Nextgov
How the Government Expanded its Supercomputing Assets in 2021
A number of new and powerful machines are being built and installed for federal agencies.
Management
Falling Short on Government's Promises to Disabled Vets
Agencies are failing to achieve contracting goals to support small businesses owned by service-disabled veterans.
Management
Agencies Will Still Have ‘Their Own Parameters’ on Returning to the Office Amid COVID Surge
There is no new guidance on reentry to workplaces, other than updates to reflect the latest Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations.
Oversight
The Low-and-Slow Approach to Food Safety Reform Keeps Going Up in Smoke
The U.S. has one agency that regulates cheese pizza and another that oversees pepperoni pizza. Efforts to fix the food safety system have stalled again and again.
Nextgov
The Pentagon’s Cloud War is (Finally) Nearing Conclusion
Following the end of the Joint Enterprise Defense Infrastructure contract, a new effort is taking shape.
Workforce
Lawmakers Push to Make Some Federal Employees Vulnerable to Lawsuits
New bill would allow individuals to sue agencies and law enforcement personnel for violating their constitutional rights.
Oversight
This Scientist Created a Rapid Test Just Weeks Into the Pandemic. Here’s Why You Still Can’t Get It.
Irene Bosch developed a quick, inexpensive COVID-19 test in early 2020. The Harvard-trained scientist already had a factory set up. But she was stymied by an FDA process experts say made no sense.
Nextgov
Biden Administration Made Major Customer Experience Moves in 2021
Major policy changes regarding how federal agencies serve citizens took pace over the past year.
Workforce
Nurses in Crisis Over COVID Dig In for Better Work Conditions
In tough labor negotiations across the nation, here's what nurses don’t want: “appreciation that is lip service,” “marketing campaigns” and “shiny new buildings.” And this year might well prove to be a turning point in efforts to organize health care’s essential workers.
Management
The Vaccine Rollout Was a Success. But Events Within and Beyond Biden’s Control Stymied Progress.
There were variants, vaccine hesitancy and messaging mix-ups. And, despite campaign promises, Biden and his administration sometimes took actions or made statements without waiting for full scientific evidence to back them up.
Defense
Denials, Not Approvals, Greet Troops’ Religious Vax Exemptions
No service has yet publicly announced that any service member has received a religion-based exemption from the Pentagon’s COVID-vaccination mandate.
Management
Biden Appoints Acting Labor Mediation Director, Demands Senate Action on Nominee
President Biden’s choice to lead the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service has languished awaiting a confirmation vote by the Senate since August.
Management
FDA Greenlights Two Pills to Treat COVID-19
White House pledges equity in distribution of them.
Pay & Benefits
New Pay Tables Released: Calculate Your 2022 Raise
The average increase will be 2.7% for civilian employees, but the exact figure will vary based on where you live.
Workforce
Older Adults Report Stress and Joy during Pandemic
Poll results from August indicate a mix of joy and stress in the lives of older adults during the ongoing pandemic.
Workforce
GovExec Daily: A 2021 Year in Review
Tom Shoop joins the podcast to discuss the biggest stories of the year that was.
Pay & Benefits
Biden Issues Executive Order Finalizing Average 2.7% Pay Raise for Feds
Although the raise isn’t as much as many federal employee groups had hoped for, it restores civilian-military pay parity.
Route Fifty
More Cities Move to Adopt Vaccine Requirements for Indoor Spaces
The added mandates come as the omicron variant of the coronavirus is surging.
Oversight