were relieved at the thorough — sometimes random — airport searches are now irritated by them. Many TSA staffers believe they have been pushed around by bosses asking them to serve unreasonable shifts, moved around without regard to their health or personal safety and have been generally given a hard time.

Both the National Treasury Employees Union and the American Federation of Government Employees have been on the TSA’s case. And they’ve been lobbying Congress to rein in TSA. Apparently it has worked.

For more, click here.

Pope Visits D.C., NYC

Pope Benedict XVI will be visiting Washington on April 15 – 17, and then go on to New York City on April 18 – 20. In D.C. he will hold a Mass at the new Nationals baseball stadium and also make an address at Catholic University.

This is already peak tourist time in Washington (cherry blossoms) so traffic is going to be even tougher than usual. Security, as you can imagine, will be extremely tight. Streets will be blocked off and parking will be banned in certain areas.

So are federal workers downtown going to get the day off?

Don’t count on it.

But federal agencies near the ballpark or other Papal events do have the authority to let people go home early in emergency situations. They can also establish their own liberal leave policy.

This is a long-standing authority and it applies to all federal agencies when there are special weather, traffic or other conditions.

Check with your agency to see what, if anything, it will do differently during the visit.

For more on the visit, click here

TSP Comments Deadline

Today is the last day for comments on the Thrift Savings Plan proposal to limit the number of interfund transfers investors can make.

The TSP identified about 3,000 investors as frequent-traders — meaning they frequently moved money back and forth from (mostly) the S and I funds into and out of the G-fund.

Fans of that practice call it strategic investing. Opponents call it day-trading.

Opponents, like the TSP board, say frequent trading drives up administrative costs for all investors. Frequent-traders say that’s not true.

The Federal Register notice fax number is (202) 941-1676.

To reach me: mcausey@federalnewsradio.com

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