Oversight

A Norfolk Southern Policy Lets Officials Order Crews to Ignore Safety Alerts

In October, months before the East Palestine derailment, the company also directed a train to keep moving with an overheated wheel that caused it to derail miles later in Sandusky, Ohio.

Tech

Watchdog: GSA Needs to Monitor Access Card Data

The agency’s inspector general found more than 32,000 failed access attempts over a two year period, which could pose a security risk.

Workforce

What Are The Pros And Cons Of Digital Workers?

Digital employees can work 24/7 and don't ever ask for a raise. But should companies be jumping into the AI revolution now?

Management

Say No to Politicizing the Civil Service, But Yes to More Flexibility

Banning exceptions to standard federal personnel rules could make agency-specific reforms more difficult.

Workforce

The Generational Shift Needs to Happen in the Federal Workforce

Anthony Fauci and Max Stier join the podcast to discuss hiring more young people into public service.

Workforce

Agencies Would Have to Think Harder Before Relocating, Under a New Bill

The legislation comes after a watchdog agency concluded hastily conducted relocations during the Trump administration caused staff exoduses and harmed agencies’ service delivery.

Workforce

Here's How Career Feds Can Avoid Getting Tripped Up by Congressional Investigations

Experts offer tips for civil servants to prevent themselves from becoming collateral damage in battles between the legislative and executive branches.

Management

OPM’s Event to Attract Laid Off Tech Workers Was Popular, But Will It Yield Results?

Despite widespread interest in a recent recruitment event, clear data on the number of hires remains unavailable to assess the immediate success of such career fairs to fill currently available roles.

Management

Federal Scientists Are Feeling More Empowered Under Biden, Though Censorship Remains a Concern

Employees "painted harrowing pictures" of their time under Trump, but in a new survey said things are mostly getting better.

Pay & Benefits

Why Are Federal Courts Denying Hazardous Duty Pay For Feds Forced To Take Risks With COVID?

“On its face, in this case, it looks like one of those situations where hazard pay is denied for narrow, technical reasons,” says one labor historian.

Management

Carp, Cars and COVID: Czars Can Cover Any Issue

Tom Shoop joins the podcast to discuss how a Russian loanword came to be applied to American government officials.

Oversight

A Top House Republican Accuses the Labor Department of Avoiding Oversight

The department “consistently makes a good faith effort to be responsive to their questions,” said a Labor Department spokesperson.

Nextgov

OPM’s Event to Attract Laid Off Tech Workers Was Popular, But Will It Yield Results?

Despite widespread interest in a recent recruitment event, clear data on the number of hires remains unavailable to assess the immediate success of such career fairs to fill currently available roles.

Tech

White House Mulls Scaling up Login-dot-gov to Reach Every American

A draft of a long-awaited executive order covering digital identity includes a push to make government-owned Login-dot-gov an option for most federal benefits programs.

Management

Beyond Czars: Meeting Bureaucracy-Spanning Challenges

We need a cadre of career professionals to take a whole-of-government approach to addressing key priorities.

Tech

Going Paperless Is Harder Than It Seems For Agencies

Iron Mountain Government Solutions' Melissa Carson joins the podcast to discuss how agencies are progressing in compliance with moving away from paper records in accordance with directive M-19-21.

Pay & Benefits

Feds Driven Away By Biden’s Vaccine Mandate Could Return or Get Payouts, Under a New Bill

Few if any were ever fired, but the bill would also apply to those who left voluntarily after Biden demanded vaccination against COVID-19.

Workforce

OPM Launches a New Web Portal for Federal Internships

The federal government’s HR agency describes the new section of USAJOBS as a “one-stop shop” for students seeking to explore a career in public service.

Management

Biden Administration Misses Its Own Deadline to Detail Inflation Reduction Act Spending at IRS

The plan will spell out how the tax agency will spend its $80 billion cash injection, including its hiring proposals.

Defense

Americans are Disturbingly ‘Ill-Informed and Naive’ on China, Navy’s Intel Chief Says

Recent balloon incident brought some attention to the possible threat, but not enough, says Rear Adm. Michael Studeman.