House News 
Top News
- IRS to pay $70M in bonuses, Grassley says
- Small companies won't feel effect of lowered contractor pay cap
- Senators push Tangherlini for assurances GSA is improving
- As VA works to eliminate one backlog, one more might emerge
- BRAC-like commission proposed to hunt down government cost savings
- Sequestration claims another conference: DHS's GFirst cyber event
- Postal Service closing Capitol Hill post offices in 'symbolic' move
- Senators seek cost cuts for F-35 fighter jet
- Fed pens new furlough song
- Web guru Dorris brings new life to government websites
- EPA CIO Jackson returning to private sector
- Navy strikes enterprise licensing deal with Oracle
- Contractors with security clearances lack path to report problems
- NSA leak case gives vendors reason to reevaluate personnel
- 8 contract executives guilty of 8(a) contracting fraud
- Whistleblower suit leads to $12M false claims settlement by SAIC
Congress pushes back against another round of BRAC
DoD officials say as the number of troops shrink so should their real estate holdings. Lawmakers are wary about reducing troop and bases levels too much, and the expense of the Base Realignment and Closure process.
Congress to feds: We feel your pain
Over 20 bills affecting federal employees' pay, benefits, and pensions have been introduced by members of Congress in the past year. Federal employees tell Federal News Radio those are the kinds of things directly affecting their morale and motivation. What does Congress think about that? Federal News Radio asks both Republicans and Democrats as part of our series, "Managing Morale."
Congress plays tug-of-war over federal benefits
Federal Times Editor Steve Watkins, Senior Writer Sean Reilly,and NARFE Legislative Director Julie Tagen will discuss how government employees will be affected by proposed cuts to the federal budget.
February 15, 2012
House transportation bill lands in the ditch
A long-term blueprint for federal transportation programs was delayed Wednesday by House Speaker John Boehner as GOP leaders scramble to shore up support for the endangered measure.
Federal unions claim sneak attack in unemployment insurance deal
Two federal unions, the American Federation of Government Employees and the National Treasury Employees Union, say lawmakers removed the increase in federal employee contributions from the payroll tax extension, but added it to the unemployment insurance extension, which is part of the overall deal. The unions say if the provision becomes law, feds would see a pay decrease while everyone else would see an increase.
House to vote on federal pension changes separate from highway bill
The current language of H.R. 3813 increases the CSRS and FERS employees' contribution to their retirements by 1.5 percent over three years. For individuals not subject to mandatory retirement who choose to retire on or after Jan. 1, 2013, the FERS minimum supplement is eliminated. Currently, the FERS minimum supplement is paid to those qualifying employees who retire prior to age 62.
Option to put unused leave toward TSP part of House bill
The provision — part of a larger transportation bill — would allow retiring federal employees to put their unused annual leave toward their TSP.
House GOP have backup on payroll tax
In an abrupt about-face, House GOP leaders announced Monday that they are willing to extend the two percentage point cut in the payroll tax through the end of the year and add the approximately $100 billion cost to the nation's $15 trillion-plus debt.
Analysis: Political wrangling likely to sink budget deal
Stan Collender, a partner at Qorvis Communications and a veteran of budget work on Capitol Hill, told In Depth with Francis Rose it's unlikely Congress will approve a full-year budget this year given the rapidly approaching election season.
Updated: DoD to quadruple TRICARE fees for higher-earning retirees
The personnel proposals included in the 2013 Defense Department budget include hikes to healthcare fees, cutbacks in both uniformed and civilian personnel. DoD also plans to save money through continued efficiencies and plans to increase the acquisition workforce.
President's 2013 budget focuses on federal performance, cuts to waste
The President's fiscal 2013 budget requests calls on agencies to "redouble" efforts to cut wasteful spending through government reorganization and cuts to improper payments.
Bill to cut federal retirement benefits saves $44B, CBO says
The House bill — H.R.3813 — would require federal workers to contribute 1.5 percent more of their salaries toward retirement over three years and end a supplemental payment for early retirees under the Federal Employee Retirement System.
Congress mulls expansion of VA's system to verify veteran-owned firms
The Veterans Affairs Department's process for verifying eligibility in the service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses program could become standard procedure for all agencies. VA is the only department that checks to make sure contractors are eligible.
Legislative agencies' 2013 budget requests spell reduced staff, cuts
The Government Accountability Office, Congressional Budget Office, Government Printing Office and Library of Congress testified before a House committee this week on their fiscal-year 2013 budget requests. While they vary in many ways, none stray too far from 2012 funding numbers that cut the agencies' budgets.
Analysis: Gov't must 'modernize' cyber defense
Larry Clinton, the president of the Internet Security Alliance, testified before the House Energy and Commerce subcommittee on the role of the private sector in responding to cyber threats.
Bill aims to reduce number of government buildings
The House passed a bill to establish a commission to get rid of underused federal buildings.
VA comes under fire for telework policy
AFGE has accused the Department of Veterans Affairs of failing to expand telework opportunities despite a new law designed to encourage the practice. Rep. Frank Wolf (R-Va.) has demanded an explanation. Assistant Secretary for Human Resources and Administration John Sepulveda said managers aren't convinced that telework is good for the agency.
House panel aims to discern challenges for defense industry
The House Armed Services Committee has held a series of hearings in recent months taking the temperature of industry and defense experts on the relationship between contractors and the Defense Department. Allan Burman, a former administrator of the Office of Federal Procurement Policy and now the president of Jefferson Consulting, testified before the panel. He joined In Depth with Francis Rose to discuss his testimony.
Will fed's benefits change in 2012?
American Federation of Government Employees President Jacque Simon will discuss whether your federal pay and benefits will be cut this year.
February 8, 2012
Is Congress gearing up for another budget battle?
The battle over the budget is heating up once again. John Stanton, a House reporter at Roll Call, joined In Depth with Francis Rose to discuss the buget debate on Capitol Hill and what it means for federal managers and employees.
