Friday federal headlines – December 12, 2014

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.

  • Tension between the executive and legislative branches took a new twist. CIA director John Brennan was holding a news conference to discuss the Senate Intelligence Committee’s majority report on enhanced interrogation. At the same time, Sen. Diane Feinstein’s (D-Calif.) office issued a series of tweets, rebutting what Brennan was saying. In one instance, Brennan said useful intelligence was obtained from individuals subjected to the techniques. Feinstein tweeted CIA had info before torture. A Twitter search shows Feinstein has 46,000 followers. The CIA has 758,000. (Associated Press)
  • Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) says farewell to his colleagues. Coburn is leaving office two years early as he battles cancer. In his emotional good-bye speech, Coburn urged his colleagues to limit government’s power and protect Americans’ liberty. He also apologized to anyone he may have offended, saying his criticisms weren’t personal. Coburn is well known for his annual wastebook and has earned the nickname “Doctor No.” He began his congressional career in the House in 1994. (Associated Press)
  • Congress approved a bill to automatically enroll new federal employees in the Thrift Savings Plan’s lifecycle funds. The Smart Savings Act changes the default from the safe government securities, or G-Fund. Employees enter different lifecycle funds based on their age. The L-funds are designed to move employees to less risky investments as they near retirement. If President Obama signs the bill into law, it will only apply to new federal employees. The legislation won’t affect TSP participants who are already auto-enrolled. The Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board will have to issue rules before the changes take effect. Director of External Affairs Kim Weaver says that’s likely to happen next October. ( H.R.4193 )
  • A ruling from the National Labor Relations Board will allow employees to use work email to organize unions. The decision overrules one made in 2007. The New York Times reports the board says email has expanded dramatically in recent years. The board’s majority calls the 2007 decision “clearly incorrect.” Under the new rule, employees can communicate and engage in union organizing through work email, but it has to be on their own time. The board says employers can make an exception if they find problems with productivity and discipline. (New York Times)
  • A Native American tribe files a federal lawsuit over a proposed health care rule. The Northern Arapaho tribe alleges the IRS interpretation of the large employer mandate could make Native Americans pay higher insurance premiums or lose health care benefits. The proposed rule requires businesses with more than 50 employees to provide health insurance for employees. That means those employees aren’t eligible to purchase health care under the Affordable Care Act. The Northern Arapaho tribe employs more than 600 people. The tribe argues that the Affordable Care Act doesn’t count tribes as large employers. If approved, the proposed rule would take effect Jan. 1. (Associated Press)
  • Robert MacLean now leads the National Park Service’s U.S. Park Police. MacLean has been with the Park Police for 23 years and served as acting chief for a year. He succeeds Teresa Chambers, who retired. NPS director Jonathan Jarvis says MacLean is a natural for the position. The Park Police employs more than 700 people and has an annual operating budget of more than $100 million. (NPS )
  • The Navy says it will redesign and upgrade its Littoral Combat Ship. The program has been struggling with cost overruns and ship performance problems. Critics say it can’t withstand battle damage. Earlier this year, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel cut the planned LCS acquisition from 52 ships to 32. The new version will be smaller and faster. It will have armor plating and more armaments. Those include over-the-horizon missiles, upgraded air defenses, decoys, two 25 millimeter guns, plus an armed helicopter with Hellfire missiles or MK-54 torpedoes. Hagel said the Navy will buy 52 ships now, a combination of LCS and the new ship. (Navy)
  • Senior Executive Service members have new performance standards under a new proposed rule from the Office of Personnel Management. SESers would have five rating levels instead of three. Agencies would pick one official to make sure the performance management system is getting used. Performance review boards also have more authority and will help make decisions on SES performance awards. (Federal Register)
  • The House has passed the $1.1 trillion spending bill with a 219 to 206 vote, but a short-term continuing resolution will keep the government open for the next two days. The Senate is expected to take up the spending bill Friday. It would fund most agencies through fiscal 2015, except the Homeland Security Department. (Federal News Radio)

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