Mike O'Connell is a web editor and general assignment reporter for Federal News Radio.

Berry: OPM did not authorize CFC meals, entertainment expenses

Office of Personnel Management Director John Berry issued a directive today claiming his agency never approved thousands of dollars in questionable meals and entertainment expenses incurred by the Combined Federal Campaign. Earlier this month, OPM's Inspector General's Office reported that CFC had charged for box seats at a Washington Nationals event, chair massages and other expenses.

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Tighter budget inspires services to rethink their workforce

With less money to work with, the military services has to think creatively in order to deploy its shrinking workforce.

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No pay freeze extension in Democrats' budget plan

Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) introduced "Making It in America," the Democratic budget proposal that calls for an end to the sequester while preserving the Medicare guarantee. Unlike the other proposals under consideration, this proposal does not call for an extension of the federal pay freeze or an increase in feds' contributions to their retirement funds.

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Senator's opposition kills BRAC request

Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.), chairwoman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, voiced her opposition Wednesday to the Defense Department's latest BRAC request, effectively killing the measure.

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Committee approves House budget plan

The House Budget Committee approved a Republican proposal that calls for shrinking U.S. deficits to $3.1 trillion over the coming decade. The budget bill also calls for a 10 percent reduction of the federal workforce, an extension of the federal pay freeze and an increase of federal employees' contributions to their pension plans.

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Most State Dept. offices reopen as fire cleanup continues

Workers continue to assess the damage and clean up after a fire that took place Tuesday at a State Department complex in Washington, D.C. Most employees can return to their offices today and an on-site child care center has reopened.

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Some offices remain closed following State Department fire

A fire on the fifth floor of a State Department building in Washington Tuesday caused enough damage that several offices will be closed today and possibly longer.

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Chollet, Hicks nominated for new roles at DoD

President Obama nominated Dr. Kathleen H. Hicks for the position of principal deputy under secretary of defense for Policy and Derek H. Chollet, as assistant secretary of defense for International Security Affairs.

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GOP plan would open FEHBP to non-feds

Four senators introduced a bill that would add Medicare patients to the Federal Employee Health Benefits Plan, as Medicare is gradually phased out. The National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association tells feds to be wary of the bill.

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Flexible-retention adds new option to agencies' retirement toolkit

Senate amendment allows retiring federal employees to return to work on a part-time basis. Ron Sanders, senior executive adviser at Booz Allen Hamilton, says this provision allows retirees to pass along their institutional knowledge while continuing their civil service.

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Mobility in SES not always necessary

Senior Executives Association President Carol Bonosaro spoke to Senior Correspondent Mike Causey about her agency's opposition to a bill that would require SESer to be more mobile.

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Obama administration two-sided on openness, expert says

Angela Canterbury, director of Public Policy at the Project on Government Oversight, said the Obama administration's efforts at transparency and openness have garnered mixed results.

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Force cuts won't alter Air Force's ability to do its job

Lt. Gen. Darrell Jones, the Air Force's deputy chief of staff for manpower, personnel and services, says that mandated cuts will not alter the services' ability to do its job.

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Senate amendment would extend pay freeze through 2013

Sen. Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) introduced an amendment Thursday to the Senate Highway Bill that would extend the federal pay freeze for another year as part of special deficit reduction trust fund.

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Analysis: Hatch Act modernization good for feds, better for locals

Debra Roth, a partner at Shaw, Bransford and Roth, said the Hatch Act Modernization of 2012 would widen the array of penalties for violating the law that governs political activities by government workers.

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Watchdog board adopts new strategic plan

The Merit Systems Protection Board has come up with new strategic plan for the next four years which updates the agency's mission and vision statements and includes new strategic goals.

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Analysis: Competing bills offer different approaches to cybersecurity

Bob Dix, vice president for government affairs and critical infrastructure for Juniper Networks, joined The Federal Drive with Tom Temin to talk about the new cyber bill introduced by Senate Republicans.

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Treasury's paperless initiative means no more paper benefit checks

Those who are already receiving paper checks for federal benefit payments have until March 1, 2013, to sign up for direct deposit or direct express.

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DoD initiative will save fuel, improve security

Sharon Burke, the assistant secretary of defense for operational energy plans and programs, says saving energy takes risks out of the battlefield.

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AFGE, SSA reach 'conceptual agreement' on new contract

A long-fought negotiation between the American Federation of Government Employees and the Social Security Administration seems to be over as the two sides agree to terms of new national contract.

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