Workforce
Agencies Must Establish COVID-19 Testing Programs for Certain Unvaccinated Feds and Contractors By Feb. 15
Task force issues new guidance on coronavirus testing for those who report to federal facilities or otherwise interact with the public.
Nextgov
Newly Uncovered Emails Intensify Republican Senator's Unease About DOD’s Cloud Contracts
A senior senator continued a back-and-forth with auditors over the Defense Department's now-canceled JEDI contract.
Defense
A Little Exercise May Ease Gulf War Illness Symptoms
Running just a few times a week could be a powerful tool in getting relief from symptoms related to Gulf War illness.
Management
Coronavirus Roundup: Contracts for COVID Tests Awarded; Pentagon Heightens Restrictions
There's a lot to keep track of. Here’s today’s list of news updates and stories you may have missed.
Nextgov
NIST Updates Cybersecurity Engineering Guidelines
Amid constant cybersecurity threats, NIST added more insight for engineers and programmers on how to mitigate system vulnerabilities.
Defense
Marine Amphibious Combat Vehicles Returning to the Water
A tow mechanism problem led to a three-month suspension from waterborne operations.
Workforce
GovExec Daily: Using Postcards to Make People Interact with Government More Easily
Dr. Katerina Linos joins the podcast to discuss how to make customer service more effective in government… in a very low-tech way.
Employee Policy
Supreme Court hearing turns to the contractor mandate
Chief Justice John Roberts invoked the federal contractor mandate – currently blocked from taking effect due to a lawsuit – at a hearing at which two separate vaccine authority cases were argued on Friday.
Nextgov
How the Log4j Vulnerability is Forcing Change in Federal Cybersecurity Policy
Officials say agencies have demonstrated more dedication than ever in addressing a bug with astronomical reach, but organizations are at the mercy of product vendors to issue the patches they need to implement.
Benefits
Federal Academic Alliance expands
Several new schools and training offerings have been added to the program that offers reduced tuition to feds.
Workforce
IRS Staffing Shortages Likely to Cause Turbulent Tax Season, Treasury Officials Say
Backlogs and poor customer service are likely to hamper tax season handling, officials warn.
Management
Information Sought on the ‘Future of Work’ for Feds
The topics of inquiry align with the president’s management agenda.
Management
OPM Issues Guidance on Agency Hiring of Chief Diversity Officers
The memo builds off President Biden’s executive order aimed at improving the diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility of federal agencies.
Pay & Benefits
Pay Will Be a Barrier to Rebuilding the Federal Workforce
The General Schedule pay system is too rigid to allow the government to attract and retain employees in today’s tight labor market.
Defense
Who’s in Charge of US Space Policy?
Space professionals worry the National Space Council is ceding its defense portfolio.
Exclusive
Defense
Common Office Desk Phone Could Be Leaking Info to Chinese Government, Report Alleges
Phones by Yealink have been observed sending encrypted messages to Chinese servers three times a day.
Oversight
A High-Risk Medical Device Didn’t Meet Federal Standards. The Government Paid Millions for More.
For years after federal inspectors found serious problems with the HeartWare heart pump, agencies like the Department of Veterans Affairs and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services continued paying to implant it in patients.
Tech
GovExec Daily: Increasing Federal Cyber Hygiene
Bill Wright joins the podcast to discuss how agencies can protect themselves online.
Management
Biden Administration Punts on Deadline to Recommend Sweeping Changes to VA Health Care
Initial proposals for VA's BRAC-style review delayed due to COVID-19 case surge.
Workforce