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President Biden released his Fiscal Year 2025 budget request on Monday, March 11, calling for a 2 percent pay raise for the federal workforce. FMA National President Craig Carter issued a press release in response, urging the traditional pay parity with the uniformed military, supporting the President's Management Agenda, and more. Carter was cited in a Government Executive article by Managing Editor Carten Cordell.
To read the full article, click here.
On Thursday, February 29, the House of Representatives approved a short-term spending bill that would extend Fiscal Year 2024 appropriations deadlines and stave off a partial government shutdown. The vote was 320-99 in favor of the bill. Funding for certain agencies, currently scheduled to expire tomorrow, would be extended to next week. The measure would extend funding for other agencies through March 22. The Senate is expected to move quickly on the bill.
FMA joined other member organizations of the Federal-Postal Coalition on a letter to all Members of Congress this week, urging swift action to prevent a devastating government shutdown. We will continue to urge legislators to fully fund Fiscal Year 2024.
On January 30, 2024, Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-VA) and Sen. Brian Schatz (D-HI) reintroduced the FAIR Pay Act, legislation that would provide an average 7.4 percent pay raise for the federal workforce in 2025. Connolly and Schatz quoted FMA National President Craig Carter's support for the bill in their joint press release upon introduction. Additionally, Carter was quoted in Government Executive. FMA will advocate for this bill and push for the best possible boost to pay.
Yesterday, January 18, 2024, Congress approved another continuing resolution (CR) that averts a partial government shutdown and keeps federal agencies funded into March 2024. Funding for the departments of Veterans Affairs, Agriculture, Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Energy, has been extended through March 1. Funding for all other agencies has been extended through March 8. The Senate approved the measure by a vote of 77-18 and the House followed with a vote of 314-108.
On December 21, 2023, President Biden issued an Executive Order on Adjustments of Certain Rates of Pay, which implements an average 5.2 percent pay raise for 2024. The raise is comprised of a 4.7 percent across-the-board boost to basic pay and an average 0.5 percent boost to locality pay.
FMA staunchly opposes the return of Schedule F which would take away merit protections from tens of thousands of federal employees. We will continue to work with all members of congress to ensure these protections are not rescinded.
FEDweek -
A vote during House consideration of a general government spending bill revealed some opposition among members of the Republican majority there to a potential return during a future GOP administration of an excepted service Schedule F.
FMA strongly opposes any efforts to decimate the federal workforce and will continue to push for legislation to disallow Schedule F, or any similar measure, that would recklessly fire or demote federal workers simply for doing their jobs and upholding their oath to support and defend the Constitution of the United States.
Lisa Mascaro, The Associated Press, Federal Times -
With more than a year to go before the 2024 election, a constellation of conservative organizations is preparing for a possible second White House term for Donald Trump, recruiting thousands of Americans to come to Washington on a mission to dismantle the federal government and replace it with a vision closer to his own.
Erich Wagner, Government Executive -
The Pay Compression Relief Act would effectively allow General Schedule employees to receive annual increases to both basic and locality pay, even if they have already hit the federal pay cap.
Recruitment and Selection Through Competitive Examination, and Employment in the Excepted Service (Rule of Many)
Last week the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) proposed a new rule on the federal register regarding hiring for federal agencies. All comments are due on or before September 19, 2023, and FMA plans to provide comments in support of the proposed rule. We welcome hearing from you about any concerns you may have. Additionally, you are invited to comment directly to OPM if you are inclined to do so.
Fighting for a fair and reasonable pay raise for managers is always one of FMA's top priorities.
By Erich Wagner, Government Executive
Members of a key Senate panel last week signaled that they would support President Biden’s plan to grant federal employees and military service members a 5.2% average pay raise next year.The Senate Armed Services Committee on Friday advanced its draft of the fiscal 2024 National Defense Authorization Act. A committee-published summary of the defense policy bill said the legislation provides an average 5.2% pay raise for both members of the military and Defense Department civilian workers, in line with the proposal set forth in Biden’s fiscal 2024 budget request.
FMA was quoted in this June 6 article published in FedWeek.
The spending limits under the debt ceiling law now in effect will act as the type of budgetary outline that Congress’s internal rules call for it to produce each spring, but which has commonly been bypassed in recent years. That provides amounts to be parceled out among the 12 regular appropriations bills, which then is divided among agencies covered by each bill, and then among the accounts within those agencies.
One key account, called “salaries and expenses,” covers pay and benefits costs for agency employees as well as expenses such as employee training and travel and general office expenses. Some of those costs, such as rent, are fixed, meaning that needed savings would have to come from elsewhere.
FMA contributes a monthly column, "Hear it from FMA," published on FEDmanager.com on a variety of issues and topics. This month we featured FMA Manager of the Year Linda Lentjes.
Linda Lentjes, a member of FMA Chapter 396, Naval Station Mayport, in Jacksonville, Florida, was named FMA's Manager of the Year. She was recognized for this outstanding achievement at FMA’s 85th Annual National Convention and Management Training Seminar.FMA National President Craig Carter praised Lentjes, saying, “I can’t say enough about what Linda means to FMA and the Department of the Navy. She truly lives out FMA’s motto of “advocating excellence for public service. Her wisdom and thoughtful leadership are evident through her exceptional service on FMA’s Executive Board and her achievements at Naval Station Mayport help ensure the U.S. Navy remains the most dominant seafaring force the world has ever known.”Linda’s career with the Department of Defense has spanned more than 40 years, starting as a GS-2 temporary employee in the administrative field. She rose through the ranks and was selected for the position of Resource and Requirements Director/Comptroller with U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. Fourth Fleet, Naval Station Mayport, Jacksonville, Florida in 2005, where she continues to work today in this leadership position. She embodies the Association’s mission at her agency, in her community, and as a leader within FMA.
The windfall elimination provision and government pension offset are two of FMA's top priorities and we will continue to build support in Congress to do away with this unfair treatment of feds.
Adam Butler and Ross Gianfortune, Government Executive -
Rep. Abigail Spanberger joins the podcast to discuss her plan to put money in feds' and retirees' pockets.
How one telework newcomer is managing his employees remotely during the pandemic
FEDweek
The Federal Managers Association is proud to announce the winners of the Association's highest honors and awards. On March 30, we recognized Ken Westlake of FMA Chapter 375 (Environmental Protection Agency, Chicago, Illinois) as FMA's 2019 Manager of the Year. Now, we present the winners of the Gil Guidry Award, the President's Award, the Odell Green Award, FMA's Super Recruiter, and the top regional recruiters of new members. We hope that shining a light on these deserving public servants and sharing a little bit of their stories will help boost everyone's morale in these trying times. FMA is certainly impressed with their accomplishments and thankful for your service to our country and the Association.
Whether permanent or as part of a contingency plan, teleworking requires a combination of culture changes and technology.
The Federal Managers Association (FMA) is hosting its annual national convention and management training seminar in Alexandria, Virginia, March 29 through April 1. The centerpiece of the event is the “Day on the Hill,” when FMA members will meet with members of Congress and their staffs to discuss issues important to their installation, their agency, and to FMA.
Federal Manager's Daily Report
Hear It from FMA, FedManager.com
Federal Managers Groups Largely Support Trump OPM Pick
The Trump administration’s nomination of George Nesterczuk to serve as director of the Office of Personnel Management is already making waves among groups that represent federal workers.
While groups representing managers voiced varying levels of support for the announcement Wednesday, a union official was warier of the choice.
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