Business
Obama's Budget Would Cut Just 3,500 Pentagon Civilian Jobs
The leaked plan to cut 3,500 civilians from the Pentagon's headquarters staff is not seen as an enormous loss for a workforce totaling roughly 800,000.
Business
Lawmakers Seek Tighter Restrictions on VA Executives' Bonus Pay
A new bill caps the number of VA executives eligible for bonuses, and instructs leaders to switch jobs within the department at least once every five years.
Business
The Pentagon Has No Idea How Many Employees It Needs
Defense headquarters offices were asked to reduce their budgets 20 percent by 2019. So far, the Pentagon cannot say how it will meet that goal. By Eric Katz
Policy
Republican Lawmakers Try Again To Cut 115,000 Civilian Defense Jobs
Rep. Kevin Calvert, R-Calif., is leading the charge to rein in an 'out of control' bureaucracy and save $82.5 billion over five years. By Eric Katz
Ideas
What Fallows Missed About the Military-Civilian Gap
Why there is a gap between the military and America is as important as how it occurs. By Mark Seip
Business
VA Bonuses for Bad Employees Targeted Again
The House introduced legislation Monday that would give the VA authority to make employees pay back bonuses. By Kellie Lunney
Business
Who Will Be the Next 'Mayor of the Pentagon'?
Congress wants to upgrade the chief management officer position to the third most powerful position at the Defense Department. By John Kamensky
Ideas
Improve the VA by Keeping It Simple
Cultural change at the VA has to go beyond the necessary initial focus on ethics and values. It needs to penetrate the bureaucracy. By Alex Nicholson
Business
Ahead of Veteran’s Day, VA Announces Major Reforms
VA Secretary Bob McDonald just announced a major overhaul of the government's second-largest agency. Will it work? By Ben Watson
Business
Hagel Approval Rating Just 26 Percent Among National Security Workers, Troops
Defense Secretary Hagel’s logs a rock-bottom approval rating among his own workers as Obama reportedly considers cabinet shakeup. By Gordon Lubold
Business
VA Secretary Says He’s Moving Fast To Remove Bad Employees
VA Secretary Bob McDonald is defending his commitment to holding employees accountable and firing them when necessary. By Kellie Lunney
Business
Phoenix VA Whistleblowers Win an Undisclosed Settlement
As another 50 whistleblower disclosures await formal investigation, three VA employees who were demoted for speaking out win settlements to clear their name. By Charles S. Clark
Business
The Unintended Consequence of Hiring Veterans
An increase in veteran representation in federal jobs coincided with declines for women from 2000 to 2012, an upcoming review shows. By Kellie Lunney
Business
Cost of Living Adjustment Will Be Announced on Oct. 22
Next year’s cost of living adjustment for military retirees and veterans receiving benefits is expected to be somewhere between 1.6 percent and 1.8 percent. By Kellie Lunney
Business
Would Pay Scales Close the Cybersecurity Workforce Gap?
A better understanding of what cybersecurity professionals do, along with implementing a graduated pay scale, could be two big steps in the right direction. By Aliya Sternstein
Business
Is the Pentagon's Personnel Reform Turning a Corner at Long Last?
From one union's perspective, the Defense Department's negotiations with labor groups are progressing at a surprisingly positive pace. By Eric Katz
Business
Civilians in Iraq to Get Higher Premium Pay
U.S. civilians working on stabilization efforts in Iraq can now earn more for overtime, nights and weekend work through the end of the year. By Kellie Lunney
Business
Phased Retirement for Federal Workers Is Finally Here
The law allowing federal employees to partially retire while continuing to work part-time for the government is finally being implemented. By Kellie Lunney
Business
Pentagon's Civilian Workforce Could Face New Performance Evaluations
The Pentagon plans a do-over for its poorly-received civilian pay and performance evaluation system from 2006. Will this attempt be any better than the last? By Eric Katz
Business