Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Federal Employee Credit Card Abuse

Article Title: No Consequences for Government Employees Who Charged Massive Shopping Spree to Taxpayers

Snippet of Article: "...Paige said since the last GAO report on the issue there’s been an “explosion” in the number of government purchase cards, with 300,000 federal employees currently carrying them. By turning a blind eye when they are abused, she says, the government is inviting more of the behavior...."

Source: www.foxnews.com

Monday, May 10, 2010

New Report Reveals U.S. Federal Data Security Vulnerabilities and Opportunities for Improvement

Article Title: New Report Reveals U.S. Federal Data Security Vulnerabilities and Opportunities for Improvement

Snippet of Article: "...According to the Federal File Transfer Report, Federal employees are exposing data to cyber criminals. Though 71 percent of Federal IT and information security professionals are concerned with Federal file transfer security, 54 percent admit they do not currently monitor for FTP..."

Source: www.earthtimes.org

Saturday, May 8, 2010

Federal Government Employment and Windfall Elimination

Article Title: Federal Government Employment and Windfall Elimination

Snippet of Article: "...this provision affects Social Security ­benefits when any part of a person’s federal service after 1956 is covered under the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS). However, federal service where Social Security taxes are withheld (Federal Employees’ Retirement System) will not reduce your Social Security benefit amounts. The Windfall Elimination Provision may apply if:..."

Source: www.ssa.gov

Gates seeks big cuts in military spending

Article Title: Gates seeks big cuts in military spending

Snippet of Article: "...The Defense secretary invokes Dwight Eisenhower as he calls for spending reductions in military healthcare and the command structure. He wants to cut $10 billion to $15 billion from a $547-billion Pentagon base budget...."

Source: www.latimes.com

Federal Employee Case Law Spotlight: Security Clearance

Article Title: ADAMS v. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Snippet of Article: "...was employed as an Information Technology Specialist with the Security Intelligence Operations Directorate of the Missile Defense Agency ("MDA"). His position required him to maintain a Top Secret security clearance with access to Sensitive Compartmented Information. By letter dated April 2, 2009, the Defense Intelligence Agency ("DIA")..."

Source: www.leagle.com This disposition is nonprecedential.

OPM tests letting feds work without a schedule

Article Title: OPM tests letting feds work without a schedule

Snippet of Article: "...In the effort to attract and retain a new generation of federal workers, what can the federal government offer beyond a steady paycheck and good fringe benefits? ..."


Source: www.federalnewsradio.com

Friday, May 7, 2010

How to get a Federal Government Job

Article Title: How to get a job in the Federal Government [PDF Document]

Snippet of Article: "...With more than 1.7 million jobs and over 400 occupational specialties (excluding postal service and military workers), the Federal Government offers more choices than any other single employer in the United States. Whatever your interest and back- ground, you can probably find a Government career to match. People get jobs in the Federal Governmentin the same way..."


Source: www.pueblo.gsa.gov

Federal TSA Worker Defends Himself After Alleged Harassment by Coworkers

Article Title: Suspicious Package: TSA Worker Jailed After Junk Joke

Snippet of Article: "...He told police he had been made fun of by coworkers on a daily basis. "[Negron] stated he could not take the jokes anymore..."


Source: www.nbcmiami.com


More Reading: TSA Office of Civil Rights, Article Snip: "With a zero tolerance for harassment, illegal"

Health law’s heavy impact

Article Title: Health law’s heavy impact

Snippet of Article: "...Requires single people earning $200,000 or more and couples earning $250,000 or more to pay an additional 0.9 percent in Medicare taxes.
Tax on Home Sales. Imposes a 3.8 percent tax on home sales and other real estate transactions. Middle-income people must pay the full tax..."


Source: www.spokesman.com

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Joke's on you! Federal Workers' Kids Not Yet Eligible On Parents' Plan

Article Title: Federal Workers' Kids Not Yet Eligible On Parents' Plan


Snippet of Article: "...The federal employee health insurance program has announced that it is unlikely this year to offer young adults the ability to remain on their parents' policies until the age of 26. That means the government, which is the largest employer in the nation, will not follow the lead of some private insurance companies that will begin offering such coverage to young adults by June 1. ..."


