Wednesday federal headlines – March 4, 2015

The Federal Headlines is a daily compilation of the stories you hear discussed on Federal News Radio each day. It is designed to give FederalNewsRadio.com reade...

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.

  • Colleen Kelley is retiring after 16 years as president of the National Treasury Employees Union. She said she’ll retire after the union’s national convention in August. Kelley has been the union’s president since 1999. NTEU will hold an election for her replacement at the convention. (Federal News Radio)
  • The Energy Department is changing its chief information officer to a political position, naming Michael Johnson as the new CIO. Johnson has been the assistant director for intelligence programs and national security systems within the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. Sources told Federal News Radio Johnson will start his new job Monday. (Federal News Radio)
  • A new rating system is coming to IT procurement. The Office of Federal Procurement Policy issued new guidance. It said vendors and contracting officers would get reviews similar to sites like Yelp or Consumer Reports. OFPP Administrator Anne Rung said the new Acquisition 360 pilot is one of three initiatives to improve the federal procurement process. (Federal News Radio)
  • A military officer accidentally let the cat out of the bag. By mistake, he told the media military secrets during a press briefing. The officer, authorized by Central Command, told reporters about plans for an Iraqi-led offensive in Mosul. He said the Pentagon wants Iraqis to launch the offensive in April or May. Defense Secretary Ash Carter told the Senate Armed Services Committee the briefer shouldn’t have told that information to the press. On top of that, Carter said the information wasn’t accurate. The offensive would likely begin later than this spring. (Federal News Radio)
  • Former CIA Director David Petraeus admitted he shared military secrets with his mistress. Petraeus told his mistress, who was also his biographer, classified information related to war strategy. He allegedly gave Paula Broadwell eight binders of classified material while she was writing the book. Patraeus will plead guilty to a misdemeanor count of unauthorized removal and retention of classified material. Prosecutors recommended two years probation and a $40,000 fine. A date hasn’t been set yet for the plea. (Federal News Radio)
  • Postal Service employees would have more appeal rights under a new bill in the Senate. Sens. Jon Tester (D-Mont.) and Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) introduced the measure, which would give 7,500 mid-level postal managers the right to appeal to the Merit Systems Protection Board. The appeal cases could include such actions as removals, suspensions, pay cuts and furloughs. Postmasters and supervisors have had the right to appeal for nearly 30 years, but mid-level managers were excluded from that. Tester said the bill would strengthen working conditions and improve employee morale. (Sen. Jon Tester)
  • The Republican-controlled Congress passed a full-year Homeland Security funding bill that President Barack Obama promised to sign. Unlike the earlier House version, this one does not have language cutting off the President’s executive action on immigration. The $40 billion bill drew yes votes from all 182 Democrats, but only from 75 Republicans. Last Friday, Congress approved a one-week extension to the continuing resolution under which Homeland Security was operating. The latest move prevents a shutdown Friday at midnight and funds DHS through Sept. 30. (Federal News Radio)
  • Two federal agencies are working together to prohibit employee discrimination in state and local government. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the Justice Department signed a memo of understanding, which reinforces Title 7 of the Civil Rights Act. The EEOC investigates and mediates charges of discrimination. If the agency and public employer can’t reach an agreement, Justice can file a lawsuit. The memo laid out what information could be shared between the agencies and publicly. The memo also aims to ensure resources are used efficiently and enforcement strategy is consistent. (EEOC)
  • A Navy veteran will serve nearly eight years in prison for child pornography. Richard Dale Brooks was found guilty on five counts of receiving child porn over the Internet, and one count of possessing child porn. The court also ordered Brooks to forfeit the computer he used. The Justice Department said Brooks used a peer-to- peer file-sharing program for child porn. Law enforcement agents found 49 photos and 78 videos of child pornography on his computer. (DoJ)
  • Pentagon planners are trying to convince Congress they could save big money with a new round of base realignments and closures. John Conger is acting assistant Defense secretary for installations. He told the House Armed Appropriations Committee, the military’s real estate footprint is 25 percent bigger than necessary. By trimming just 5 percent, Conger said Defense could save $2 billion a year. Military Times reports lawmakers are skeptical. They pointed out that the 2005 BRAC cost $35 billion to carry out, and saved $4 billion a year. Conger said that round was more about realignment than cost savings. (Military Times)
  • The General Services Administration promised to extend the Networx telecommunications contract another three years. Originally set to expire in 2017, the contract will remain in place until 2020. That’s according to a blog post by Mary Davie, GSA’s assistant commissioner of Integrated Technology Services. The extension will give agencies time to switch over to the forthcoming Enterprise Information Services contracts, designed to replace Networx. GSA has only just released the request for proposals for EIS. It expects to make awards by January 2017. (GSA)
  • The Broadcasting Board of Governors has a brand new vacancy at the top. Andrew Lack, sworn in as the agency’s CEO only 40 days ago, is leaving to return to NBC. GovExec reports the news came out in a blog called BBG-Watch, which cited reports in the trade magazine Variety. Employees are reported to be stunned by the news. Lack’s departure is to be confirmed today at an all-hands staff meeting. In February, BBG Chairman Jeffrey Shell praised Lack. He said Lack’s arrival put the troubled agency in a very good place. The board had spent a year searching for a CEO. (Gov Exec )

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