Federal Daily Top News Stories


VA health system enrollees to get personalized benefits handbooks

The Department of Veterans Affairs healthcare system will provide personalized benefits handbooks to all its millions of enrollees.

Joint Chiefs chairman notes retiree concerns over proposed Tricare fee hikes

The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff issued a brief statement Feb. 21 that offered a ray of hope to retired military service members who could be affected by proposed hikes in the cost of their Tricare coverage.

Updated USPS five-year plan slashes postal workforce

The U.S. Postal Service last week released an updated five-year plan, which USPS said can produce savings of at least $20 billion a year by 2015. The plan calls for trimming 155,000 full-time positions over the period.

Congress passes bill to increase pension contributions of new feds

Congress on Feb. 17 passed a bill to extend the payroll tax cut that includes a measure requiring new federal employees to pay more into their pensions.

Obama formalizes request for reorganization authority

President Obama on Feb. 16 sent Congress a legislative proposal asking lawmakers to grant him streamlined authority to reorganize and consolidate federal agencies.

House to vote on pension bill

The House is expected to vote Feb. 16 on a bill that proposes to boost federal employees’ contributions to their retirement and institute a high-5 annuity calculation for new employees.

Fed unions react harshly to reports of payroll tax extension deal

Press reports that congressional negotiators had included a measure to require new federal employees to pay more toward retirement as part of a bipartisan bill to extend the payroll tax cut and continue funding for unemployment benefits drew the rapid condemnation of federal employee groups.

Women feds more satisfied in their jobs

A new analysis finds that women in 2011 were more positive about their federal jobs and workplaces than men.

Lawmaker calls for removal of pension provisions from transportation bill

A Democratic congressman on Feb. 14 submitted an amendment to remove from a transportation bill measures that require federal employees to pay more into their pensions.

Payroll tax bill could include federal pension provisions

A tentative agreement on a bill in Congress to extend the soon-to-expire payroll tax holiday may include provisions to require federal employees to pay more for their retirement.

Roth TSP details available online

The Thrift Savings Plan website has posted a number of materials to help investors decide whether or not to participate in the new TSP Roth option.

Letter carriers balk at budget proposal to cut back service

A union that represents mail carriers said a proposal in the president’s fiscal 2013 budget that would allow the U.S. Postal Service to cut back delivery to five days would endanger the organization’s viability.

Proposal would hike some Tricare fees, pharmacy co-pays

The Defense Department’s fiscal 2013 budget proposal includes a range of cost-saving measures aimed at trimming DOD’s growing healthcare expenses.

Fed retirement applications surged in 2011

Numbers from the Office of Personnel Management indicate that more federal employees are filing applications for retirement.