Management

Federal Judge Temporarily Blocks Contractor Vaccine Mandate in Three States 

“This is not a case about whether vaccines are effective. They are,” wrote the judge. 

Pay & Benefits

GAO: Key Locality Pay Decisions Stalled by Lack of Biden Appointees

Although the Federal Salary Council could clear up years of disagreements that cropped up during the Trump administration, President Biden has thus far failed to appoint any members to the advisory body.

Workforce

Biden Signs Measure To Boost VA's Recruitment of Departing Service Members

New law will help VA fill shortages in its health care workforce, president says.

Nextgov

Biden Selects Former Air Force Executive to Lead Pentagon Acquisitions

The latest nomination for DOD’s undersecretary for acquisition and sustainment comes almost a year into the role’s vacancy.

Management

The Paywall That Continues to Stand in the Way of Government Transparency

Congress should act now to ensure Americans receive the free and unfettered online access to federal court records they deserve.

Workforce

Coronavirus Roundup: The Federal Response to the Omicron Variant 

There's a lot to keep track of. Here’s today’s list of news updates and stories you may have missed.

Defense

Space Force Has a Plan for Training Its Troops. Now It Must Figure Out What They Need to Learn

The newest service can’t train the same way its sisters do. It needs a new simulated environment.

Management

GovExec Daily: The President's Management Agenda Vision

Courtney Bublé joins the podcast to discuss the Biden-Harris administration's PMA document.

Employee Policy

Giving Tuesday: Feds, it's time to help your favorite causes

Every year on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, feds can be counted on to give millions of dollars and volunteer thousands of hours of their time to worthy causes. The Combined Federal Campaign, which runs through Jan. 15, 2022, is urging feds to join in.

Employee Policy

WH rolls out workforce DEIA strategy

The Biden administration just last week issued agencies a new roadmap to guide their efforts to develop strategic plans for diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility (DEIA), as required under a June 2021 executive order.

Management

USPS At Risk of Falling Short on Space and Staffing to Support Holiday Season, IG Warns

Postal Service says it's in much better shape than last year, when it was overwhelmed and beset by delays.

Workforce

Union Files Another Legal Challenge to the COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate for Feds

This came right before the Biden administration delayed penalties for failure to comply with the requirement. 

Oversight

We All Should Be Rooting for the Infrastructure Implementation Task Force

Identifying the people and places left behind in the current economy is critical.

Workforce

Biden Administration Delays Vaccine Mandate Penalties Until 2022

OMB and OPM officials said agencies should extend the counseling portion of enforcement of President Biden’s vaccine mandate through the end of the year, citing recent progress in the federal workforce’s vaccination rate.

Nextgov

Getting Ready for the Next Budget Showdown

As in some years past, there is a lot of uncertainty regarding a potential government shutdown.

Defense

Defense Industry Asks White House to Allow COVID Tests to Substitute for Vax Mandate

Nation’s largest military shipbuilder says it won’t comply until mandate is written into a contract.

Defense

Space Law Hasn’t Been Changed since 1967 – but the UN Aims to Update Laws and Keep Space Peaceful

Activities in space today are far more numerous and complicated compared to 1967, before humans had landed on the moon or Elon Musk had been born. Two experts explain the need for better laws to keep space peaceful.

Workforce

GovExec Today: Why Feds Thrive in Remote and Hybrid Work

Workplace expert Dr. Karen Sobel Lojeski joins the podcast to discuss the telework environment for public servants.

Employee Policy

New rule: $15 min wage for fed contractors

Employees working on federal contracts will have a $15 minimum wage starting on Jan. 30, 2022, per a new rule issued by the Labor Department.

Employee Policy

Vax mandate enforcement delayed

The vast majority of feds have complied with the Nov. 22 deadline to either be on a path to vaccination or in the process of applying for a legitimate exception. In recent days, the White House has instructed agencies to counsel employees or otherwise offer those out-of-compliance some additional time—before taking more punitive measures.