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When will I get my welcome to retirement letter from OPM?
The federal employee retirement backlog shot back up in January, snapping a four-month streak of steadily shrinking caseloads.
By Reg Jones
Security clearance reforms: our nation depends on it
Recent actions have dramatically reduced the backlog for investigations needed to grant security clearances. However, increases in the number of completed investigations created a whole new backlog in the next step of the process.
By David J. Berteau, Professional Services Council
Security clearance agency gets a new name, same priorities
The Pentagon and Office of Personnel Management are moving forward with plans to transfer background investigation services to Department of Defense control, but priorities for those services will remain the same.
By Jessie Bur
Do you have to obey now, grieve later?
It seems timely to advise the federal workforce on when it can refuse to obey an order of a superior.
By Debra Roth
Bill proposes a stopgap for fed appeals board vacancies
The legislation would temporarily delegate an authority usually reserved for Merit Systems Protection Board members to general counsel.
By Jessie Bur
Trump nominates final employee appeals board member
The Senate once again must approve three nominees to fill vacancies on the Merit Systems Protection Board.
By Jessie Bur
Trump transfers background investigation power to Pentagon
The Department of Defense will now formally take over background investigations for the entire federal government..
By Jessie Bur
Consider bypassing Board-level review
Without a quorum, the Merit Systems Protection Board cannot rule on appealed cases from its administrative judges.
By Debra Roth
Who will handle federal employee appeals now?
The end of Mark Robbins' term as a member of the Merit Systems Protection Board marks an unprecedented lack of leadership at the agency.
By Jessie Bur
How the security clearance backlog hurts cybersecurity
Tempers flared during a Feb. 14 Senate hearing about cybersecurity in the energy sector.
By Justin Lynch
The government is whittling down its security clearance backlog
The National Background Investigation Bureau's backlog is down over 20 percent from its April 2018 peak amid efforts to streamline and transfer the background investigation process to the Department of Defense.
By Jessie Bur