Erich Wagner, Government Executive -

Staffing at the call center that serves participants of the federal government’s 401(k)-style retirement savings program has already increased 66%, with more on the way.

John M. Donnelly, CQ Magazine

The House Armed Services Committee approved, 57-1, early on Thursday a fiscal 2023 National Defense Authorization Act that would allow President Joe Biden to spend more than he asked for on national security.

Erich Wagner, Government Executive -

Reforms will ease the process of everything from attracting new talent to processing retirement claims, says OPM Director Kiran Ahuja.

Federal Manager's Daily Report, FEDweek -

Federal employees overall have more trust in career leaders than in politically appointed ones, and more trust in those they work closely with, says a report from the Partnership for Public Service.

By Erich Wagner, Government Executive

A House panel on Wednesday unveiled its fiscal 2023 appropriations bill for financial services and general government, providing insight as to where lawmakers are headed on a potential 2023 pay raise for federal employees.

The House Appropriations Committee’s subcommittee on financial services and general government has scheduled a markup for the bill Thursday, when members will have the opportunity to propose amendments to the package before it heads to the House floor. The bill includes a $9 million increase to the White House Office of Administration over fiscal 2022, in part to pay for newly paid internships in the Executive Office of the President, a $1 billion increase to the Internal Revenue Service, as well as $75 million increase to the budget of the Office of Personnel Management.

The bill also serves as the vehicle by which Congress may overrule the president’s pay raise plan for federal workers. But at least in the initial version of the bill, it makes no mention of changes to federal employee compensation, effectively endorsing President Biden’s pay plan.

Chris Kowalik, My Federal Retirement -

Most federal employees know that CSRS employees aren’t normally eligible for Social Security. Unlike FERS employees, CSRS employees don’t contribute to the Social Security program, so it’s not shocking to learn that they’re not eligible to get a Social Security benefit once they retire. However, sometimes CSRS employees can be eligible for certain benefits from the Social Security program. So, what can CSRS employees expect from Social Security?

Erich Wagner, Government Executive -

Biden's pick to chair the federal government’s 401(k)-style retirement savings program’s board must go through a more arduous process.

Erich Wagner, Government Executive -

Federal employees and retirees have reported problems with setting up new accounts for online access to the federal government’s 401(k)-style retirement savings program, and the agency’s call center has been deluged.

By Erich Wagner,  Government Executive

A group of Republican senators on Thursday announced that they had lifted their hold that had made it more difficult for President Biden’s nominees to the agency that administers the federal government’s 401(k)-style retirement savings program to advance. The announcement came after the nominees committed to being “highly skeptical” of changes that would introduce Chinese investments to the Thrift Savings Plan.

In April, Sens. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., Tom Cotton, R-Ark., and Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., all placed holds on four nominees to the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board who have advanced out of committee: Leona Bridges, Stacie Olivares, Dana Bilyeu and Michael Gerber.

By Drew Friedman, Federal News Network

Many agencies benefit from recruiting more early-career workers to both address the challenge of a growing retirement-eligible population, as well as find new ways to solve problems.

With a different perspective, early-career workers become even more important to the future of the federal workforce, said Pam Coleman, the Office of Management and Budget’s associate director for performance and personnel management.

Staff Cuts and Budget Increases Are Both on Tap for 2019

By Eric Katz, Government Executive

The Trump administration has provided federal agencies with the latitude to request up to a 5 percent funding boost in fiscal 2019, saying the White House may accommodate a “limited number” of programmatic increases in its final blueprint.

Generally, Office of Management and Budget Director Mick Mulvaney said in a memorandum to department and agency heads, agencies should keep their 2019 spending requests in line with what the White House spelled out in the fiscal 2018 budget submission. They should also, however, “identify additional investments in effective programs that further support their mission and fill a clear federal role.”