Route Fifty
A Showdown Over Idaho Governor’s Authority
Lt. Gov. Janice McGeachin issued an executive order to “fix” the state’s rules on vaccine mandates while Gov. Brad Little was away on business.
Pay & Benefits
Biden Administration Makes Student Loan Forgiveness Program Easier to Use
A weekly roundup of pay and benefits news.
Oversight
Lawmakers Question Accounting Firms Over ‘Revolving Door’ With Federal Agencies
A recent news investigation detailed potential ethics issues over the past four presidential administrations.
Workforce
Federal Employee Appeals Board Now One Step Closer to Ending Years-Long Dysfunction
Biden's nominees to the Merit Systems Protection Board are now heading to the full Senate for a vote.
Nextgov
DOJ to Hit Government Contractors with ‘Very Hefty Fines’ If They Fail to Disclose Data Breaches
Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco promised to use an existing law to go after contractors that don't follow required cybersecurity standards.
Workforce
Coronavirus Roundup: Vaccine Guidance for Defense Civilians; NIH Director to Step Down
There's a lot to keep track of. Here’s today’s list of news updates and stories you may have missed.
Defense
Pentagon Begins ‘Continuous Vetting’ of All Troops for Insider Threats, Extremism; Social Media May Come Next
Automatic alerts will flag records or activities of concern among all Defense Department personnel.
Defense
The 9/11 Commission Said National Security Vacancies Were A Problem. Biden’s Pentagon Is ‘Far Worse’
The Senate is “falling far behind” as Armed Services and Foreign Relations Committees consider 14 nominees this week.
Management
GovExec Daily: Preparing Your Finances For the Next Shutdown
Financial analyst Clark Kendall joins the show to discuss how public servants should get ready for potential furloughs.
Route Fifty
67% of Cities Plan to Use ARPA for Lost Revenue
Cities are more likely to use money to replace lost tax revenues than to spend on infrastructure, according to a National League of Cities report.
Management
COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate Could Exacerbate Understaffing in Federal Prisons, Union Warns
Some employees are considering leaving the Bureau of Prisons due to the requirement.
Management
A Debt Default Could Mean Furloughs or IOUs for Federal Employees
There is a lot of uncertainty surrounding what would happen to agency operations and employees' compensation if the Treasury is unable to pay all of its bills.
Nextgov
Deputy National Security Adviser Lays Out Goals for Upcoming 30 Nation Meeting on Ransomware
Top cyber officials highlighted the importance of defensive measures as lawmakers move on related initiatives, including a bill to identify systemically important critical infrastructure.
Workforce
White House: Some Feds With Valid Vaccine Exemption Requests Could Still Be Fired
Task force says that for some jobs where no other safety protocols are adequate, federal agencies may require all employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19, without exception.
Management
USDA’s Hubert Hamer On Fighting Climate Change and Fixing Food Insecurity
Other priorities are containing the pandemic, ensuring racial justice and equity, and rebuilding the rural economy.
Management
Most Vaccine-Hesitant People Remain Willing to Change Their Minds
A new study shows people's views are not set in stone. The director of the National Institutes of Health explains.
Defense
Lockheed Opens New Hypersonic Weapons Factory In Alabama
The manufacturing plant is the third digital factory opened by the world’s largest defense contractor this year.
Workforce
GovExec Daily: The Post-COVID Civil Service
Dr. Donald F. Kettl joins the podcast to discuss how federal service can change after the pandemic.
Route Fifty
Treasury Outlines How it Will Claw Back Rental Aid From Slow Spenders
The department plans to redistribute the money to jurisdictions that are moving faster to get it to struggling renters and landlords.
Nextgov