Source: www.npr.org

Friday, April 23, 2010

Air marshal charged in gunpoint rape of Seattle woman

Article Title: Air marshal charged in gunpoint rape of Seattle woman

Snippet of Article: "..."The defendant used his position as a federal air marshal and his government-issued firearm to commit this crime," Senior Deputy Prosecutor Charles K. Sergis told the court. "He raped the victim and by threatening her with his gun and claiming she had to do what he said because he is an air marshal."..."

Source: www.seattlepi.com

Monday, April 19, 2010

How Much Should a Government Employee Make?

Article Title: How Much Should a Government Employee Make?


Snippet of Article: "...Which is why PolitiFact was surprised by Scott Brown's claims, which after fact-checking, proved false. Brown used Cato Institute numbers that put the average federal employee's salary at $79,197, compared to $50,028 in the private sector. It's easy to tell right away that those salaries aren't double, contrary to Brown's claim on This Week on Jan. 31, but PolitiFact did even more digging. ..."


Source: www.prospect.org

Wednesday, April 7, 2010

Lisha Adams becomes first woman named overall Civilian of the Year by AUSA chapter

Article Title: Lisha Adams becomes first woman named overall Civilian of the Year by AUSA chapter


Snippet of Article: "...Among her responsibilities, Adams - who has more than 27 years of government experience - manages a military, civilian and contractor work force of more than 800 with an annual operating budget of more than $700 million...."


Source: al.com
Lisha Adams

Monday, April 5, 2010

Federal Worker Telework Increases...

Article Title: Better job applicants, hired faster, is OPM goal


Snippet of Article: "...When it comes to telework, Berry wants to increase by 50 percent the number of eligible federal workers who telework over the 2009 baseline level of 102,900.

He called telework an essential part of OPM's effort to improve work-life flexibilities..."


Source: fredericksburg.com

Wednesday, March 31, 2010

USPS VP: It’s Time to Implement Five-Day Mail Delivery

Article Title: USPS VP: It’s Time to Implement Five-Day Mail Delivery


Snippet of Article: "...Assuming the PRC and Congress approve the plan, Pulcrano said it would take about six months to implement five-day mail delivery. PRC Chairman Ruth Goldway said last week it might take six to nine months for her panel to issue an advisory opinion...."


Source: multichannelmerchant.com

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Busted: Fraudulently collecting federal employee retirement benefits

Article Title: West Frankfort sentenced for fraudulently collecting retirement benefits


Snippet of Article: "...18 months in prison Monday, the judge also ordered her to repay more than $240,000 to the federal Civil Service Retirement System.
..."


Source: www.fox2now.com

Monday, March 22, 2010

Federal Employee Retirement Source

A fantastic resource for the federal employee Getting Ready for Retirement is FederlSoup.com's Federal Employee Retirement forum. Learn from other government employee's who have previously retired and those asking question about retiring from the federal government. Get information on both Your Fers Retirement: How to Prepare for It, How to Enjoy It and Your CSRS Retirement: How to Prepare for It, How to Enjoy It.

Monday, March 15, 2010

OPM's Berry blasts Washington Times editorial on federal pay

Article Title: OPM's Berry blasts Washington Times editorial on federal pay


Snippet of Article: "...Berry said. "Do they think that the researchers at NIH who are developing cures for cancer today are bureaucrats sitting at their desks? Do they think the TSA employees who are screening people who are sitting next to you on the airplane today -- are they just sitting at their desks? Are the Customs and Border Patrol..."


Source: voices.washingtonpost.com

Thursday, March 4, 2010

2010 Federal Census Questions

Article Title: 2010 Federal Census Questions


The Questions on the Form



  • How many people were living or staying in this house, apartment, or mobile home on April 1, 2010?

  • Were there any additional people staying here April 1, 2010 that you did not include in Question 1?

  • Is this house, apartment, or mobile home: owned with mortgage, owned without mortgage, rented, occupied without rent?

  • What is your telephone number?

  • Please provide information for each person living here. Start with a person here who owns or rents this house, apartment, or mobile home. If the owner or renter lives somewhere else, start with any adult living here. This will be Person 1. What is Person 1's name?

  • What is Person 1's sex?

  • What is Person 1's age and Date of Birth?

  • Is Person 1 of Hispanic, Latino or Spanish origin?

  • What is Person 1's race?

