Current news impacting federal agencies and the federal employees who work at them.
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.
In a 1997 Clinton Administration report performed by the DOI, approximately 3.3 million acres of land were deemed suitable for sale to private entities. This proposed bill would enable the sale of this land.
The Author looks at one of the unions involved in organizing TSA. In a letter to airport screeners, a union president promises to continue pressure for a collective bargaining agreement and that if NTEU is elected, all Federal security Agencies present at an airport will be represented by the same union. The Author asks if that is a good idea. You decide.
