“Official Time” in Agencies: What Does It Cost, and Why Is It a Political Football?
Hundreds of millions fund government union activity, and politics underlies official time and its use. 2026 is no exception.
Author: Ralph R. Smith
2026 TSP Performance Starts Strong: All TSP Funds Show Positive Return in January
After the first month of 2026, one TSP fund continues to lead. Here’s a 10-year perspective to offer a broader view of TSP performance.
After Spectacular 2025 TSP Performance, TSP Investors Increase I Fund Allocations
After high 2025 TSP performance, how are TSP investors reacting? Some early reactors have made investment moves reflecting the 2025 returns.
TSP Millionaires Hit New Record—Nearly 195,000 and Counting
The number of TSP millionaires hit a new record in December 2025, proof that disciplined investing over time pays off.
Can OPM Make Federal Service ‘Cool’ Again? Lessons from JFK for Today’s Workforce
President Kennedy made federal service aspirational in the 1960s. OPM Director Scott Kupor is trying to do the same today—modernizing government to attract the next generation.
TSP Performance Soars in 2025 With One Up 32%: Highest Return Ever by a TSP Fund?
TSP performance for all funds was up in 2025 with one fund topping 32%. What was the highest TSP Fund return ever achieved?
OPM Issues Proposal to Narrow Federal Probationary Employee Appeal Rights
OPM proposes limiting probationary employee appeals, shifting cases from the MSPB to OPM and allowing challenges only for political or marital status discrimination or procedural errors.
Federal Pay Reality Check: What About 2027 Pay Raise for Federal Employees?
The Pay Agent’s report exposes the widening gap between federal pay law and federal pay reality—and why meaningful reform keeps getting postponed.
Market Jitters Hit TSP Returns in December—What Matters for the Full Year
November data show TSP participants moving modest amounts from stock funds, signaling caution despite strong TSP returns for stock funds in 2025.
The Federal Pay System Is Designed to Lag—and the Data Prove It
A decade of data shows federal pay raises usually trail the Employment Cost Index and inflation, revealing how the pay system is structured to lag the broader labor market.