  • Does Person 1 sometimes live or stay somewhere else?


Source: This information was garnered from Census.gov
2010 Federal Census Questions

House Passes Bill to Protect Federal Retirees from the 2010 Medicare Premium Increase

Article Title: House Passes Bill to Protect Federal Retirees from the 2010 Medicare Premium Increase


Snippet of Article: "...Federal Retiree COLA ... Budget Office (CBO) has predicted the possibility of no COLA for 2011 and 2012...."


Source: www.myfederalretirement.com


Stay tuned to the Federal News Group for updates on the 2011 COLA, 2012 COLA, 2013 COLA, as well as the windfall elimination fight.

2010 Cost-of-Living Allowance (COLA)

Article Title: 2010 Cost-of-Living Allowance (COLA)


Snippet of Article: "...2010 COLA Update: Due to the current recession and subsequent reduction in the cost-of-living for many areas, the 2010 CONUS COLA rates have dropped for most Military Housing Areas (MHA), with the exception of..."


Source: www.military.com

Tuesday, March 2, 2010

Postal Service expected to announce '‘significant changes'

Article Title: Postal Service expected to announce '‘significant changes'


Snippet of Article: "...to consolidate about 3,000 post offices drew a firestorm of protest from the public and lawmakers. But the Postal Service is considering more next year, potentially closing thousands of locations and moving some products and services to nearby supermarkets, office supply stores and pharmacies. ..."


Source: www.washingtonpost.com

Monday, March 1, 2010

DOT Says Furloughs to Begin Monday

Article Title: DOT Says Furloughs to Begin Monday


Snippet of Article: "...Because of the shutdown, federal inspectors will be removed from critical construction projects, forcing work to come to a halt on federal lands, DOT said...."


Source: www.ttnews.com

Thursday, February 25, 2010

Why did federal salaries go up but Social Security did not?

Article Title: Why did federal salaries go up but Social Security did not?


Snippet of Article: "...How can the cost of living go up for all federal employees but not for people on Social Security? All federal employees got a cost-of-living increase as of Jan. 1..."


Source: www.mcall.com

“Great Federal Employees” Exhibit Debuts in Russell Rotunda

Article Title: “Great Federal Employees” Exhibit Debuts in Russell Rotunda


Snippet of Article: "...A week-long exhibit honoring “Great Federal Employees” debuted Monday in the Russell Senate Office Building rotunda – a special visual tribute to the hard work and often unsung dedication of the nation’s public servants...."


Source: kaufman.senate.gov

At Homeland Security, contractors outnumber federal workers

Article Title: At Homeland Security, contractors outnumber federal workers


Snippet of Article: "...more guidance to federal agencies next month on government functions that contractors can no longer conduct, an OMB spokesman said Wednesday.

Despite the planned contracting cuts, Napolitano..."


Source: www.washingtonpost.com

Article Title: Judge: Disclosure Obligation in Terror Trial Applies to Top DOJ Officials


Snippet of Article: "...Prosecutors must produce memos by high-ranking U.S. Department of Justice officials on the transfers of an accused terrorist because they might explain why he was kept out of the criminal justice system for almost five years, a federal judge has ruled...."


Source: www.law.com

US DoJ probes collusion in auto industry

Article Title: US DoJ probes collusion in auto industry


Snippet of Article: "...Christine Varney, the head of the DoJ’s antitrust division, said in a speech last year that the antitrust division would continue to aggressively pursue and prosecute international cartel cases...."


Source: www.ft.com

DOJ: Department Of Jihad? ( IBD Editorials)

Article Title: DOJ: Department Of Jihad?


Snippet of Article: "..."It's like they're bringing al-Qaida lawyers inside the Department of Justice," said Debra Burlingame, whose brother was the pilot of the plane driven by terrorists into the Pentagon, following KSM's plan...."


Source: www.investors.com

Saturday, February 20, 2010

Missile Defense Career Development Program

Article Title: Missile Defense Career Development Program


Entry-level opportunities at MDA are offered through the Missile Defense Career Development Program (MDCDP).


Snippet of Article: "...Along with the salary, training and all the benefits of federal employment, you will be eligible for promotion opportunities throughout the program and may be able to take advantage of continuing education opportunities, recruitment and/or relocation bonuses and repayment of student loans. At the end of the two-year program, you will have the possibility of conversion to a permanent Government position...."


