People

Bipartisan House bill would block Schedule F conversions

The bill is the latest of several legislative attempts to block an executive order that could remake parts of the civil service into at-will employees.

People

Did Trump shrink the government? Not according to the Plum Book

Despite promises to "drain the swamp," the Trump administration did little to reduce the number of political appointments, according to data in the latest iteration of the Plum Book.

Cybersecurity

FITARA grades mostly stable

Most agencies maintained their grades on the latest FITARA scorecard, but the new telecom category produced some failing marks.

People

OPM rule would elevate performance in layoff decisions

The current rules for reductions in force have performance last on the list of factors to consider in the determining which employees to keep, with the type of job coming first and followed by veterans preference and service length after.

People

OPM succession shuffle sparks Schedule F concerns

Experts worry that an executive order with the potential to politicize the civil service could do lasting damage, even if rescinded by the incoming Biden administration.

Digital Government

House Dems look to funding bill to block Schedule F

A group of House Democrats including Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) are pushing for appropriators to block the implementation of the Schedule F federal employee reclassification in a must-pass funding bill needed to avoid a government shutdown.

People

OMB seeks to reclassify workforce under Schedule F

The agency is gearing up to make 88% of its positions subject to at-will employment.

People

NTEU looks for a 'fresh start' for federal employees under Biden

The union's blueprint for immediate action joins with NAPA's working group on the federal workforce in calling for the next director of OPM to abandon a regulation-heavy approach.

People

OPM aide tapped as next federal CIO

The chief of staff at the Office of Personnel Management is taking over the top federal tech job for the last days of the Trump administration.

People

NAPA working group floats proposal to roll back Trump's workforce orders

A team at the National Academy of Public Administration wants the incoming president to order a reduction in the number of General Schedule job classifications while expanding the use of recruitment, relocation and retention payments.

People

OPM veterans on the Biden-Harris transition team

In advance of the General Services Administration designating Biden as president-elect and releasing transition funds, the Biden-Harris team is working outside of government, consulting with former officials and experts.

People

A Biden-Harris 'reset’ for feds

Federal employee unions and associations are hoping for concrete day-one rollbacks of Trump administration workforce policies on diversity training, official time, collective bargaining and the new 'Schedule F' classification.

People

House Dems press OPM to block Trump's civil service overhaul

More than 30 House Democrats are calling for an immediate halt to the implementation of President Trump recent executive order to reclassify elements of the civil service as at-will employees.

People

New House bill aims to halt Trump's civil service revamp

The Saving the Civil Service Act would block last week's executive order creating new classification of career federal employees in certain key roles and reverse any personnel moves made as a result of the order.

People

OPM directs agencies on civil service overhaul

A memo from acting personnel chief Michael Rigas told agencies they could look outside the boundaries of a recent executive order for jobs to reclassify, but that the Office of Personnel Management would make final determination.

People

Trump order creates Schedule F, to speed hiring and firing in key positions

The Oct. 21 executive order looks to reshape the competitive service by allowing agencies to reclassify policy jobs under a new schedule and give senior managers greater flexibility in hiring candidates and firing employees.

People

House bill looks to boost COLA for Social Security recipients, federal retirees

The bill uses a different cost-of-living adjustment index to bring the adjustment to 3%.

People

Feds to see average 4.9% hike in health premiums in 2021

The coronavirus pandemic was a driver in keeping premium hikes lower than otherwise would have been the case, according to an OPM official.

Acquisition

Tech groups slam Trump's diversity training executive order

The pushback comes as the Labor Department tries to explain what the memo does and does not allow with regard to diversity training.

Digital Government

OPM built COVID dashboard on a shoestring

Office of Personnel Management used a purchase card to kick off cloud-based emergency response data dashboard.