EPA to Offer Early Buyouts (Federal Soup)

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The Environmental Protection Agency will continue an external hiring freeze and begin offering early buyouts to employees as part of a plan to reducing its workforce.

Acting Deputy Administrator Mike Flynn in an April 17 memo to regional administrators and other top agency officials said given the agency’s current resources and in light of President Trump’s executive order to immediately reduce and streamline the federal workforce, EPAs own reduction plans will be completed by the end of fiscal year 2017.

“In light of [Office Management and Budget] guidance, we will begin the steps necessary to initiate an early out/ buyout (VERA/VSIP) program,” Flynn wrote in the memo.

He asked for patience as the details of the guidance are worked out.

EPA has about 15,000 employees a part of its workforce.

 

Source: Federal Soup

Senators introduce bipartisan legislation to relax withdraw rules for Thrift Savings Plan (by Hazel Bradford)

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Bipartisan legislation to loosen withdrawal rules for the Federal Thrift Savings Plan was introduced Thursday by Sens. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, and Tom Carper, D-R.I.

The proposed changes would address what the bill sponsors characterized as overly restrictive withdrawal rules that, according to TSP surveys, are a significant reason for the $9 billion transferred out of the plan every year into higher-fee accounts when employees leave the federal government.

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Source: Pensions & Investments

WEBINAR – Survive and Thrive in Retirement

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Join us on Tuesday, April 11th at 12:00 pm EST

When you retire, you may want to travel, see the world, and spend time with your loved ones, without having to worry about running out of money. In this session, we will share the strategies that will have you doing everything you want to do during your retirement and still reach your full income potential.

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G Fund and the Debt Limit

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As of today, March 16, 2017, the U.S. Treasury was unable to fully invest the Government Securities Investment (G) Fund due to the statutory ceiling on the federal debt. However, G Fund investors remain fully protected and G Fund earnings are fully guaranteed by the federal government. This statutory guarantee has effectively protected G Fund investors many times over the past 25 years. G Fund account balances will continue to accrue earnings and will be updated each business day, and loans and withdrawals will be unaffected.

Source: TSP: Plan News and Announcements

Do you really ‘own’ your TSP account? (by Randy Silvey)

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“Ownership” is a rather fuzzy concept where federal retirement accounts are concerned. However, there is perfect clarity in recognizing feds don’t enjoy the same custody rights within their retirement nest eggs as other retirement savers do. Read more