Monday federal headlines – November 3, 2014

The Federal Headlines is a daily compilation of the stories you hear discussed on the Federal Drive and In Depth radio shows each day. Our headlines are updated twice per day — once in the morning and once in the afternoon — with the latest news affecting federal employees and contractors.

• Agencies have new plans for meeting energy, climate and environmental goals. The White House Council on Environmental Quality launched the 2014 Green Gov Challenge. It marks the fifth anniversary since President Barack Obama signed his Executive Order on Federal Leadership in Environmental, Energy and Economic Performance. The White House said the government’s carbon emissions are down by 17 percent since 2008. (White House)
• Twenty-five thousand federal employees will have to switch health plans next year. Gov Exec reports, the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program will drop five of its plans. The Office of Personnel Management said that’s the most number plans dropping FEHBP coverage since 2009. OPM said enrollment in those five plans is down over recent years. (Gov Exec)
• Nearly 50 unions and organizations have asked Congress to improve whistleblowing rights for intelligence contractors. The American Civil Liberties Union, the Project on Government Oversight and 47 other groups say intelligence contractors are defenseless against retaliation. In a letter, the organizations say contractors’ only choices are to report waste, fraud and abuse anonymously or to remain silent. The groups ask Congress to pass an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act. Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) introduced the amendment, which would extend whistleblower protections to contractors of intelligence agencies. (Government Accountability Project)
• Nearly four out of 10 federal workers who joined the government a decade ago have earned advanced degrees and certificates while working. That’s important because employees with high school diplomas or associate’s degrees have just a 15 percent chance of becoming a manager or supervisor. That goes up to 18 percent if they get a bachelor’s degree, and 23 percent if they earn a post-graduate degree. They earn more money too. Overall, 68 percent of federal employees have at least a bachelor’s degree. The Office of Personnel Management teases the data out of its latest Employee Viewpoint Survey. (Federal News Radio)
• Some military members take offense to a sexual-assault survey. They tell the Associated Press that the questions are too graphic, personal and explicit. Many service members were offended by the language used in the survey, calling it intrusive and invasive. The Rand Corporation developed this year’s survey, which the Defense Department sends out every two years. DoD said it wanted to obtain more accurate results about sexual assaults in the military. That’s why it put out a more detailed survey. The department sent the survey to 560,000 active duty, National Guard and reserve members. Officials did not say how many responses they have received so far. (Federal News Radio)
• Defense Department civilians fighting Ebola in West Africa have options when it comes to quarantine. The Pentagon said civilians don’t have to be in quarantine for 21 days, which is required for troops. DoD civilians can choose to be quarantined or they can follow guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That means taking their temperature twice daily and watching for symptoms. Transient military personnel, like air crews, get the same options as civilians. Navy Times reports the military is training more medical personnel to respond to Ebola cases. The Pentagon is anticipating a request from the Department of Health and Human Services for more health workers. (Federal News Radio)
• Almost 60,000 veterans triple-dip into their benefits, according to a new Government Accountability Office report. But it’s all legal. Veterans collect military retirement pay, veterans benefits and Social Security disability benefits. GAO said 80 percent of veterans who receive all three benefits are severely disabled. And half are at least 60-years old. Last year, vets collected a total of $3.5 billion in benefits. About 4 percent collected $100,000 or more in benefits. The highest payment in 2013 was more than $208,000. But most received an average of just less than $60,000 (Federal News Radio )

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