Nextgov
How the Cyber Ambassador In Waiting Plans to Control $1.5 Billion for Open Networks
The recently passed “CHIPS and Science Act” funds a grants program that the new State Department official will have a key role in steering, including to telecom networking firms.
Oversight
A Top Senate Democrat Asks the Defense Watchdog to Investigate a New Batch of Missing Jan. 6 Texts
“I don’t know whether the failure to preserve these critical government texts from Jan. 6 is the result of bad faith, stunning incompetence, or outdated records management policies, but we must get to the bottom of it,” said Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill.
Pay & Benefits
Another Firefighter Compensation Bill Passes, and More
A weekly roundup of pay and benefits news.
Tech
Senate Passes a Bill to Root out Conflicts of Interest in Federal Contracting
The Preventing Organizational Conflicts of Interest in Federal Acquisition Act sets new disclosure requirements and expands authorities for federal contracting officers.
Tech
CBP’s Facial Recognition Program at Airports Is Expanding but Concerns Remain
The facial recognition program for international arrivals in airports is rolled out in all international airports in the United States.
Employee Policy
Senators can't agree on agency funding levels
Republicans deride Democratic priorities in fiscal 2023 bills —with just two months until a shutdown. The lawmakers are failing to find agreement, even as Democrats hold back on some increases.
Employee Policy
Securing the human side of elections
Alliance for Securing Democracy's David Levine joins our partner GovExec's podcast, and discusses a new report on deterring threats to election workers.
Tech
Senators Introduce Bill to Ensure Resiliency of Federal Data Centers
The proposal would establish baseline safeguards for cybersecurity and physical issues like natural disasters.
Workforce
An Appeals Court Has Once Again Overruled a Trump-era FLRA Policy
Shortly before the 2020 election, labor authority Republicans had unraveled decades of precedent, finding that agencies may begin implementing new governmentwide rules when union contracts are extended for the purposes of negotiating a new agreement.
Workforce
GovExec Daily: The State of Women in Federal Law Enforcement
Courtney Bublé joins the podcast to discuss gender and policing.
Pay & Benefits
After a Long Delay, Congress Approves a Bill to Provide Care to More Vets, Grow VA Workforce and Establish New Facilities
The measure to spend nearly $6 billion on new workforce incentives, while authorizing 31 new facilities, now heads to President Biden for his signature.
Workforce
These Are the Agencies Federal Employees Are Leaving at the Highest Rates
After jumping during the pandemic, the government's overall attrition rate has stabilized.
TSP
Every TSP fund rebounded in July
For the first time in months, all of the core offerings in the federal government’s 401(k)-style retirement savings program posted gains.
Employee Policy
The problem with ignoring government performance information ...
Federal agencies’ quarterly performance updates, short- and long-term strategic plans, and annual performance reports deserve more attention.
Employee Policy
'There needs to be a reckoning': Republicans introduce bill to make feds at-will employees
The legislation, along with recent talk of a renewed effort to implement Schedule F, makes clear that a “major assault” on the federal civil service is coming, regardless of who the next Republican presidential nominee will be.
Management
FEMA and CDC Officials Will Lead the Monkeypox Response
The Biden administration has not declared monkeypox a national public health emergency yet.
Defense
U.S. Announces Another $550M In Ukraine Military Aid
Funds will cover thousands of additional howitzer and HIMARS ammunition rounds
Defense
Al Qaeda Leader Killed In US Drone Strike, Biden Says
The strike “made good” on Biden’s promise to target terrorists after withdrawing from Afghanistan, an official said.
Workforce
Senate Dems Have Joined the Push to Block Schedule F
As Republican groups discuss plans to reinstitute the controversial plan to strip tens of thousands of federal workers of their civil service protections, congressional Democrats have renewed their efforts to block it.
Workforce