Defense
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The Federal Prevailing Rate Advisory Committee voted in favor of a draft proposal to reform the pay system for blue-collar federal employees, but several members remain concerned about actual implementation.
December 21, 2023 -
In today's Federal Newscast: Some federal correctional officers are set to lose pay bonuses in 10 days. The White House forms a task force to fight fraud against veterans. And on its fourth anniversary, SPACECOM's commander says it has reached full operational capability.
December 21, 2023 -
The Air Force senior leaders have wrapped up the third cyber direct commissioning board. They received 100 applications for ten open spots.
December 21, 2023 -
The Air Force is moving away from making investment decisions based on Excel spreadsheets and PowerPoints. A new tool will now allow senior leaders to understand the impacts of a single financial decision on an entire ecosystem.
December 19, 2023 -
The IG substantiated several allegations of misconduct by former DCSA Director William Lietzau, including sexual harassment and misusing his position to provide personal favors.
December 19, 2023 -
In today's Federal Newscast: Martin O'Malley turned 60 this year; now he gets to run the Social Security Administration. The Defense Department IG is warning that systemic problems with military health care could be leading to opioids being overprescribed. And one of the Energy Department’s major labs is creating a new hub for artificial intelligence research.
December 19, 2023 -
The National Defense Authorization Act, which Congress finished just days ago, moves the marker on several matters peripherally connected to the armed forces. Covington and Burling attorneys Alex Hastings and Michelle Pearce dropped by the Federal News Network studios in Chevy Chase, Maryland to talk with the Federal Drive with Tom Temin.
December 19, 2023 -
A federal judge has issued a temporary restraining order barring removal of a memorial to Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery. A group called Defend Arlington, affiliated with a group called Save Southern Heritage Florida, filed a lawsuit Sunday in federal court in Alexandria seeking the restraining order. A hearing has been scheduled for Wednesday. Work to remove the memorial had begun Monday before the restraining order was issued, but the memorial remains in place on cemetery grounds. The Army had planned to remove the memorial this week. Cemetery officials say the removal complies with a congressional mandate. More than 40 House Republicans wrote a letter seeking to block the removal.
December 18, 2023 -
Airmen and guardians can now experiment with commercial generative AI and a new policy lays out how they can do it safely.
December 15, 2023 -
Lawmakers hope the IC's own innovation unit will help intel agencies better adopt emerging technologies.
December 15, 2023 -
More than a million military service members participate in the so-called blended retirement system. It lets them make TSP-style savings contributions that are portable. The funds go with them when they leave the military. But there is more to financial readiness, something to think about in a high-spending season.
December 15, 2023 -
Multiple sources tell Federal News Network the Office of Management and Budget told agencies to target specific job classifications like cyber or data scientists or certain grade levels for increased salaries.
December 15, 2023 -
In today's Federal Newscast: Service members will see basic allowance for housing rates increase by an average of 5.4% starting January 1. Senate Republicans say they smell a rat in the case of the missing OPM use-of-official-time webpage. And a bipartisan bill in Congress aims to increase the salary of VA radiation specialists from an annual $195K to $280K.
December 15, 2023 -
The war in Ukraine, and to some extent Israel, have drained away U.S. weapons and ammunition stockpiles. Numerous studies have cited a shortage of shells, missiles and launch platforms, as well as whether the industrial supply chain and the military's own organic supply chain have the capacity to sustain the demand. For one informed view, the Federal Drive with Tom Temin talked with Al Abramson, the Vice President of Strategic Engagement with the National Armaments Consortium and a retired U.S. Army brigadier general.
December 14, 2023 -
The House has passed a defense policy bill that authorizes the biggest pay raise for troops in more than two decades. Supporters overcame objections from some conservatives concerned it didn’t do enough on cultural issues, such as restricting the Pentagon’s diversity initiatives and gender-affirming health care for transgender service members. The Senate had already overwhelmingly passed the bill on Wednesday, so now it goes to President Joe Biden’s desk to be signed into law. One of the most divisive aspects of the bill is a short-term extension of a surveillance program aimed at preventing terrorism and catching spies. Opponents of the extension wanted changes designed to boost privacy protections for Americans.
December 14, 2023
