federal | Voter.org

Senate committee calls on VA, DOJ to improve accessibility to federal technology

August 10, 2022 Senate, calls, federal, Committee, technology, improve, accessibility0 comment

Senate lawmakers are pushing the departments of Justice and Veterans Affairs, along with all agencies, to improve the accessibility of their online services. The Senate Special Committee on Aging looked into the accessibility of federal technology, specifically for seniors and individuals with disabilities, as well as older and disabled veterans. Sen. Bob Casey (D-Pa.), the committee’s chairman, said accessing digital services became a more prevalent concern during the COVID-19 pandemic, after accelerating a long-term shift in delivering government services through virtual, rather than physical, platforms. The acceleration of digital services…

New bill would abolish MSPB, create ‘at-will’ federal employees

July 29, 2022 MSPB, ‘atwill’, would, Create, federal, Bill, employees, abolish0 comment

Republican lawmakers are once again making a push that would allow the government to fire bureaucrats more easily. For the third time since 2016, members of the House introduced a bill to make all federal employees “at-will” workers. That means agencies would be able to more quickly remove employees for underperforming or behaving in a manner that goes against federal rules. “My bill would make all federal bureaucrats at-will employees — just like private sector workers — and claw back the inordinate protections some federal employees grossly abuse while helping…

What the House appropriations bill means for a federal pay raise

June 27, 2022 federal, Bill, Means, Appropriations, raise, House0 comment

House appropriators have aligned with President Joe Biden’s proposed 4.6% federal pay raise. The fiscal 2023 financial services and general government bill, which the House Appropriations Committee advanced on June 24 in a vote of 31 to 22, makes no mention of the pay raise proposal for federal employees. Similar to their silence last year, House appropriators’ lack of comment on the federal pay raise essentially endorses the White House’s 4.6% proposal from March’s budget request. In 2022, federal employees received a pay raise of 2.7% on average. Military service…

Federal workers injured on the job may soon have more treatment options

June 11, 2022 more, Options, federal, workers, soon, treatment, injured0 comment

<p><em>To listen to the Federal Newscast on your phone or mobile device, subscribe in <a href=”https://www.podcastone.com/federal-newstalk?showAllEpisodes=true”>PodcastOne</a> or <a href=”https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/federal-newscast/id1053077930?mt=2″>Apple Podcasts</a>. The best listening experience on desktop can be found using Chrome, Firefox or Safari.</em></p> <ul> <li>Federal workers who get injured on the job may soon have better access to workers’ compensation. The House <a href=”https://clerk.house.gov/Votes/2022233″ target=”_blank” rel=”noopener”>passes legislation</a> that would expand federal employees’ choice of medical providers. The act would cover the cost of medical care for injured federal workers who seek treatment from physician assistants and nurse practitioners. The current law limits…

Biden blasted from all sides for opening more federal land to oil, natural gas drilling

April 16, 2022 Biden, Sides, more, from, drilling, federal, opening, Natural, land, blasted0 comment

The Biden administration is under fire for opening the door to selling new leases on public lands for oil and natural gas drilling but at a higher cost to producers, resulting in opposition from climate groups and the energy industry alike. The Department of the Interior (DOI) announced Friday it … The Washington Times stories: White House

An old hand at federal budgeting analyzes what the 2023 proposal really says

April 12, 2022 says, federal, Proposal, really, hand, 2023, budgeting, analyzes0 comment

Best listening experience is on Chrome, Firefox or Safari. Subscribe to Federal Drive’s daily audio interviews on Apple Podcasts or PodcastOne Nearly every agency would see more money in 2023 under the Biden administration’s top line request, but it also shows the increasing pressure of the so-called discretionary spending, as mandatory spending expands. As part of our ongoing analysis of the skinny budget, Federal Drive with Tom Temin turns to former federal budget official, now the managing director of Grant Thornton public sector, Doug Criscitello. Interview transcript: Tom Temin: Doug, good to have…