Eye On Washington with Jessica Klement
by Federal News Network | Hubbard Radio
While the day-to-day work of federal employees is determined by their agencies, key decisions on federal pay, return to office policies, budgets, retirement and health benefits – and more – are made at government-wide levels by OPM, OMB, and/or politically-motivated legislators and administrations. With multiple actors and complex policies, it’s often difficult for even the savviest of federal employees and retirees to make heads from tails. Join longtime federal community advocate Jessica Klement and her guests as they cut through the noise and provide you with the information you need to understand how emerging policies will affect you – or not – and make informed decisions about your future.
Episodes
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A mid year review of the top issues affecting federal workers
On this month’s episode of Eye on Washington, Steve Lenkart, with the National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE) and John Hatton, with the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association (NARFE), join host Jessica Klement to review the first half of 2025 and discuss what’s in store...
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The reorganization of the federal government
On this episode of Eye on Washington, host Jessica Klement welcomes Rob Shriver, former acting director of the Office of Personnel Management and currently the managing director of Civil Service Strong at Democracy Forward. In his role, Shriver is committed to ensuring the American people...
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The latest in RIFs & return to work mandates
On this month’s episode of Eye on Washington, Federal News Network reporter Drew Friedman once again joins host Jessica Klement. As the federal workforce deals with near-constant uncertainty, Friedman has her finger on the pulse of the changes and provided an overview of the latest in RIFs…
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Financial tips for those terminated from federal service
On the February episode of Eye on Washington, Mark Keen, financial advisor and partner with the wealth management firm Keen & Pocock, joins host Jessica Klement. Keen writes the managing money column for the monthly NARFE magazine, and provides NARFE members with regular webinars to help them...
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January 2025 recap
The first show of 2025 welcomes Dan Blair, consultant, former acting director of the Office of Personnel Management, and overall federal workforce expert. Host Jessica Klement and Blair dissect the executive orders from the Trump administration to date and their effect on the federal workforce,...
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A conversation with Kim Weaver
On this final episode of 2024, Eye on Washington host Jessica Klement talks with Kim Weaver, the director of external affairs at the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board, the federal agency that administers the Thrift Savings Plan. In Weaver’s final interview before retirement from the...
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Presidential transitions & the government workforce
In the first Eye on Washington since President Donald Trump’s reelection, host Jessica Klement welcoms back Jenny Mattingley, vice president of Government Affairs at the Partnership for Public Service. In the wake of the proposed Department of Government Efficiency from the new administration,...
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All things open season -- part 2
With so much information to cover, federal benefits expert Tammy Flanagan joined host Jessica Klement for a bonus federal benefits open season conversation, this time focusing largely on the new Postal Service Health Benefits Program. With new Medicare Part B and D requirements, postal employees...
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All things open season
Federal benefits expert Tammy Flanagan joins host Jessica Klement on this week's Eye on Washington to talk about all things open season, which starts on November 9. The duo discussed big changes for 2025, including the largest average premium increase in years. Flanagan also provided practical…
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GPO & WEP
IIn closing out the first year of Eye of Washington, host Jessica Klement welcomes back John Hatton, staff vice president of Policy and Programs at the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association. Klement and Hatton discuss the latest congressional action on the Government Pension...
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The status of legislation affecting federal workers
While members of Congress are back home in their states and districts through Labor Day, host Jessica Klement welcomes Federal News Network reporter Drew Friedman to discuss legislation under consideration when Congress returns. The pair covered congressional and administrative efforts to reform...
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The Trump plan to make some federal workers "at will" employees
This month on Eye of Washington, host Jessica Klement welcomes two guests to discuss one very topical issue: the Trump administration’s proposal to convert employees in “policy-related” jobs into excepted service positions, effectively making them at-will employees. With former President Trump...
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Pay compression in the federal government & the implications of the proposed Schedule F policy
On this month’s episode of Eye on Washington, host Jessica Klement welcomes Jason Briefel, partner and director of Government and Public Affairs at Shaw Bransford & Roth, a law firm specializing in federal employment law. He is also the director of Policy & Outreach for the Senior Executives...
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A break down of the issues and challenges facing the postal community
On this month’s episode of Eye on Washington, host Jessica Klement welcomes Bob Levi, director of Legislative and Political Affairs for the National Association of Postal Supervisors (NAPS), and long-time advocate for the postal community. During this year’s federal benefits open season, postal...
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Building a dynamic and innovative federal government
Jenny Mattingley, vice president for Government Affairs at the Partnership for Public Service,joins host Jessica Klement on Eye on Washington this month to discuss all things good government. A long-time advocate for the federal community, both inside and out of government, Mattingley discussed…
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A conversation with Congressman Gerry Connolly
Representative Gerry Connolly (D-VA) joins host Jessica Klement on this month's Eye on Washington to discuss the congressman’s priorities for the federal community. Congressman Connolly was ranked the most effective lawmaker of the 117th Congress by the Center for Effective Lawmaking, no doubt in...
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The rise of AI in the federal government
In this month’s episode of Eye on Washington, host Jessica Klement talks with Dan Chenok, executive director of the IBM Center for the Business of Government. The duo talk about the rise in the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and how federal agencies are using the technology to better serve...
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A breakdown of the Federal pay raise & COLAs for retirees
The first Eye on Washington of the new year welcomes Drew Friedman, reporter with Federal News Network. They discuss the major changes for the federal community in January, including the largest federal employee pay raise in more than 40 years. Federal retirees also saw varying cost-of-living...
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An inside look at the TSP
On this month’s Eye on Washington, host Jessica Klement is joined by Kim Weaver, director of External Affairs at the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board, the agency that administers the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP). There have been several changes in the TSP over the last few years, and…
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The basics of federal benefits open season
The federal benefits open season is in full swing and if you’re overwhelmed by the myriad choices, you’re not alone. On this month’s episode of Eye on Washington, host Jessica Klement talks with Tammy Flanagan, longtime federal benefits expert and principal at Retire Federal who drills down the...
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The role unions, and their members play in the federal community
Steve Lenkart, Executive Director of the National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE) joins Jessica to talk about the most important issues facing union members today, including an overview of the role federal unions play in the federal community and the work NFFE members carry out every day,...
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Eye on Washington: the inaugural episode
On the inaugural episode of Eye on Washington, Jessica welcomes John Hatton, staff vice president at the National Association of Active and Retired Federal Employees to talk about the most important issues facing feds today. Jessica and John discuss the likelihood of the President’s proposed 5.2%...
About this show
While the day-to-day work of federal employees is determined by their agencies, key decisions on federal pay, return to office policies, budgets, retirement and health benefits – and more – are made at government-wide levels by OPM, OMB, and/or politically-motivated legislators and administrations.
With multiple actors and complex policies, it’s often difficult for even the savviest of federal employees and retirees to make heads from tails. Join longtime federal community advocate Jessica Klement and her guests as they cut through the noise and provide you with the information you need to understand how emerging policies will affect you – or not – and make informed decisions about your future.
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Federal News Network | Hubbard Radio
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