The Veterans Affairs Department officially fired three more senior leaders at the Phoenix VA Health Care System, the hospital where reports of wait time manipulation first started two years ago. Two of the three VA executives can appeal their removals to the Merit Systems Protection Board.
The Justice Department says a specific provision in the Veterans Choice Act, which ultimately renders that the disciplinary decision from administration MSPB judge is final for certain senior executives, violates a clause in the Constitution. U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch says Justice will continue to uphold vast majority of the Choice Act.
VA Secretary Bob McDonald said his department is different enough from other federal agencies that a separate personnel system is appropriate for VA senior executives. McDonald also said the department is working on new performance standards to measure veterans' satisfaction with VA medical facilities and the time it takes to receive an appointment.
At nearly 400 pages, the Veterans First Act, which the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee introduced last week, covers everything from veterans homelessness to more flexible work hours for VA doctors and nurses. But VA's senior executives are still the main target of the legislation.
Beth Cobert, the acting director of the Office of Personnel Management, wants more people to know about the hard, important work federal employees do every day.
The Veterans First Act is a bipartisan omnibus bill that addresses problems within the Veterans Affairs Department. Everything from accountability to whistleblower protections is included in the package, along with major changes to the health care program for veterans, educational benefits and help for survivors.
The Senior Executives Association honored 43 recipients of the 2015 Presidential Rank Awards at a banquet in Washington April 21. The winners were responsible for saving government more than $121 billion. Director of National Intelligence James Clapper gave the keynote speech.
The Senior Executives Association hosted the 30th annual Presidential Rank Awards of Distinguished Executives and Distinguished Senior Professionals where it honored 43 federal employees from 16 agencies for accomplishing astonishing successes.
In the latest Performance.gov progress report for the cross-agency priority goal of developing the federal workforce to its full potential, seven of 12 milestones are at risk, while two others have been missed.
A panel of five women who have successfully climbed the ladder of federal employment offered advice and inspiration to other feds seeking to emulate their achievements.
There isn't much more the Veterans Affairs Department can do, now that the Merit Systems Protection Board overturned punishments for two of four senior executives accused of misconduct. The VA handed out lighter punishments to the four VBA leaders, despite criticism from Congress.
Following an investigation by VA Deputy Secretary Sloan Gibson, the agency is recommending a combination of reduced pay and suspension for four VA leaders involved in relocation “impropriety.”
The House Veterans Affairs Committee is considering legislation to give the VA secretary the authority to set pay and performance appraisals for medical directors. It also includes several provisions that are designed to help the VA attract and hire more doctors and nurses.
Accountability in the Senior Executive Service will be at the center of congressional discussions on a new omnibus legislative package for the Veterans Affairs Department. Senate VA Committee Chairman Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.) said he wants the VA and the committee to finish its work on the legislation by April 1.
Senior Executive Service candidates can now submit a resume as part of their application package to the Qualification Review Board, the Office of Personnel Management said. OPM has a few suggestions for agencies to shorten the submission process for SES candidates. The guidance is the latest in a series of memos addressing the President's executive order on SES reforms.