Friday federal headlines – January 2, 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.

  • Incoming House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah) said he’s changing the structure of his committee. He plans to expand the number of subcommittees from five to six to include a subcommittee on Government Operations; Healthcare, Benefits and Administrative Rules; Information Technology; Interior; National Security; and Transportation and Public Assets. (Rep. Jason Chaffetz)
  • The Postal Service will start a round of plant closures next week. It says the closures will help save money and adjust to a lower demand for first-class mail. The agency plans to close 82 mail processing centers this year. The Washington Post reports many senators don’t want the Postal Service to move forward with its consolidation plan. They wrote a letter to Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe, asking the agency to complete an analysis of potential impacts. Critics of the plan say it will slow delivery times and harm the Postal Service’s brand. ( The Washington Post)
  • Another week to go, and federal employees will see that 1 percent pay raise for 2015. It starts Jan. 11, the first day of the first full pay period of the year. President Barack Obama promised the raise back in August. Congress confirmed the raise in the omnibus bill funding the government. The President signed it before Christmas. (Federal News Radio)
  • Leaders of the Senate Judiciary Committee want answers about how federal law enforcement uses technology for sweeping up cell phone data. Sens. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) sent a letter to the FBI and Homeland Security Department. They want to know what privacy protections are in place for people who are not suspects but whose data is collected. The letter specifically cites land-based Stingray technology used by the FBI and airborne equipment used by the Marshals Service. Both intercept large quantities of data by mimicking cell phone towers. (Associated Press)
  • The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention plans to hire a chief of laboratory safety. CDC said the employee will identify problems at labs, establish plans to solve them and hold programs accountable for follow-up. The move comes after a CDC scientist might have been exposed to Ebola. Reuters reports an internal investigation recommended creating the position. That investigation looked at mishandling of anthrax and bird flu in more than 1,000 CDC labs. (Reuters)
  • The government is not meeting all of its cross-agency priority goals in cybersecurity. An update from the last quarter of 2014 shows overall goal performance at 89 percent. That’s a 4 percent improvement over the previous quarter. Agencies are meeting CAP goals for consolidating anti-phishing and malware defenses. Last quarter was the first time agencies met that target. The administration established 15 CAP goals when it released the 2015 budget. Other cyber goals include observing and assessing security goals at agencies and improving authentication devices. (Federal News Radio)
  • The FBI plans to add some new experts to its investigative teams’ cyber agents. The bureau is looking for professionals with expertise in hacking, network intrusion and data breaches to fight high-tech crimes. The agents will investigate groups and individuals involved in terrorist or criminal organizations. They’ll also work to prevent attacks that could disable the country’s infrastructure. In its job posting, the FBI said agents need to get a top secret security clearance, spend the first 19 weeks of employment in training in Quantico and be between 23 and 37 years old. (USA Jobs)
  • The Obama administration says the newest 50-state report on health care signups is an encouraging start. The Department of Health and Human Services said more than 4 million people enrolled through mid-December. Most came through the federal health care insurance exchange. About half of those enrolling are doing so for the first time. Health experts predict the enrollment season will meet the administration’s modest goal of 9 million, nut not the Congressional Budget Office forecast of 13 million. Also of concern to the government: The small percentage of enrollees between the ages of 18 and 34. That could mean higher premiums in the future. ( Federal News Radio/HHS)
  • The Office of Personnel Management is re-opening nominations for the Presidential Rank Awards. They honor federal managers with outstanding performance worthy of presidential recognition. Winners receive a cash bonus equal to 20 percent to 35 percent of their salary. The annual awards were suspended last year by the White House because of budget constraints. OPM Director Katherine Archuleta cautions agency heads to be extra careful in how many candidates they name. Nominations are due March 2. (CHCOC)
  • United States, South Korean and Japanese defense officials entered a three- way agreement to share threat information about North Korea. It covers nuclear weapons and missiles. It lets the Defense Department and the ministries of the two Asian nations exchange classified information with the goal of improving potential responses to future provocations from North Korea. The U.S. DoD is the designated hub of the arrangement. It was signed by Deputy Defense Secretary Robert Work. (DoD)
  • Lockheed Martin received a $662 million order from the Air Force for 10 new C-130 airplanes and 20 engine assemblies. The Air Force made the award Dec. 31. The planes will be delivered by early 2018. Two will be acquired by the Coast Guard for counternarcotics and search-and-rescue out of Elizabeth City, North Carolina. Other eventual customers include India, Saudi Arabia and Norway. The planes will be produced in several variations, including three aerial refueling tankers. They’ll all be assembled in Marietta, Georgia. (DoD)

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