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.

Management

Coronavirus Roundup: Labor Secretary Leaving His Post; Vaccine Access Updates

There's a lot to keep track of. Here’s a list of this week’s news updates and stories you may have missed.

Tech

VA Announces Winners of $20M Challenge to Prevent Veteran Suicides

The 10 winners of the VA’s Mission Daybreak challenge developed innovative solutions that leveraged technology, artificial intelligence and mobile apps to help reduce the number of veteran suicides.

Management

Biden’s Annual Physical Shows He Is ‘A Healthy, Vigorous, 80-Year-Old Male’

The evaluation of the president's health comes as he weighs whether to run for reelection in 2024.

Oversight

What Is a UFO? The U.S. Shot down Three Mysterious Objects as Interest and Concern Increase Over Unidentified Craft

There are thousands of sightings of UFOs – or "unidentified aerial phenomena" as government prefers to call them – every year.

Management

A Broken Civil Service System Could Break Government

Jeffrey Neal joins the podcast again to talk about the pace of change in modernizing the federal workforce.

Oversight

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton Sues Joe Biden Over Signing Federal Spending Package

The attorney general argued the House unconstitutionally passed its federal spending bill because not enough members were physically present to vote. Both Republicans and Democrats voted by proxy throughout the pandemic.

Pay & Benefits

Federal Prisons Employees Aren’t Entitled to COVID Hazard Pay, Appeals Judges Rule

In a 10-2 decision, the appeals court said OPM regulations around hazardous duty pay only address the handling of “virulent biologicals” in a laboratory setting, not “ambient” exposure to infected individuals.

Pay & Benefits

VA Docs Are One Step Closer to Earning More than $400K Annually

A Senate committee advanced a sweeping compensation overhaul for VA health care workers that would create a more market-based pay system.

Pay & Benefits

What Not To Do With Your TSP Account

Be careful about borrowing from your retirement investments. 

Tech

Almost 60% of GAO's Privacy Recommendations Since 2010 Are Unresolved

A watchdog report found that federal agencies have only implemented approximately 41% of recommendations related to the protection and security of sensitive data as of December 2022.

Workforce

Biden Administration Releases First-Ever Report on Diversity in Federal Government

The report reflects marginal gains in representation for women and some communities of color.

Exclusive Defense

‘We Didn’t Have the Ships’ to Send ‘Best Option’ to Help Earthquake Victims, Commandant Says

Incident comes a year after maintenance problems delayed the 22nd MEU’s deployment to Europe.

Oversight

U.S. Likely to Default on Debt between July and September unless Congress Acts, CBO Says

Congressional Budget Office cautioned that the window is uncertain, since amount of money flowing into federal government from taxes, other revenue fluctuates

Workforce

Modernizing the Civil Service isn't Exciting, but It Is Important

Jeffrey Neal joins the podcast to discuss bringing the federal workforce into the 21st century.