Current news impacting federal agencies and the federal employees who work at them.
Reps. Tim Scott (R-SC), Joe Wilson (R-SC), and Trey Gowdy (R-SC) have introduced the Job Protection Act which is intended to prevent the National Labor Relations Board from moving forward with its case against Boeing or attempting similar action against other companies.
According to the GAO, the Postal Service needs to address its aging vehicle fleet, but that doing so will be difficult because it is in a state of financial crisis, having lost $2.6 billion in the first 6 months of FY 2011.
The U.S. Postal Service ended the second quarter of this fiscal year with a $2.2 billion dollar loss. Current financial projections indicate that the Postal Service will have a cash shortfall and will have reached its statutory borrowing limit by the end of the fiscal year. Absent substantial legislative change, the Postal Service will be forced to default on payments to the federal government.
President Obama has instructed federal agencies to come up with ways to use technology to improve their customer service offerings within 6 months.
During fiscal year 2010, DOD achieved its initial goal of transitioning approximately 75 percent of NSPS employees to the General Schedule system despite having to overcome some challenges. DOD plans to transition the remaining NSPS employees by the January 1, 2012, mandated deadline.
Rep Rob Bishop (R-UT) introduced the National Security and Federal Lands Protection act. The legislation aims to close security gaps on federal lands along the nation’s borders.
Congresswoman Candice Miller (R-MI) has introduced legislation that would require the Department of Homeland Security to gain operational control of both the northern and southern borders within five years.
The use of Advanced Imaging Technology (AIT) machines by the TSA in airports around the country has been a controversial issue. Security and health concerns have been expressed about the use of the machines, while others think the machines make flying safer. Two Congressmen are sponsoring legislation to restrict use of the machines in airports.
The GAO has issued a report on the potential cost savings vs. risk factors for the USPS moving to a 5 day mail delivery schedule. According to GAO, the new schedule would likely result in substantial savings, however the extent of these savings depends on how effectively it is implemented.
Air travel security has become time consuming and cumbersome with the TSA regulations for screening passengers. However, the TSA has begun considering a “trusted traveler” program recommended by the US Travel Association that would pre-screen passengers via background checks that would enable them to bypass a lot of the extra security screenings.
