Security clearances

The House-passed 2020 defense authorization bill includes paid family leave for federal employees, as well as another legislative attempt to block the Trump administration’s proposed OPM-GSA merger.

GSA has issued a request for information to begin modernization of legacy mainframe hardware at the Office of Personnel Management. The RFI is part of GSA’s Centers of Excellence initiative, which both agencies have agreed to use to advance the merger.

In a letter to acting OPM Director Margaret Weichert, Sens. Gary Peters (D-Mich.) and Patty Murray (D-Wash.) questioned why the administration didn’t warn Congress earlier about the agency’s coming financial challenges.

Industry leaders say up to 10% of their cleared intelligence community workforces are idle at any given time, because they’re waiting for agencies to grant, update or transfer a security clearance, according to the Intelligence and National Security Alliance.

Former DHS chief human capital officer Jeff Neal has some best practices for a successful transition of the security clearance process to the Pentagon.

House Democrats joined members of the American Federation of Government Employees on Tuesday to rally against the Trump administration’s proposed merger of the Office of Personnel Management with the General Services Administration. Congress on Tuesday also began debate over an appropriations bill that would block the OPM-GSA merger.

In today’s Federal Newscast, legislation in both the House and Senate aims to guarantee every senior a Social Security cost of living adjustment with an annual floor of no less than 3%.

The Defense Department has officially assumed responsibility for the governmentwide security clearance portfolio and has named new leadership to oversee the coming transfer.

The Trump administration said back pay for contractors affected by the shutdown will be too costly and increase the risk of fraud, waste, and improper payments.

A healthy inventory of pending security clearances is at last within reach, as the National Background Investigations Bureau prepares to transfer its resources, employees and authorities to the Defense Department by Oct. 1.