Category: Congress

WEP & GPO repeal, Schedule F among issues facing Congress

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Debate over Social Security benefit blackouts for certain federal, state and local government employees, it never ends. A recent hearing once again considered what to do about Windfall Elimination Provision and the Government Offset Pension. One observer who listened closely, the staff vice president at the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association, John Hatton. He gives the Federal Drive with Tom Temin an update. Interview Transcript:  Tom Temin   And John the beat goes on with respect to the Windfall Elimination Provision and the Government Pension Offset for Social Security…

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The federal workforce is growing, as House appropriators consider agency spending cuts

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With a net gain of more than 80,000 civilian employees during fiscal 2023, the federal workforce posted yet another year of growth. Between 2019 and 2023, more than 140,000 employees joined the civil service, an increase of about 7%, according to data that the non-partisan, non-profit Partnership for Public Service compiled and released this week. The majority of the growth in the past couple of years occurred in 2023 alone — the federal workforce grew by 4% in just that one year, the Partnership said. The latest increase brings the…

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Why you need a strategy when it’s time to claim Social Security benefits

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Social Security taxes start automatically the day you start working. But when the time comes you have got to file an application to get your benefits. When to file? Well, it’s not that simple. You need a “strategy.” To look at some of those important considerations,  the Federal Drive with Tom Temin  talked with federal retirement expert Tammy Flanagan. Interview Transcript:  Tammy Flanagan Tom. I’m glad to be back. And this is a very important topic. A lot of people ask about claiming, and a lot of people have opinions.…

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Flurry of House activity on 2025 federal spending, but not much bipartisanship

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In the House, it’s one down and 11 to go for the appropriations bills that make up the federal budget for 2025. And lawmakers are set to make a lot of progress over the next several weeks, with an aggressive schedule of votes coming up. Loren Duggan is Deputy News Director at Bloomberg Government spoke with Federal News Network’s Jared Serbu on the Federal Drive with Tom Temin. Interview Transcript:  Loren Duggan This is the latest week that’s very spending focused in the House. As you mentioned, three of the…

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Proposed 2% federal pay raise gets support in 2025 defense authorization bill

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With both Senate and House lawmakers advancing legislation that aligns with President Joe Biden’s 2% federal pay raise request, civilian federal employees appear to be a step closer to a smaller pay bump for 2025. The Senate Armed Services Committee’s version of the fiscal 2025 National Defense Authorization Act last week showed support for a 2% raise for DoD civilian workers and a 4.5% raise for military members. In a vote of 22-3 on June 13, committee lawmakers advanced the 2025 NDAA to the full Senate for consideration. The House…

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Rep. Hoyer warns of ‘freezes, furloughs, layoffs’

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The spending bill to support the funding for the rest of the government is facing a 25% cut. House appropriators passed the Financial Services and General Government 2025 spending bill yesterday and it is 20% below the administration’s request and 10% below this year’s enacted levels. But Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) said the reductions, especially those to the IRS of some $ 2 billion, will have a much bigger effect than any one agency’s budget. “This bill funds every other bill you are going to consider or it funds paying…

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