Minority participation in TSP lags

Minority participation in the Thrift Savings Plan lags behind that of white employees, the Office of Personnel Management said in a report released May 26.

The report, which was prepared for the Senate Special Committee on Aging, found that 87.8 percent of nonminorities are enrolled in the TSP, but only 82.5 percent of minority employees are enrolled in the program. Also, minorities have been part of TSP for a shorter time on average — 8.8 years versus 10.1 years for white employees.

There is no significant difference in the average length of service between white and minority employees, and OPM said that suggests minorities take longer after joining the government to enroll in the TSP.

Minorities also contribute an average of $5,564 to TSP each year, which is about 25 percent less than white employees.

Berry said OPM will create a plan over the next few months to educate minority employees about the importance of saving through TSP, and overhaul its overall financial education efforts.

The report also found women are slightly more likely to participate in TSP than men, but contribute less money. Women are also slightly more likely than men to invest solely in the G Fund, which is guaranteed to never decline in value but yields small rewards.

Air Force fills 3,000 new civilian jobs

The Air Force has filled 3,000 new civilian positions this year through insourcing and other initiatives, the service announced May 25.

The jobs include information technology specialists, aircraft simulator instructors, housing management assistants, biological scientists and other positions covering a "broad spectrum of skill sets," said Michelle LoweSolis, civilian force integration director at the Air Force Personnel Center (AFPC).

The new jobs are just the beginning of a larger push, announced in late 2009, to add 20,000 civilian positions by the end of next year. AFPC said it still intends to advertise 17,000 more opportunities by the end of 2011.

The Air Force said 2,000 of the 3,000 new positions were created by converting contractor jobs to federal positions. Of the 20,000 total new jobs planned, 12,000 are to be insourced.

Rising aggression against park, forest workers

Attacks and threats against Forest Service employees and National Park Service rangers reached an all-time high in 2009, a public employees group reported May 27.

Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility studied agency incident reports and found 158 attacks or threats on Park Service rangers, more than four times the 36 incidents in 2008 and nearly 50 percent higher than the previous record year, 2004.

The Forest Service also saw its highest-ever number of violent incidents with 427, a 33 percent increase from 2008 and the fourth-straight annual increase.

Incidents ranged from murders to sexual assaults to break-ins at government buildings, according to PEER.

The Justice Department stopped tracking assaults on federal employees in 2002, but there is evidence to suggest that overall threats are on the rise. Weapons violations on federal properties increased 10 percent from 2008 to 2009, and threats against IRS facilities are projected to rise 33 percent from 2008 to 2010.

Senator criticizes high cost of exec training

Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, said he is alarmed by the high costs of training programs for senior government executives and is seeking details on their cost-effectiveness.

In a May 26 letter to Office of Personnel Management Director John Berry, the senator said some training courses for Senior Executive Service members cost thousands of dollars per week. Grassley said OPM's Federal Executive Institute charges agencies $18,375 for each employee who attends a monthlong Leadership for a Democratic Society program. Those costs far outweigh the monthly costs of even Harvard University.

"The importance of ensuring that the SES corps is well-trained is not at issue," Grassley said. "My questions relate to the cost of that training and whether or not more effective, efficient and economical ways exist to train SES candidates."

Grassley also asked if OPM is thinking about converting portions of SES training to online training.

Army secretary orders acquisition review

The Army will conduct a "detailed, comprehensive review" of its acquisition practices, the service announced May 26.

Army Secretary John McHugh commissioned the study, which will be run by an independent panel co-chaired by former Army acquisition executive Gil Decker and retired Gen. Lou Wagner, who once led Army Materiel Command.

The analysis is intended to "identify areas for growth, improved efficiencies, and cost savings," according to an Army press release.

The study is expected to take four months.

Lawmakers question job change for NASA manager

NASA's decision to transfer the head of its return-to-the-moon program sparked concerns from lawmakers last week that the agency plans to kill the program whether Congress goes along or not.

Lawmakers learned of the decision during a hearing on President Obama's plans for the space agency.

Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, D-Ariz., chairwoman of the House Science subcommittee on space, said the removal of Constellation program manager Jeff Hanley "makes me dubious" that administration officials acknowledge the need for Congress to approve any move to eliminate the program.

"I'm wondering what assurances you can give us ... that this program will move forward," Giffords asked NASA Administrator Charles Bolden.

Bolden assured lawmakers that Hanley will be replaced by "somebody who is incredibly competent."

He said Hanley is being promoted to deputy director for strategic partnerships at Johnson Space Center.

"He is an incredibly talented individual," Bolden said.

Instead of returning to the moon, Obama wants to invest in robotics and new propulsion methods.

His goal is for astronauts to visit an asteroid by 2025 and to orbit Mars in the 2030s.

19 agencies win fiscal accountability awards

Nineteen agencies were cited last week for excellence in fiscal accountability and transparency.

The Association of Government Accountants recognized the agencies with Certificate of Excellence in Accountability Reporting awards, signifying that they achieved high levels of clarity in their performance and accountability reports and annual financial reports.

The awards are significant this year, given the public's poor perceptions about the government's fiscal accountability and transparency, AGA executive director Relmond Van Daniker said.

The Social Security Administration is the top winner of the annual award, receiving it for the 12th time.

All winners are listed at www.agacgfm.org/performance/cear.

Top energy official praises fuel-saving measures

Air Force aircrews are learning to fly more efficiently so they can cut aviation fuel use by 10 percent in the next five years, according to the service's senior energy official.

Undersecretary of the Air Force Erin Conaton said the 10 percent reduction is achievable and will not hurt aircrew training or operations.

"It's important to have a goal to reach," Conaton said. "I realize it is ambitious."

For 2010, the Air Force is expecting to spend about $6.7 billion on aviation fuel and $1.4 billion to power installations.