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Federal workers: How are you dealing with the sequester?

Federal workers: How are you dealing with the sequester?

By Josh Hicks and Marcia Davis, Published: July 9, 2013 at 6:00 am

eye-opener-logo6The federal government is more than halfway through its fiscal 2013 sequester, and the first round of automatic cuts, scheduled to last seven months, have reached a high-point.

Agencies have reduced rental assistance for thousands of rural, low-income residents, emergency unemployment benefits have been trimmed, and hundreds of thousands of federal workers are being furloughed — although some of the projected impacts haven’t materialized. Continue reading “Federal workers: How are you dealing with the sequester?”

OPM offering 300 buyouts

OPM offering 300 buyouts

By Josh Hicks, Published: June 7, 2013 at 8:58 amE-mail the writer

The Office of Personnel Management plans to offer 300 buyouts to employees across 14 of its divisions, according to an agency official.

People walk past the EPA building on May 24, the first day of furloughs for the agency. (Mark Wilson/Getty).

People walk past the EPA building on May 24, the first day of furloughs for the agency. (Mark Wilson/Getty).

(Wikimedia Commons)

(Wikimedia Commons)

OPM will limit the number of buyouts for individual divisions to “avoid an unmanageable number of departures and diminished work capacity,” according to the OPM official, who spoke anonymously to discuss details of a plan the agency has not yet publicly announced.

The agency’s 2014 budget plan calls for a $2.2-million reduction in salaries and expenses. For 2013, the agency is set to spend about $91 million on such costs, roughly on par with the previous year. Continue reading “OPM offering 300 buyouts”

Unkindest cuts: How is the sequester hurting YOU?

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Unkindest cuts: How is the sequester hurting YOU?

4:11 PM on 05/06/2013

Members of the American Federation of Government Employees(AFGE) gather during a rally on outside the Department of Labor on March 20, 2013 in Washington, DC. The demonstrators gathered to protest the effects of the government sequester. (AFP PHOTO/Brendan SMIALOWS)Members of the American Federation of Government Employees(AFGE) gather during a rally on outside the Department of Labor on March 20, 2013 in Washington, DC. The demonstrators gathered to protest the effects of the government sequester. (AFP PHOTO/Brendan SMIALOWS)

Congress speedily agreed to forgo furloughs for air traffic controllers last week after thousands of flights were delayed due to budget cuts following the sequester. But now lawmakers are coming under scrutiny for leaving the less visible, poorer constituents and organizations that represent them behind. Continue reading “Unkindest cuts: How is the sequester hurting YOU?”

Navy releases guidance on potential furloughs for civilian employees

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Federal Eye

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Navy releases guidance on potential furloughs for civilian employees

Posted by Josh Hicks on February 20, 2013 at 6:00 am

The Department of the Navy on Tuesday released talking points to help its senior leaders explain the furloughs that will impact civilian employees if Congress remains deadlocked over budget matters.

To review, the government faces automatic spending cuts known as sequestration if lawmakers fail to reach a deficit-reduction deal by March 1. After that, Congress has to come up with a new budget before the existing temporary spending plan expires on March 27 in order to avoid a shutdown.

The Navy’s memo provides insight into what other military departments are likely to say about these matters in coming days. Continue reading “Navy releases guidance on potential furloughs for civilian employees”

Reducing Service Contract Spending Can Yield Majority of Savings Required from Sequestration, Contracting Expert says

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
February 11, 2013

Contact:Tim Kauffman
202-639-6405/202-374-6491
kaufft@afge.org

Reducing Service Contract Spending Can Yield Majority of Savings Required from Sequestration, Contracting Expert says

Agencies can achieve 70-90% of sequestration savings without harmful personnel cuts

WASHINGTON Agencies can generate between 70 percent and 90 percent of the savings required under sequestration by reducing their substantial spending on service contracts, while avoiding harmful cuts in civilian employees and public services, a contracting expert has concluded in a new legal memorandum released by the American Federation of Government Employees.

The detailed guidance from Charles Tiefer, Professor of Law at the University of Baltimore Law School and a leading expert in government contract law, shows agencies precisely how to reduce spending on service contracts under existing authority and in compliance with procurement law. Continue reading “Reducing Service Contract Spending Can Yield Majority of Savings Required from Sequestration, Contracting Expert says”