Route Fifty
The Cities and Counties Getting the Biggest Sums of Federal Aid
The Treasury Department will begin distributing $350 billion in state and local pandemic recovery money this month. Funding for individual localities ranges widely between places, from thousands of dollars up into the billions.
Management
OPM Extends Deadline for Agencies to Implement Competency-Based Hiring
Citing “concern” from agencies, the federal government’s HR shop is giving officials until the end of 2021 to implement a Trump-era executive order overhauling federal hiring.
Workforce
Court Reverses Ruling Critics Said Left Feds Vulnerable to Retaliation, Citing 'Magnitude' of Errors
Appeals board itself had conceded its judge made mistakes on the case.
Nextgov
Energy Department Leading White House Interagency Response to Pipeline Attack
The hack highlights jurisdictional issues on pipeline cybersecurity.
Oversight
Pandemic IG: ‘This Office Was Almost Set Up To Fail And Yet We're Succeeding’
Brian Miller reflects on a year of coronavirus oversight.
Nextgov
DHS Drops Proposal to Expand Immigration-Related Biometrics Collection
The Biden administration withdrew the controversial rule, which garnered more than 5,000 comments when it was proposed last fall.
Nextgov
Federal Tech-Focused Officials Are on the Move
Both new and familiar faces are taking on information technology-aligned positions.
Route Fifty
Treasury to Begin Distribution of $350 Billion for State, Local Governments
The guidance released Monday gives governments wide latitude in spending American Rescue Plan funds.
Management
The Foundation of the GS System Has Become a Sham
The failure of the job classification system affects every HR practice and puts billions of dollars in payroll in question.
Management
The Model for Fixing the DOJ
Joe Biden has inherited a department plagued by scandal, just as Gerald Ford did in 1974.
Tech
GovExec Daily: Using Data for Racial Equity
Temilola Afolabi joins the podcast to discuss how the White House can use data in the pursuit of equity.
Management
Big Government Is Back. Is the Civil Service Ready?
The administration must seriously consider whether the civil service is equipped to effectively implement Biden’s vision. A new book offers guidance.
Workforce
FEC Recommends Top Leaders Be Eligible for Senior Executive Service
The Senior Executive Association’s initial review says the proposal “makes sense on its face.”
Route Fifty
States, Cities Begin to Order Workers Back to the Office
The ACLU is challenging a directive from South Carolina’s governor that requires state employees to return to in-person work. Other state and local orders are under fire as well.
Nextgov
Lawmakers Say It’s Past Time OMB Issued IDEA Act Guidance
After two years in limbo and a pandemic forcing more adoption of digital services, House lawmakers want to see real guidance issued in the next 45 days.
Management
Postmaster General Vows to 'Consider' Critiques as USPS Announces Tanking Performance in Recent Months
Postal Service sees growing revenue, though losses persist as costs also soar.
Nextgov
Justice Official Recommends Supreme Court Reject Oracle’s JEDI Petition
Oracle has not won at any level of court despite numerous bid protests against the Pentagon’s Joint Enterprise Defense Infrastructure contract.
Defense
Army Reorganizes Investigations Office After Fort Hood Review; Austin, Milley Signal More Changes
The service will remove harassment investigations from units, but keep them within the military ranks. Is that enough?
Workforce
Coronavirus Roundup: Possible Identity Theft in Small Business Relief Program; Biden COVID Equity Task Force to Take Up Discrimination and Xenophobia
There's a lot to keep track of. Here’s today’s list of news updates and stories you may have missed.
Workforce