Politicizing the Civil Service is a Disturbingly Bad Idea: FMA Responds to Executive Order
As most feds are now aware, President Trump recently signed an executive order to create a Schedule F in the Excepted Service, a new class of career “confidential, policy-determining, or policy-advocating” positions. Concerning to FMA, this move strips civil service protections from a huge, as yet-untold number of federal workers.
Regular Disorder
A phrase that gets thrown around a lot in Congress is “regular order.” Typically, this phrase is used in a context like “regrettably, it has been impossible to pass appropriations through regular order for many years.”
Advocating for Feds to Keep Their Earned Leave
Much of what we do here at the Federal Managers Association comes down to trying to get a square deal for feds. We recognize that federal managers do critical work on behalf of the country, and that without them and the work they do, the country would not function as well as it does. From disaster response to building transportation infrastructure to protecting our national security, feds do the hard work of keeping our country safe, prosperous, and strong.
A Fair Pay Raise for Feds in 2021
One of FMA’s primary objectives each year is to provide a fair pay raise for federal employees that reflects their selfless contributions to their fellow Americans.
Advocating for Managers in the Fiscal Year 2021 National Defense Authorization Act
One of the most critical bills the Federal Managers Association advocates on every year is the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). First passed in 1961 – and consistently passed every year since – the NDAA is indispensable legislation that authorizes funding levels for the Department of Defense (DOD) and sets policies.
Federal Frontline Workers’ Leave Flexibility is Vital to Government Operations
Last month we made a point to touch on some of the uplifting stories that have emerged as federal managers work to overcome the COVID-19 pandemic crisis. This month, we want to take a look at some of the efforts we are working on to protect managers and all federal employees.
Federal Managers Answer the Call of Public Service in that Hour of Our Nation’s Need
Last week, Government Executive reported more than 10,000 federal employees have contracted Covid-19. This news came as overall confirmed positive cases in the United States passed one million. FMA members are doing their part to help stop the spread, while finding and creating ways to accomplish their missions and provide the vital services on which the American people rely.
Recognizing Ken Westlake, FMA’s Manager of the Year
On Monday, March 30, the Federal Managers Association (FMA) formally announced Mr. Kenneth A. Westlake as the winner of FMA’s Manager of the Year award. This award is presented annually to an outstanding manager or supervisor in the federal government who is a member of FMA. Nominees are scored based on workplace accomplishments and contributions, local community accomplishments, and FMA involvement at the chapter, regional, or national level.
FMA and the Power of Advocacy
The Federal Managers Association (FMA) is hosting its annual national convention and management training seminar in Alexandria, Virginia, March 29 through April 1. The centerpiece of the event is the “Day on the Hill,” when FMA members will meet with members of Congress and their staffs to discuss issues important to their installation, their agency, and to FMA.
Infrastructure Investments and Modernization Needed at Federal Installations
On Wednesday, January 29, Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and other top legislators in the House unveiled a $760 billion infrastructure package. They appealed to President Trump, who campaigned on a $1 trillion infrastructure plan, to join them in moving this funding forward. As recently as May 2019, the President was expected to propose a $2 trillion infrastructure package, but he urged Congress to first pass the United States-Mexico-Canada (USMCA) trade deal. He signed that deal into place on January 29, the same day House Democrats offered their infrastructure proposal.
FMA Celebrates FY20 Funding and NDAA in the New Year
A year ago, the federal government was mired in a partial government shutdown, uncertainty, and frustration. And just a month ago, in early December 2019, the Federal Managers Association (FMA) expressed significant concerns about the costs of continuing resolutions on the federal workforce and the impact on day-to-day operations for managers. But a lot can happen in a month, and FMA is both proud and optimistic as we begin a new year.
A Billion Wasted Here, a Billion Wasted There
FMA was encouraged by the two-year bipartisan budget deal Congress and the Administration agreed to and passed in August 2019, preventing sequestration and raising the debt ceiling. The document even called for “orderly and timely consideration” of FY2020 spending bills, but mere weeks remain on the second CR of the fiscal year. Members of Congress frequently say they want to run the government like a business. But a business that constantly ran with budget uncertainty and delayed funding would never thrive or stay in business long. FMA implores Congress and the Administration to come together and fully fund FY 2020.
Bipartisan Support Grows For Repeal Of WEP
Last month, Americans went to the polls to cast their ballots in the midterm elections. As a non-partisan organization, the Federal Managers Association watched the election results closely, supporting both Democrats and Republicans with a track record of working to enhance the federal workforce.
Artificial Intelligence in the Federal Government: How AI Might Affect Federal Managers
On September 25, 2019, FMA attended the Kalaris Intelligence conference at Georgetown University. Sponsored by Georgetown’s Center for Security Studies, the theme revolved around Artificial Intelligence (AI) and national security. For federal managers and their employees, AI has the potential to become a useful tool for gathering data, sifting through that data, and accomplishing long term goals in an effective manner. FMA attended to learn more about this emerging technology, how it is currently being used, and how it can be used in the future.
Here We Go Again
After five weeks of recess, both chambers of Congress will return to Washington, D.C., on September 9th. Committee work will restart, speeches will be made on the floor, and representative work for the American people will begin again. For anyone, returning to work can be an arduous undertaking, but for this first session of the 116th Congress it is set to be particularly so. As of the writing of this article, the Senate has yet to pass any appropriations bills to fund the federal government for Fiscal Year 2020 (FY20) and Congress has a little over three legislative weeks to avoid the second government shutdown of 2019.
FMA Seeks to Restore Leadership and Resources at the Merit Systems Protection Board
The Senate has a lot of business to tend to when it returns from its State Work Period on September 9. Most notably, it will have barely three weeks before the end of the current fiscal year to pass appropriations to fund the federal government for Fiscal Year 2020 (FY20) and prevent another government shutdown. Among the other important priorities on the Senate’s plate is finally confirming nominees for the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB), the primary appeals board for federal employees.
FMA Working to Protect DOD’s Probationary Period
In the Fiscal Year 2016 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) (P.L. 114-92), Congress gave the Department of Defense (DOD) authority to institute a two-year probationary period. FMA supported the change. Now there’s an effort currently underway to revert to a one-year probationary period via the FY2020 NDAA, and FMA is helping lead the charge for DOD to maintain its current policy.
Better Government, Yes – Politicization of the Civil Service, No
As you have no doubt read at FEDManager.com, it has been a busy time at the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) in recent months. OPM has been led by Acting Director Margaret Weichert – who also serves as the Deputy Director for Management at the Office of Management and Budget – since October 2018. President Trump nominated Dale Cabaniss as director of OPM in March 2019, and the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee favorably reported out her nomination in May. The full Senate has not yet acted on her nomination. FMA and our colleagues within the Government Managers Coalition offered support for her confirmation, noting the agency has only had a Senate-confirmed director for eight months out of the last four years.