Tech
GovExec Daily: Secure Elections After the 2020 Cycle
Elections tech expert Ross Underwood joins the podcast to discuss voting security.
Route Fifty
Thousands of City Workers Suspended Without Pay Over Vaccine Noncompliance
About 91% of New York City’s municipal workforce is vaccinated, but the police and fire departments are getting vaccinated at lower rates.
Oversight
Afghanistan Watchdog Doubles Down on Oversight Efforts
Upcoming reports will serve as “cautionary and instructive guides” for future operations, said the special inspector general for Afghanistan reconstruction.
Pay & Benefits
TSP Funds Bounce Back After Rough September
Only one offering in the federal government’s 401(k)-style retirement savings program ended October in the red.
Workforce
Coronavirus Roundup: Vaccine Mandate Updates; FDA Delays Review of Moderna Vaccine for Adolescents
There's a lot to keep track of. Here’s today’s list of news updates and stories you may have missed.
Workforce
The FDA Authorizes Pfizer’s COVID-19 Vaccine for Children Ages 5 to 11 – a Pediatrician Explains How the Drug Was Tested for Safety and Efficacy
Pediatric clinical trials for the COVID-19 Pfizer vaccine for children ages 5 to 11 have shown that the Pfizer shot is safe and effective.
Defense
As COVID Hits Defense Factories, Some Workers Push Back on Vaccine Mandate
Some Republican lawmakers say the requirement will compromise national security.
Defense
New White House Cyber Director Wants to Fight Like Cobra Kai
Chris Inglis says the government needs to hit would-be attackers where it hurts.
Nextgov
NSA, CISA Weigh in on Shared Responsibility for Cloud Security in the 5G Era
Fifth-generation networking is expected to multiply opportunities for hackers using tactics already observed in attacks like the one against IT management firm SolarWinds.
Tech
There’s No Cheap Way to Deal With the Climate Crisis
Warming will bring enormous economic costs. Cutting emissions now will save money later.
Workforce
GovExec Daily: The Law Enforcement Staffing Problem at the National Park Service
GovExec contributor Paul D. Berkowitz joins the podcast to discuss the potential for crisis at the parks.
Oversight
America’s Food Safety System Failed to Stop a Salmonella Epidemic. It’s Still Making People Sick.
For years, a dangerous salmonella strain has sickened thousands and continues to spread through the chicken industry. The USDA knows about it. So do the companies. And yet, contaminated meat continues to be sold to consumers.
Management
Lawsuit Challenges COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate for Federal Prisons Employees
This is the first challenge by a federal employee union.
Oversight
Sen. Ted Cruz Delays Dozens of President Joe Biden’s Ambassador Nominations, Stoking Feud Over National Security
Cruz has single-handedly delayed dozens of key State Department nominees in retaliation for a Biden decision to drop U.S. opposition to a Russian pipeline to Germany.
Workforce
Are You Really Smart, or Is It Just Google?
We may be losing the ability to perceive our own intelligence because we can quickly google the answer to just about any question.
Route Fifty
These Cities Raised Wages for Municipal Workers to $15 an Hour
To attract and keep employees in a tight labor market, some local governments are bumping up hourly pay.
Defense
Pentagon Will Add a Climate-Policy Czar
New post is intended to champion climate considerations inside and beyond the Department, Kahl says.
Workforce
Bill to Expand Union Rights for State and Local Workers Puts FLRA in Charge of Enforcement
It is unclear whether the Federal Labor Relations Authority would require additional resources to carry out its proposed new duties, as the agency faces an extensive existing case backlog and staffing crunch.
Nextgov