Federal Newscast

Wednesday federal headlines – February 24, 2016

A proposed 5.3 percent pay raise for federal employees next fiscal year has the support of 33 members of Congress.

Federal News Network Staff

February 24, 2016 8:32 am

3 min read

The Federal Headlines is a daily compilation of the stories you hear discussed on the Federal Drive.

A proposed 5.3 percent pay raise for federal employees next fiscal year has the support of 33 members of Congress. Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Va.) re-introduced the Federal Adjustment of Income Rates Act. Federal employees would get a 3.9 percent pay raise, with 1.4 percent in lost locality pay in 2017. Reps. Steny Hoyer (D-Md.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Elijah Cummings (D-Md.), Donna Edwards (D-Md.) and Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.) are among the bill’s co-sponsors. (Rep. Gerry Connolly)

The Congressional Budget Office warns the Defense Department is in danger of overspending. Its estimates show that between next year and 2020, it will exceed sequestration limits by more than $100 billion. CBO said that number could hit $162 billion if weapons costs continue to rise. (CBO)

The House passed a bill to tighten the Homeland Security Department’s acquisition requirements. The DHS Acquisition Documentation Integrity Act would require heads of DHS agencies to document cost estimates and schedules so DHS can create an annual acquisition report to Congress. Supporters are hoping to rein in costs and prevent schedule overruns. (Congress)

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission proposes a rule to lay out actions federal agencies must take to engage in affirmative action employment for individuals with disabilities. The Rehabilitation Act requires federal agencies to create affirmative action plans for the employment of people with disabilities, and to submit those plans to EEOC for approval. The rule would require federal agencies to adopt the goal of achieving a 12 percent representation rate for individuals with disabilities and 2 percent rate for people with severe disabilities. (Federal Register)

The Health and Human Services Inspector General found HHS and its Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services lacked clear leadership in implementing Healthcare.gov. The IG said that caused delays in decision making and lack of clarity in project tasks. Other missteps included spending too long to develop policy, leaving too little time for developing the Healthcare.gov website. Development improved when the CMS staff and its contractors work together and stuck to their priorities. (HHS OIG)

USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service, the University of Montana and others are using big data and new software tools to better target invasive species that are damaging habitat and rangeland. NRCS is leading an effort using Google Earth to create a new interactive online map covering a 100 million acres in eight western States. USDA said the first version of the tool lets farmers, ranchers, conservationists and others analyze data on the encroachment of conifer trees and cheatgrass on rangeland. (NRCS)

A small group of VA top officials could get as much as $50,000 a year more. GovExec reports that’s what VA is proposing to Congress. 344 senior executives would be eligible to earn between $205,000-$235,000 per year. Under existing scales, the top salary is $185,000. The suggested law would also make it easier to hire and fire executives. (GovExec)

Former CIA agent Jeffrey Sterling is appealing his conviction for leaking classified information to the New York Times. Law 360 reports Sterling claims there was no evidence he leaked any information to to New York Times report James Risen and the case should have never been brought against him in Virginia federal court. He was sentenced to three-and-a-half years in prison in May last year for revealing details about Operation Merlin to the press. (Law 360)