Workforce
House Easily Passes Measure to Boost Hiring, Bonuses at State Department
Lawmakers say the "momentous" authorization bill, the first in 20 years, would "prevent the politicization and targeting and impunity" that have hurt morale at the department in recent years.
Route Fifty
Yellen Gets Icy Reception Making Infrastructure Tax Pitch to Chamber
The business group is not onboard with a White House plan to raise taxes on corporations to help pay for public works upgrades.
Management
OPM Updates Agencies, Unions on Labor-Management Forums
A Trump-era order shutting down union-management councils at federal agencies remains “under review,” officials said, but in the meantime, agencies may elect to start new ones if they wish.
Oversight
Justice Department Launches New COVID-19 Fraud Task Force
President Biden has been encouraging strong oversight of relief funds.
Nextgov
FCC Creates Public Database to Track Compliance with New Robocall-Killing Program
Telephone service providers must implement the new STIR/SHAKEN framework by the end of June and certify compliance in a new publicly available database.
Workforce
Coronavirus Roundup: Top CDC Career Official to Step Down; Another Smithsonian Museum Will Reopen
There's a lot to keep track of. Here’s today’s list of news updates and stories you may have missed.
Oversight
Democratic Lawmakers Urge Biden To Act On Gender-Neutral Federal IDs
The administration promised to allow nonbinary and intersex people to get passports that reflect their gender identities. Rep. Ro Khanna told The 19th an executive order is a “good first step.”
Management
Documents Show Trump Officials Used Secret Terrorism Unit to Question Lawyers at the Border
In newly disclosed records, Trump officials cited conspiracies about Antifa to justify interrogating immigration lawyers with a special terrorism unit. The documents also show that more lawyers were targeted than previously known.
Oversight
GovExec Daily: Brian Miller and Pandemic Oversight
Courtney Bublé joins the podcast to discuss her conversation with the Special Inspector General for Pandemic Recovery and other oversight stories.
Route Fifty
Most States Held Off Draining Savings in Response to Pandemic
Only 15 tapped rainy day funds in fiscal 2020 and reserves remained near record levels. Now, better-than-expected tax revenues and federal aid could limit the need for further withdrawals.
Route Fifty
South Carolina Brings Back the Firing Squad for Executions
Amid a lethal injection drug shortage, the state has put no inmates to death in a decade. Those on death row must now choose between the electric chair and firing squad if drugs are unavailable.
Management
OPM Urges Agencies to Support Feds’ Mental Health
The government’s HR agency this week will host a panel discussion of mental health issues for officials and share tips for managers to support work-life balance initiatives.
Workforce
Leadership Failures Allowed Hostile Work Environment to Persist Within DHS, Watchdog Finds
Investigators fault agency leaders for enabling offensive violations of social media policy.
Nextgov
Senate Bills Aim to Grow Federal Tech-Ready Workforce—and the Government’s Transparency About its AI Use
Lawmakers moved to operationalize suggestions made by a Congressionally-mandated AI commission.
Management
Vaccinated Individuals No Longer Need Masks in Federal Buildings
The Office of Management and Budget informed agencies following a change in public health guidance.
Management
Three Cabinet Secretaries on How Their Experiences Inform Their Leadership and Pandemic Response
Marcia Fudge, Jennifer Granholm and Gina Raimondo said they all had to staff up when they started running their agencies — but that it gave them a chance to diversify.
Defense
Defense Department Lifts Mask Mandate for Fully Vaccinated Personnel
Fully vaccinated DOD personnel are no longer required to wear a mask at Defense Department facilities.
Workforce
Should You Bring Employees Back to the Office?
Research shows that people prefer to minimize their time in the office because most work cultures are not healthy or engaging.
Management
Why Is the FDA Funded in Part by the Companies It Regulates?
The FDA receives almost half its funding from companies it regulates, such as drug and medical device makers. Is this something you should be concerned about?
Management