Workforce
How Can The U.S. Improve COVID-19 Testing?
The U.S. is still on its heels when it comes to COVID-19 testing. Will mailing free at-home tests make a difference? An immunologist has some answers.
Management
The Pentagon Shifts to Maximum Telework as Omicron Surges
The Pentagon is urging personnel to use maximum telework as coronavirus infections spike in the Washington, D.C. region.
Workforce
To Get People the Help They Need from the Government, Postcards May Be the Answer
Government agencies are setting up new websites and phone hotlines to provide information. But those might not be the best ways to engage with people who need help the most.
Management
GovExec Daily: The Customer Experience Under the Biden Administration
John Kamensky joins the podcast to discuss the Executive Order and Presidential Management Agenda Vision.
Pay & Benefits
Federal Offices in the D.C. Area Will Be Closed Monday Due to Winter Storm
Employees on telework status will be expected to continue working remotely.
Management
OPM Again Extends Deadline for Agencies to Adopt Skills-Based Hiring
The government's personnel agency said final guidance on implementing skills-based hiring assessments, rather than purely educational attainment, is coming soon.
Management
Students Are Experiencing More Anxiety and Depression Symptoms during the Pandemic
Transitioning back to school for in-person learning in the fall wasn’t easy for students, especially for youth of color and LGBTQ+ youth.
Nextgov
Women Report from the Frontlines of Federal Cryptocurrency Governance
Over the course of 2021, Congress and the administration have recognized significant benefits from diving into the technology, a trend that looks poised to continue.
Workforce
More Than 2,000 Feds Deployed As Biden Administration Looks to Fight Omicron Surge
Meanwhile, some agencies start returning to maximum telework after previously bringing employees back.
Tech
What Is Log4J? A Cybersecurity Expert Explains the Latest Internet Vulnerability, How Bad It Is and What’s at Stake
Log4Shell is the latest hacker exploit rocking the internet, and it’s arguably the worst yet. The vulnerability is in an obscure piece of software used on millions of computers.
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