Congress

• DHS warns contractors about shutdown consequences

  EPA also issues guidance to agencies, and OPM updates the governmentwide shutdown guidance.

  Congress

  September 26, 2013
• USPS says overhauling health benefits key to postal reform

  The cash-strapped U.S. Postal Service says it can return to being profitable and begin to pay down its debt if Congress gives it the authority to overhaul its health benefits structure. Postmaster General Pat Donahoe told the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Thursday that launching a postal-specific health care plan would help save the agency $8 billion annually through 2016.

  Congress

  September 26, 2013
• Ayotte wants answers on A-10 cuts, blocks Air Force nominee

  Sen. Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H.) has put confirmation of Deborah Lee James on hold until she gets answers about possible cuts to the A-10 Thunderbolt attack fighter fleet.

  Congress

  September 26, 2013
• McCaskill wants more oversight of SES bonuses

  Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) wants to know whether many of the federal government's Senior Executive Service members are deserving of the bonus payments they receive. McCaskill, who chairs a Senate subcommittee on financial and contracting oversight, wrote to the head of the Government Accountability Office, asking the watchdog agency to investigate whether bonuses paid to SES employees involved in contract management are effective tools in reducing costs or improving contract performance.

  Congress

  September 25, 2013
• Shutdown roulette – what are the real effects on government?

  What will a government shutdown really mean for federal employees and government HR offices if it goes into effect next week? Advice from someone who knows - former DHS Chief Human Capital Officer Jeff Neal.

  Budget

  September 25, 2013
• Phased retirement, potential shutdown, and USPS

  This week's guests on the Your Turn radio program include Bob Braunstein, an expert on the upcoming phased retirement option, and Federal Times Senior Writer Sean Reilly with the latest on the possible shutdown.

  Mike Causey

  September 25, 2013
• Shutdown poll: Will they or won’t they?

  Partisan disagreements over President Barack Obama's health care overhaul have Congress lurching toward a deadline to fund federal agencies in the upcoming fiscal year -- or risk a government shutdown. So, what do you think? After all the political rhetoric and wrangling, is the government heading for a shutdown — this time for certain? Take our poll and let us know what you think the odds are.

  Congress

  September 25, 2013
• Graybeards rule Survivor Island

  Why are government gray-beards, folks who have been around a long time, in such demand today? Senior Correspondent Mike Causey wants to know: Why are these once ignored fossils suddenly being sought out by their frightened, younger colleagues?

  Mike Causey

  September 25, 2013
• Quality not a priority in security clearance process, GAO says

  Concerns over missed red flags in Navy Yard shooter Aaron Alexis's background have thrust the federal government's security clearance program into the spotlight. But the problem is likely bigger than one company. The Office of Personnel Management — and its contractors — which accounts for 90 percent of the federal government's background investigations, has faced persistent challenges with security clearances over the years, according to the Government Accountability Office.

  Federal Drive

  September 24, 2013
• DoD releases shutdown guidance to employees, warns of furloughs

  Following a memo released from the Office of Management and Budget Wednesday, the Defense Department has issued a memo preparing employees for the possibility of a government shutdown. DoD answers several questions regarding furloughs, pay and retirement during an appropriations lapse.

  Congress

  September 24, 2013
• No offense, but is your job really necessary?

  Do the taxpayers really need to keep funding your career? What does the government think about your services? You may find out soon, Senior Correspondent Mike Causey says.

  Mike Causey

  September 24, 2013
• GSA faces third protest of OASIS solicitation

  Aljucar, Anvil-Incus & Co. has now filed a protest with the Government Accountability Office a week after losing its agency-level protest over what the company says restricts competition in the professional services governmentwide contract.

  Congress

  September 23, 2013
• DHS continuous monitoring program faces legislative, budget challenges

  Suzanne Spaulding, the nominee to be the deputy undersecretary of the National Protection and Programs Directorate, told Senate lawmakers DHS had to reduce the number of federal devices that will be covered by the CDM program because of budget shortfalls.

  Congress

  September 20, 2013
• Postmaster says Senate bill a good start to postal overhaul

  Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe says a Senate bill aiming to overhaul the Postal Service's financial structure by providing the agency more flexibility to price its products is a good first step. Donahoe has been calling on Congress to approve comprehensive postal reform for much of the last two years. In that time, the cash-strapped agency has posted losses of $20 billion and defaulted on more than $11 billion in payments to prefund retiree health care costs. USPS is set to default on a $5.6 billion payment due Sept. 30 payment, Donahoe said.

  Congress

  September 19, 2013