Déjà vu for USDA? Debra D’Agostino September 11, 2019 Agency News, Human Resources Comments Since June, when the USDA announced that it would be moving both the Economic Research Service (ERS) and the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), its two research agencies, to Kansas City, the USDA has been sliding downhill in this uphill battle. In August, […]

Notify employees that CBD products could cause positive marijuana test IN FOCUS: With the increasing popularity of CBD, or cannabidiol products, agencies must educate employees that using these products could result in failing random drug tests. CBD products may contain THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), which is found in both marijuana and hemp products, Joanna Friedman, a partner […]

Pentagon caught off guard by new citizenship policy, but promises to help impacted troops BY TARA COPP AUGUST 29, 2019 05:43 PM WASHINGTON The Pentagon said Thursday it would help service members affected by a new Trump administration policy that makes it more difficult for troops stationed overseas to get citizenship for their children. Late […]

Hundreds of Thousands of Delinquent Taxpayers Could Have Their Passports Revoked The IRS is cracking down on tax scofflaws, but some experts worry the agency is bypassing due process. AUGUST 29, 2019 06:04 PM ET The Internal Revenue Service has notified 389,000 delinquent taxpayers they are at risk of losing their passports if they don’t […]

Immigration New rule gives Trump administration more discretion to change asylum law A Justice Department sign hangs in the department’s press briefing room in Washington. A rule change affecting the department’s Executive Office for Immigration Review will allow the Trump administration more discretion in altering asylum law. (Patrick Semansky/AP) August 23, 2019 The Trump administration […]

TRONG NGUYEN/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM Complying with the Hatch Act Isn’t That Difficult Here’s what federal employees need to know. By Debra D’Agostino | AUGUST 15, 2019 12:44 PM ET The Hatch Act restricts federal employees from taking part in political activity, defined as any activity directed at the success or failure of a political party, partisan political […]

Union: Federal anti-resistance rule is too broad to be enforced A lawsuit filed by the American Federation of Government Employees takes issue with where the line is drawn between Hatch Act violations and free speech protections. (AVNphotolab) A 2018 Office of Special Counsel policy advising federal employees to not use impeachment or resistance language in […]

Union Sues to Give Federal Employees the Right to Talk ‘Impeachment’ and ‘Resistance’ August 13, 2019 A federal employee union filed a lawsuit against the Office of Special Counsel Tuesday in response to the office’s guidance on federal employees using the terms “impeachment” and “resist” at work, citing free speech violations and a misinterpretation of […]

Navy tells sailors to tamp out any CBD, hemp use August 7, 2019 1:08 pm The Navy is warning its sailors to stay away from the deluge of CBD products that are popping up from convenience stores to farmers markets. A Wednesday release from Navy Secretary Richard Spencer is telling sailors that even if cannabidiol […]

Former FBI agent Peter Strzok is suing to be reinstated in his job, and for back pay. MANUEL BALCE CENETA / AP FILE PHOTO Former FBI Agent Peter Strzok’s Lawsuit Highlights a Gray Area in the Hatch Act The act does not address the use of  government cell phones to send political text messages. AUGUST 9, […]