GovernmentExecutive.com

The blog is off for the weekend, everybody. Have a wonderful, safe July 4, and I'll see you on Monday!

Apparently, the State Department is working on building the infrastructure to help scientists in North and South America communicate with each other. The Department's providing space for conversations on the Western Hemisphere Affairs bureau's website, hosting webchats, and looking at setting up a social network. This strikes me as smart and potentially valuable. It provides a resource for universities and research institutions without explicitly setting an agenda. Providing pipelines for communication is useful, it's not always something universities have the resources to set up and maintain themselves, it provides a venue other than conferences for scientists to talk to each other, and it provides a somewhat low-stakes forum for the State Department to test out its ability to build this kind of network.

From science-fiction blog io9 comes a delightful reminder of the crazy things countries can get themselves into when they go in big for self-improvement: apparently, Russian engineers spent about 40 years trying to build a flying-car system in Moscow. Washington, D.C., of course is modeled on on layout and architecture of the past, and federal buildings are inspired (or not) by a whole range of styles. So it's entertaining to see plans for what a capital city might have looked like with an extremely futuristic vision. And sort of scary to contemplate the effort that went into this project, in particular.

The Post has an interesting story today, suggesting that even growing federal employment in the greater Washington, D.C. area isn't enough to offset job losses in other industries. Combined with the report of higher-than-expected job losses across the country today, it's a reminder for folks who grouse about the size of government that while federal agencies are big, they're still not THAT big.

It's worth noting that Brown spoke highly of Berry as recently as last week, saying he and other NFFE officials had positive meetings with Berry and were willing to work with him on issues like pay reform. Brown was definitely tough on the issues he cared about, like repealing the National Security Personnel System. But I know the folks who worked with him at NFFE really cared about him, and my sense was that he had a good sense of humor to go with his conviction.

Statement by U.S. Office of Personnel Management Director John Berry

President Richard N. Brown

"I am greatly saddened by the unexpected death of Richard Brown. He worked tirelessly on behalf of Federal employees.

"Rick lived a life of service and leadership, and this is a tragic loss. I only knew Rick for a short time, but his dedication shone through in our work together on issues that matter deeply to Federal employees and working people everywhere.

"He will be forever remembered as a smart, tough, and passionate employee advocate. His family, friends, and colleagues are in my thoughts and prayers."

Neil Armstrong was a GS-13 when he walked on the moon.

To the family of Richard Brown, president of the National Federation of Federal Employees, and to his co-workers at the union. Brown passed away unexpectedly yesterday at 47. I've reproduced NFFE's announcement below the jump.

Continue reading "Condolences" »

The folks at the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board weren't kidding when they said provisions of the tobacco legislation that made changes to the Thrift Savings Plan could be implemented as early as July. The Board published the regulation starting automatic agency contributions equivalent 1 percent of income to employees' TSP accounts in the federal register today, saying that provision is effective immediately.

One of the questions Office of Personnel Management Director John Berry was asked at yesterday's work-life town hall was whether folks could contribute money instead of food through the food drive OPM is currently sponsoring in federal agencies. Berry said that agencies can only solicit financial contributions through the Combined Federal Campaign, but explained why he's hoping federal employees will lug food to work, even if it's inconvenient:

"The three months that have the lowest donations to our area food banks are June, July and August. And yet with the economic situation we're facing, our food banks are really under stress, there are people relying on them more or more, especially if they're children. During the summer months, children are not getting access to their school lunch or school breakfast programs."

Berry isn't exaggerating about food banks facing crunches: in DC, for example, Bread for the City has had to seriously go over budget to meet need.

I've received a lot of questions in comments about how the State Department and other agencies are going to define "domestic partners" for the purposes of extending benefits to the partners of gay and lesbian federal employees. Here's the language from the revisions to the State Department's manual:

A. Definition of a Domestic Partner

A domestic partner for purposes of this section is an individual who meets all of the criteria listed in and who has been declared to be a domestic partner of an employee in accordance with subpart (B) below.

B. Declaration of a Domestic Partner

To obtain benefits and assume obligations of a "domestic partner" under the Foreign Affairs Manual (FAM) and Department of State Standardized Regulations (DSSR), an employee must file an affidavit of eligibility for benefits and obligations (3 FAM 1610 Appx.) with

• the Bureau of Human Resources, Executive Office, Assignment Support Unit (HR/EX/ASU) (for Department of State employees),
• Office of Human Resources/Foreign Service Personnel Division (for Agency for International Development employees)
• Office of Human Resources/Operations and Benefits (OHR/O) (for the Broadcasting Board of Governors employees)
• Office of Foreign Service Human Resources (OFSHR) (for Foreign Commercial Service employees)
• Office of Foreign Service Operations (DAFAS) (for Foreign Agricultural Service employees)

identifying the domestic partner of the employee and certifying that the employee and the domestic partner of the employee -

(1) are each other's sole domestic partner and intend to remain committed to one another indefinitely;
(2) have a common residence, and intend to continue the arrangement;
(3) are at least 18 years of age and mentally competent to consent to contract;
(4) share responsibility for a significant measure of each other's common welfare and financial obligations;
(5) are not married to, joined in civil union with, or domestic partners with anyone else;
(6) are same-sex domestic partners, and not related in a way that would prohibit legal marriage in the State in which they reside;
(7) agree to inform the Department of State of any dissolution of the partnership in accordance with subpart C below;
(8) understand that the domestic partner will be held to standards of conduct in the FAM that apply to family members; and
(9) understand that falsification of information within the affidavit may constitute a criminal violation under 18 U.S.C. 1001 and may lead to disciplinary action.