Tag:
fiscal 2013
Latest Headlines
Latest Headlines
Congress passes law to roll back air traffic controller furloughs
Both chambers passed bills nearly simultaneously, with the Senate unanimously approving its measure, S. 853 , the night of April 25 and the House voting 361-41 the early afternoon of April 26 for an exactly-worded bill (H.R. 1765).
No 2-week training for FEMA reservists yet
The Federal Emergency Management Agency has yet to implement training for its reservist workforce that doesn't occur at the time of deployment, the Government Accountability Office says. Lack of advance training has been a long-standing complaint among reservists, but "the new program is not yet fully implemented, pending funding availability," the report says. Sequestration cut the fund by approximately $1 billion.
Passenger safety not at risk, but flight delays were inevitable, FAA administrator says
The Federal Aviation Administration could not avoid sequestration-induced furloughs and the resulting flight delays from having fewer air traffic controllers, but passenger safety is not at risk, FAA Administrator Michael Huerta said during a House Appropriations subcommittee on transportation hearing April 24.
Furloughs start for federal employees
Federal Aviation Administration furloughs caused delays in flights nationwide Sunday, the FAA said. Furloughs started this week for about 47,000 agency employees, including nearly 15,000 air traffic controllers. "The FAA is implementing traffic management initiatives at airports and facilities around the country. Travelers can expect to see a wide range of delays that will change throughout the day depending on staffing and weather-related issues," FAA said in a statement .
At TSA, no furloughs and no longer lines so far
Despite sequestration, the Transportation Security Administration does not intend to furlough any employees, TSA Deputy Administrator John Halinski said April 18. So far, sequestration has also not resulted in longer lines at airport checkpoints, he said at a House Oversight and Government Reform subcommittee hearing.
DoD still evaulating whether to furlough employees, Hale says
Defense Department officials are still deciding whether to furlough more than 700,000 civilian employees, DoD Comptroller Robert Hale said April 18 during a budget briefing . Meanwhile,the Air Force plans to layoff 1,000 civilians, according to an Air Force statement that says the reductions in force "are not related to the current sequestration actions."
Border Patrol sheds belief in persistent surveillance
The Border Patrol no longer believe that persistent surveillance across the entirety of the southwestern border is necessary to border control, a change from the prevalent thinking of a few years ago, Border Patrol Chief Michael Fisher told a House panel April 17. There are sections along the southwestern border where "it's going to take you days to get to even a road," Fisher noted.
NPS maintenance budget cuts will cost in the long run, NPS director says
Hiring freezes due sequestration backlogged maintenance and repairs at parks across the country and will cost the government money in the long run, National Parks Service Director Jonathan Jarvis said in an April 16 House Oversight and Government Reform Committee hearing . Many parks reduced maintenance and repairs, resulting in a backlog of maintenance, Jarvis said. Service-wide, the estimate of deferred maintenance needs is at $11.5 billion, Jarvis said.
NOAA plans furlough days around summer holiday weekends
Most of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's offices would close in their entirety for 4 days this summer under furlough plans the agency has developed with unions that represent some of its employees.
EPA starts first phase of furloughs, IRS to furlough workers up to 7 days
The Environmental Protection Agency will furlough about 17,000 employees for 4 non-consecutive days starting April 21. The first phase of furloughs will run from April 21 to June 15 at which point the EPA will reassess to see if more days are needed. The Internal Revenue Service plans to furlough workers up to 7 days due to sequestration cuts after tax season ends.
