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OPM: Fixing retirement backlog 'vitally important'

It's not the easiest time to tackle the growing backlog of retirement applications from federal employees. The Office of Personnel Management has received more than 15,000 new applications this month, which is more than double the normal load, said Retirement Services Director Ken Zawodny.

Tags: Ken Zawodny , OPM , pay and benefits , retirement , workforce , technology , Congress ,

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Obama to push spectrum development for first responders

The White House will push Congress to "finish the job" on spectrum policy, Chief Technology Officer Aneesh Chopra said. First responders still are using analog communications to talk to each other during emergencies.

Tags: technology , Aneesh Chopra , Congress , D-block , spectrum , emergency responders , public safety , 9/11 , NIST , Politico Pro , White House

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OPM to extend viewpoint survey to all feds

All federal employees will have the opportunity to participate in this year's Employee Viewpoint Survey. The Office of Personnel Management's annual survey of federal workers' opinions often is used to set administrative policies at agencies. In past years, only a third of the workforce had been asked to participate.

Tags: OPM , Employee Viewpoint Survey , John Berry , management , workforce

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OPM online training course aims to make telework more accessible

The Office of Personnel Management has updated the telework training offered through Telework.gov. Agencies must provide telework training to employees who are able and willing to work outside the office before the two parties sign a telework agreement. The upgrades will allow agencies to track which employees use and complete the training, according to the memo.

Tags: telwork , Telework Enhancement Act , snow policy , workforce , OPM , John Berry , training

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Analysis: Government reorganization 'challenging terrain' for Obama

President Barack Obama has asked Congress for the power to merge federal agencies in an effort to make government more efficient and consumer friendly. Obama will call on Congress to give him a type of consolidation authority last held by a president when Ronald Reagan was in office. Analysts and former government insiders congratulate the president for the massive plan to streamline services. But they warn it will be tricky.

Tags: business , Don Kettl , Susan Schwab , USTR , Commerce , NOAA , Partnership for Public Service , Max Stier , Jeff Zients , OMB , Barack Obama , Congress , management , government reorganization , workforce

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Agencies demo one-stop FOIA portal

Federal employees who respond to Freedom of Information Act requests got their first look today at a new web portal designed to improve efficiency and transparency. The Environmental Protection Agency, the Commerce Department and the National Archives and Records Administration are basing the portal on Regulations.gov.

Tags: FOIA , Regulations.gov , transparency , open gov , Miriam Nisbet , EPA , Commerce , OMB Watch , Gavin Baker , technology , Gov 2.0 ,

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FEHB program almost ready to welcome Indian tribe employees

Administrators are preparing to expand the Federal Employee Health Benefits plan in May to thousands of employees of Indian tribes and tribal organizations. Tribes have urged the change for a long time. It was mandated by the Affordable Care Act in 2010 and is just now becoming a reality.

Tags: OPM , pay and benefits , benefits , FEHB , Native Americans , National Congress of American Indians , Jacqueline Pata , Ahniwake Rose , John O

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Hubert Sparks reflects on four decades of auditing agencies

Appalachian Regional Commission Inspector General Hubert Sparks has tried to retire twice, but keeps coming back to government. After 43 years, this will be his last, Sparks said.

Tags: Hubert Sparks , Federal Voices , inspector general , Appalachian Regional Commission , USDA , DHS , Katrina , VA ,

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USPS awards $168M communications contract to Verizon

Verizon will design and manage a private Internet protocol network for the Postal Service under a new six-year agreement. The New York-based telecom has provided IT services for the agency for two decades.

Tags: USPS , acquisition , IT , technology , contracting , Aquilent , telecommunications , Verizon ,

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New SES appraisal system meant to align agencies

The White House has announced a new system for evaluating the performance of Senior Executive Service members. The system should establish greater consistency among agencies, according to a memo by the Office of Management and Budget and the Office of Personnel Management.

Tags: SES , OPM , OMB , workforce , management , performance management , Jeff Zients , John Berry , Carol Bonosaro , SEA , Steve Shih , Jeff Neal , Ron Sanders

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