FederalDaily - November 13, 2006
Veterans Continue Streaming into Fed Workforce
Veterans are continuing their march from military service into being active members of the federal
civilian workforce, said a new report from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM). Vets hold about
25 percent of all federal jobs, said the report, released Nov. 9. The report said total veterans’ employment
has increased to 456,254—out of a 1.8 million-employee civilian workforce—in FY 2005. Furthermore,
total employment of disabled veterans increased to 92,642 in FY 2005, up from 87,390 in FY 2004. Total
new hires of all vets increased to 48,257 in FY 2005, up from 43,262 in FY 2004, the report said. “The
men and women who have given years of their professional and personal lives to serving America in the
military have earned our respect and the chance to contribute their knowledge and expertise as part
of the civilian work force,” OPM Chief Linda Springer said. To see more, go to: www.opm.gov/news/opm-report-shows-veterans-continue-
entering-federal-employment-ranks-overall-gains-made-by
-veterans-and-disabled-veterans,1110.aspx
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Critical Whistleblower Report Taken Down
A report sharply critical of the Office of Special Counsel (OSC)—the agency tasked with protecting
federal whistleblowers—was taken down one day after it was posted on the OSC Web site, an employee
group said. The Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER) on Nov. 9 noted the report
was taken off the OSC Web site just after it had been posted there on Election Day. The report, obtained
by PEER, paints a dismal picture of declining performance at OSC. For example, it said settlements
for whistleblowers declined 25 percent from the previous year, and that in no case did OSC seek relief
for a whistleblower where the agency had not already voluntarily agreed to the action. Also, of the
nearly 500 disclosures by federal employees of wrongdoing, OSC deemed only 4 percent (19 cases) worthy
of investigation. OSC officials could not be reached for comment on Nov. 10. For more, go to: www.peer.org/news/news_id.php?row_id=781
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NTSB Updates Probe into Fatal Comair Crash
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) plans to release more details of its investigation
into the fatal Comair airline crash—including the cockpit voice recorder transcript and flight
data recorder information. NTSB issued a Nov. 9 update on the August crash of Comair Flight 5191, which
left 49 people dead. Preliminary reports said that the pilots took off from the wrong runway—too
short for the regional jet—and crashed in a field about a mile away. NTSB said the investigative
board will not hold a public hearing into the investigation, but will open a public docket in January.
The Federal Aviation Administration has acknowledged it violated its own policies by having only one
controller assigned to the airport the morning of the crash. Comair claims the lone traffic controller
on duty turned away from the runway before Comair Flight 5191 took off. To see the NTSB announcement,
go to: www.ntsb.gov/Pressrel/2006/061109.htm
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