New bill would protect feds who legally smoke pot

A bipartisan house bill introduced July 26 would prevent federal agencies from firing employees for using marijuana when they reside in a state where doing so is legal.

The Fairness in Federal Drug Testing Under State Laws Act, introduced by Reps. Charlie Crist, D-Fla., and Drew Ferguson, R-Ga., would ensure that federal employees who live in states where recreational or medical marijuana use is legal cannot face adverse action if tested positive for past marijuana use.

Nine states and the District of Colombia have legalized marijuana for recreational use by July 2018, and 22 additional states have legalized the drug for medical use.

In states that only have approved medical marijuana use, federal employees would need to provide documentation attesting that their use of the drug is lawful.

The law would not apply to employees who are actively under the influence of marijuana in the workplace or those that are applying for or occupying a position with top secret clearance or access to highly sensitive programs.

Past legislation that has sought to address the gap between federal and state marijuana laws has proven largely unsuccessful, with many dying in committee.

Currently, agency policy relies on the federal classification of marijuana rather than state determinations.

Guidance issued by the Office of Personnel Management in May 2015, shortly after the District of Colombia legalized marijuana use, reminded agencies that “federal law on marijuana remains unchanged” and that persons who use illegal drugs are “not suitable for federal employment.”

In Other News

Why do federal pay raises lag the private sector?

The federal budget proposal unveiled by the White House in March included an average pay increase of 4.6% for civilian federal workers, matching a planned military pay raise. Historically, with pay lagging in the federal sector, other factors including steady opportunities, competitive benefits and hybrid work to retain talent.

5 things every first-time bidder for federal contracts should know

People who have served in the military or worked for the federal government may have a slightly easier time navigating the language used in federal contracting. But it varies even across departments, so everyone needs to build in time for learning.

Pentagon reminds everyone not to wipe their phones

The Defense Department is responding to revelations that senior officials' phone records were deleted following the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol.

Alleged bad-faith bargaining by EEOC over return-to-work policy to get review

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, all 24 federal agencies reported at least a quarter of employees teleworking by April 2020. Now some departments are reverting to in-person work, though the Office of Personnel Management within the White House has called for maximizing telework.

Now that PACT Act has passed, how soon will veterans see their benefits?

Some portions of the sweeping veterans policy measure will go into effect as soon as it becomes law. Others will take years.

Federal government has so far escaped attrition crisis, but retirement wave looms

In the years ahead, one third of the federal workforce is expected to be retirement eligible.

Pentagon’s secret communications network to get upgrade from Booz Allen

“DISA has made clear that we will not forget that the ‘fight’ is fought on SIPRNet,” said Christopher Barnhurst, the agency’s deputy director.

How can governments prepare for bioweapon attacks?

The tools needed to test, trace and treat both natural and intentional viral outbreaks are similar. But as future bio-attacks may be coordinated with financial, cyber or kinetic actions, the need for the military to sustain robust and dedicated capabilities to counter biothreats is paramount.

Lessons learned from the pandemic in modernizing public health systems

Agency leaders from Ventura County, California, and Winnebago, Illinois, spoke about how they transformed their technology infrastructure and processes to handle COVID-19 and how they plan to replicate and scale these changes to impact service delivery beyond pandemic-related needs.

VA’s $16 billion health records overhaul may be scrapped if fixes aren’t made

Reports of patient harm and cost overruns have threatened to derail the 10-year effort.

Load More