Workforce
Embassy on Near Lockdown After Mass COVID-19 Outbreak Among Staff
At least 114 employees at the U.S. embassy in Kabul have tested positive for the coronavirus.
Oversight
Republicans Call for Hearing on Possible IRS Leak of Personal Taxpayer Information
Federal agencies took immediate action to investigate how a news organization got ahold of the sensitive information.
Pay & Benefits
Harriet Tubman’s Three-Decade Battle for a Federal Pension
She never did get a benefit based on her own heroic service to the Union Army.
Nextgov
U.S. Needs Tech Agency to Compete with China, Think Tank Says
The U.S. Innovation and Competition Act is just a first step when it comes to competition with China, according to the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation.
Oversight
Senator Seeks Probe Into Potential Civil Service Violations Under Biden
Top Banking Committee Republican is demanding answers from the administration and asking the IG for a full investigation.
Nextgov
HHS Puts Up $80M to Increase Number and Diversity of Health IT Workforce
The four-year effort will focus on improving data collection—especially around race and ethnicity—and training a more diverse health informatics and technology workforce.
Pay & Benefits
Most Federal Employees Will Receive Friday Off for Juneteenth
President Biden signed a bill Thursday afternoon making the anniversary of the end of slavery a federal holiday, and OPM confirmed that federal workers will have Friday off.
Defense
Air Force Begins Search For New Refueling Tanker as Lawmakers Push Airbus
Some lawmakers want the Air Force to terminate its KC-46 contract with Boeing.
Defense
Donald Trump to Tour Border Wall with Texas Gov. Greg Abbott on June 30
Abbott announced last Thursday that Texas would build its own border wall to stem the flow of migrants from Mexico.
Workforce
Sleep Troubles Now Linked to Cognitive Troubles Later
People who have difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep may have more problems remembering or concentrating more than a decade later, research shows.
Workforce
GovExec Daily: The Civil Service and At-Will Employment
The America First Policy Institute's James Sherk joins the show to discuss his report that calls for a full at-will employment for all feds.
Pay & Benefits
Juneteenth Will Be a New Holiday for Feds, Although It’s Unclear When
The holiday would typically be observed Friday, but a lack of lead time to implement a newly passed bill could delay when federal workers see a new day off.
Pay & Benefits
OPM Announces a Special FSA Enrollment, and More
A weekly roundup of pay and benefits news.
Nextgov
Bipartisan Bill Bolsters FCC Motion to Ban Suspect Chinese Telecom Equipment
The Federal Communications Commission is already set to vote on a notice of proposed rulemaking on its equipment authorization program.
Workforce
House Passes Bills to Require Body Cameras and Use of Force Oversight for VA Police, Boost Department’s HR
VA's 5,000-person internal police force has mistreated veterans, lawmaker says.
Management
Social Security Honors Arbitration Decision, Will Restart Negotiations with Judges Union
Last month, an independent arbitrator took the rare step of requiring the agency and the Association of Administrative Law Judges to completely redo negotiations after finding widespread bad faith bargaining by the agency.
Nextgov
Survey: Government Faces Increasing Threat from Stolen Accounts
But agencies may not be taking the right steps to mitigate the account takeovers.
Workforce
Coronavirus Roundup: White House Plans Independence Day Bash to Celebrate ‘Summer of Freedom’ from COVID
There's a lot to keep track of. Here’s today’s list of news updates and stories you may have missed.
Defense
Biden’s Hair Should Be ‘On Fire’ Over Afghan Translators Being Left Behind, Senator Says
Sen. Angus King proposed solutions, such as sending Afghans to NATO allies temporarily, but said there’s not enough time for Congress to act.
Route Fifty