Final regulations are pending from the Office of Personnel Management to further reinforce the merit system. The Biden administration approved the sale of F-16 fighter jets to Turkey following the Turkish government’s ratification of Sweden’s membership in NATO. The Biden administration intends to approve the Turkey F-16 sale as soon as Erdogan finalizes Sweden's NATO accession. Excepted service positions are any federal or civil service positions which are not in the competitive service or the Senior Executive service. They worry that if A-10s at Guard bases in Maryland and Michigan retire without a replacement, those squadrons could lose their fighter missions. Several Kennedys hold positions in the Biden administration, including Joseph Kennedy III, grandson of Robert Kennedy, who is an envoy to Northern Ireland. Your “high-3” average pay is the highest average basic pay you earned during any 3 consecutive years of service. Lawmakers voiced their support for a draft rule by OPM to strengthen civil service protections. At least two key U.S. lawmakers have not committed to greenlighting the Turkey F-16 sale, citing concerns beyond Sweden's NATO accession. Archived radio traffic indicates an air traffic controller in Austin was not clear about what the military jet’s pilot intended to do. Load More