Nextgov
NASA’s Martian Helicopter Readies for Inaugural Flight on Earth’s Neighbor
The agency provided updates on milestones met—and a glimpse at what’s to come.
Management
Coronavirus Roundup: Federal Government Unlikely to Mandate Vaccine Passports; Army Begins Vaccine Trial in Humans
There's a lot to keep track of. Here’s today’s list of news updates and stories you may have missed.
Oversight
Health Officials Split on Rapid COVID Tests as Admission Tickets
Skeptics point out rapid tests aren’t totally reliable.
Workforce
What’s Safe to Do after You Get the COVID-19 Vaccine?
Just because you've gotten a COVID-19 vaccine doesn't mean you can return to your pre-pandemic lifestyle—at least not yet. An expert brings you up to speed.
Oversight
GovExec Daily: A Request for Stronger Whistleblower Protections
The Government Accountability Project's Irvin McCullough joins the show to discuss a letter sent to the White House and Congress.
Route Fifty
‘SALT’ Saga Flares as Governors Push to Repeal $10,000 Limit
The latest efforts to restore a federal break for state and local tax payments come as the White House proposes tax policy changes to help fund President Biden's infrastructure package.
Oversight
Nearly 90% of Pentagon Employees Said Telework Hasn't Hurt Productivity
A report from the Defense Department’s inspector general found that early IT issues following the shift to maximum telework stemmed from component agencies failing to perform required test runs.
Nextgov
DOD’s Vulnerability Disclosure Program for Contractors Is in Demand
The Defense Cyber Crime Center launched a pilot with “a few dozen” companies participating.
Management
White House Blames Transition in Part for Delay in Releasing Budget Preview
Not having a confirmed budget office leader was another factor, said White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki.
Workforce
VA Suicide Prevention Teams Report Burnout as Department Fails to Ensure Proper Staffing
VA and Congress are doing more to identify vets at risk for suicide, but not keeping pace with staffing.
Management
Democrats Seek to Undo Six ‘Midnight’ Regulations
Sunday was the deadline under the Congressional Review Act.
Nextgov
Pilot IRS Will Shift Focus to Key Technologies in 2021 Solicitations
Forthcoming solicitations will center on digitizing paper and poor-quality documents, high-speed scanning and automation tools.
Defense
Biden Taps Current, Former Defense Officials to Oversee Acquisition, Budget, Intel at Pentagon
A former comptroller would return to the job if the Senate approves.
Management
Collaboration Between OPM and OMB: Is It Even Possible?
Could government's HR office really “work in concert” with the White House budget office, as a new report recommends, in light of OMB’s clear attempt to eliminate the independent personnel agency?
Management
GovExec Daily: How to Budget for the Next Pandemic
Former OMB official Doug Criscitello joins the podcast to discuss how government can prepare for catastrophe.
Management
Documents Show Trump Officials Skirted Rules to Reward Politically Connected and Untested Firms With Huge Pandemic Contracts
House Democrats investigating the COVID-19 response say Trump adviser Peter Navarro pressured agencies to award deals worth hundreds of millions of dollars.
Route Fifty
Biden Infrastructure Plan Offers $213 Billion ‘Sweeping Investment’ in Affordable Housing
The president’s proposal calls for $40 billion to improve existing public housing, as well as funding for grants and tax credit programs to build and preserve affordable units.
Pay & Benefits
Lawmakers Push to Fix Controversial Tax Rule Affecting Federal Retirees
A new bill would set up a new formula to calculate how much retirees get in Social Security benefits if they also receive a defined benefit pension, in some cases replacing the controversial Windfall Elimination Provision.
Management
USAID Partners with Nonprofit to Increase Diversity in Talent Pipeline
The initiative, through the Bureau for Resilience and Food Security, is one of several actions the U.S. Agency for International Development has taken to improve diversity and inclusion.
Workforce