Source: www.mda.mil
Federal Employee Careers,

Friday, February 19, 2010

Fire Shortens Work Week For Federal Employees

Article Title: Fire Shortens Work Week For Federal Employees


Snippet of Article: "...As many as 25 hundred people fled the main federal office building in downtown Kansas City this afternoon. Fire in a basement electrical system produced acrid smoke. ..."


Source: www.publicbroadcasting.net

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Defense contractor arrested on Houston flight after 'international disturbance'

Article Title: Racial slurs, drunken arrest on Amsterdam flight to Houston


Snippet of Article: "...an Alabama man is locked up in Houston facing at least 2 federal charges. Houston Police officers say they were called to the gate to meet the arriving Continental flight from Amsterdam, and they found two Federal Air Marshals with a Texas man under arrest...."


Source: www.examiner.com
see the FBI 'Department of Justice' Press Release on this Incident here: Alabama Man Charged with Interfering with a Flight Crew and Assaulting Federal Air Marshal

Impersonating a Federal Agent

Article Title: Man arrested on charges of impersonating federal agent and 'deporting' distant cousin's wife [Updated]


Snippet of Article: "...man has been arrested on suspicion of posing as a federal marshal to kidnap a distant cousin’s wife and put her on a plane to the Philippines, police said Wednesday...."


Source: latimes.com
impersonating a Federal Agent

Friday, February 12, 2010

Government Jobs -vs- Private Sector

Article Title: For both government and private-sector workers, grass is greener on other side


Snippet of Article: "...during the dark days of the Great Recession, the sexiest fringe benefit to any job became security. Stodgy is hot. Civil servants = genius! Visits to federal jobs site USAJobs.gov were up 18 percent..."


Source: www.washingtonpost.com

Thursday, February 11, 2010

Officials plan to expand federal hiring despite spending freeze



Article Title: Officials plan to expand federal hiring despite spending freeze




Snippet of Article: "...federal employment probably will continue to grow.

The reason: The departments exempted from the freeze -- Defense, State, Homeland Security, Veterans Affairs -- are growth areas ..."


Source: www.washingtonpost.com




Wednesday, February 10, 2010

OPM director considers overhaul of civil service system

Article Title: OPM director considers overhaul of civil service system


Snippet of Article: "...The document dealt with a broad range of federal employee issues and spent a considerable amount of ink justifying why they get paid as well as they do. Federal workers are, on average, an older and better educated lot ..."


Source: www.washingtonpost.com

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

Can military time count toward csrs retirement?

Article Title: Can military time count toward csrs retirement?


Yes, under Public Law 97-253, you can have your military service time after 1956 count toward your Civil Service Retirement. However, individuals that first became subject to Civil Service Retirement System deductions after Oct. 1, 1982, must make a deposit to receive credit for their military service in their CSRS or FERS annuity. CSRS covered employees prior to Oct. 1, 1982, may choose not to make the deposit and still receive credit toward the annuity, but would, if they are eligible for Social Security benefits, would at that time lose credit for military service in their CSRS annuities and their annuities will be reduced. If you pay the deposit, you will receive credit for their military service under CSRS and Social Security.


Source: federal-newsgroup.blogspot.com

Go to OPM for more info

Sunday, February 7, 2010

Washington DC hit by several feet of snow, bringing federal government to a standstill

Article Title: Snowstorm brings US capital to a halt


Snippet of Article: "...The gigantic weather system, predicted to be one of the largest storms on record in the region, effectively brought the US federal government to a halt. Workers were sent home early on Friday and it was unclear whether federal offices would reopen tomorrow...."


Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Windfall Elimination Provision News and Reports

Article Title: Windfall Elimination Provision News and Reports

Snippet of Article: "...The windfall elimination provision (WEP) reduces Social Security retirement benefits for most retirees who collect pensions from jobs that were not covered by the program...."

Source: www.retirementsecurity.org

'Pay parity' would return

Article Title: 'Pay parity' would return

Snippet of Article: "...As most federal workers know, the administration is proposing a 1.4 percent cost-of-living increase for military and civilian employees. This "pay parity" continues a tradition that is rarely broken..."

Source: fredericksburg.com