Workforce
Scientific federal agencies have restaffed to pre-Trump levels
While the Biden administration is finding success in its hiring efforts, a report finds diversity efforts are lagging.
Workforce
Union coalition throws support behind OPM’s anti-Schedule F rules
A group of 14 labor organizations led by the National Treasury Employees Union urged the federal government’s HR agency to adopt its proposal to hamstring future efforts to strip feds’ job protections “promptly.”
Management
GSA plans $2 billion in cleaner construction projects
The agency is utilizing funding from the Inflation Reduction Act to support 150 construction projects using “low-embodied carbon” materials.
Management
Passenger rail gets ‘unprecedented’ $16B investment
The grants to replace aging infrastructure along the Northeast Corridor come as Republicans in Congress look to cut back funding for Amtrak.
Defense
Data on active-duty servicemembers is available for purchase online, report says
A new study from Duke University sheds light on how easy it is to find U.S military personnel online for a price.
Management
Good aims to defund White House’s climate jobs initiative in new bill
The Virginia representative offered new legislation Friday that would prevent the Biden administration from using federal appropriations to fund its planned 20,000-person climate workforce initiative.
Workforce
OPM: Federal workers’ morale, engagement rebounded in 2023
Preliminary data from the annual Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey indicates that federal agencies have improved on employees’ engagement, job satisfaction, as well as issues of diversity and inclusion.
Workforce
VA attributes record-breaking year to massive increases in hiring
The department will now focus on retaining those employees through various incentives and process improvements, officials say.
Management
House proposes slashing $4B from the EPA
The GOP funding cuts, passed along party lines, would significantly impact state and local efforts to improve drinking water and reduce water pollution. Additional cuts would severely hamper environmental justice projects.
Management
ICE’s ‘outdated and overly permissive’ device policy left the agency vulnerable, watchdog warns
A spring audit of agency mobile devices found several banned and outdated applications installed on personnel and contractor smartphones.
Pay & Benefits
OPM begins prep for annual retirement surge
The federal government’s centralized HR office is urging federal agencies to be proactive in ensuring federal workers’ retirement applications are submitted without errors to streamline processing during the annual spike in claims.
Oversight
Judge tosses IG’s lawsuit alleging harassment by oversight body investigating him
A watchdog of watchdogs is acting appropriately by investigating the inspector general, court rules.
Management
Return-to-office policies may bring potential federal workforce challenges
Deltek posited in its contracting outlook for fiscal 2024 a potential talent crunch tied to the Biden administration’s return-to-office policies.
Defense
The Pentagon may never get to the bottom of that famous UFO video
The DOD’s office is creating a way for former government employees to reach out with information about UFOs.
Defense
Senate confirms first woman to lead Navy, key joint staff vacancies
However, hundreds of confirmations are still blocked by Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala.
Management
Cyber Director nominee talks AI, collaboration at confirmation hearing
Harry Coker, the Biden administration's choice to lead the Office of the National Cyber Director, said he'll draw on his experience as a program manager to make sure agencies hit their milestones on implementing the government's cyber strategy.
Defense
To solve national security problems, the US may have to rethink higher education
Advanced STEM degrees take too much time and cost too much, said the former science and tech head at Homeland Security.
Oversight
From payment accuracy to program integrity
COMMENTARY | The staggering level of pandemic fraud coupled with mounting concerns about the size and trajectory of the nation’s debt load should elevate program integrity as a top management focus, writes one observer.
Management
House speaker pitches funding plan with rolling shutdown threats
Different agencies would face different shutdown deadlines under House GOP proposal.
Management