Workforce
Groups Renew Push to Finally Make Federal Employee Appeals Board Fully Functional
More than 3,000 federal worker appeals are currently languishing before the Merit Systems Protection Board.
Management
VA Rolls Back Trump-era Workforce Policies
The Veterans Affairs Department is restoring its previous contract with AFGE, which allows access to official time and union office space in department facilities.
Pay & Benefits
Don’t Make These TSP Withdrawal Mistakes
Saving enough for retirement is like climbing Mount Everest: Getting to the top is an incredible feat but once you get there, you have to come down. That’s the really dangerous part.
Workforce
Coronavirus Roundup: EPA Watchdog to Review Workplace Safety Measures; White House Is Rethinking Federal Vaccine Strategy
Here’s today’s list of news updates and stories you may have missed.
Nextgov
Watchdog to Review How Postal Inspectors Handle Cryptocurrency
Digital currencies have already been seized by the law enforcement arm in previous investigations.
Defense
Senators Offer to Let NSA Hunt Cyber Actors Inside the US
After SolarWinds hack, Gen. Nakasone seeks some sort of a fix for the cybersecurity ‘blind spot’ against Russia, China, but others cite privacy concerns in potential expanded authorities.
Management
Stop Blaming Tuskegee, Critics Say. It’s Not an ‘Excuse’ for Current Medical Racism.
When it comes to vaccine hesitancy, it's mainly academics and officials who are preoccupied with the history of the Tuskegee medical experiments.
Management
GovExec Daily: Reflections on 30 Years of Government Reform
John Kamensky and Daniel J. Chenok join the podcast to discuss a new white paper on reform efforts.
Defense
Military Exposed to Toxic Fumes From Burn Pits Set to Get Bipartisan Boost
Democratic Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand and Republican Sen. Marco Rubio were set to roll out a bill Friday that could help unknown thousands of service members who are sick from toxic substances they were exposed to from burning garbage in Afghanistan, Iraq and other war zones.
Route Fifty
Buttigieg Emphasizes Commitment to Working Directly with Local Governments
“States don't always see things from that critically important local perspective,” the former mayor told county officials.
Oversight
Third Defense Audit Shows Some Progress, Watchdog Says
Some components are performing better, but overall, the department’s books still don’t add up.
Management
VA Is at a Crossroads As It Kicks Off BRAC-Style Review of Medical Facilities
A commission could soon recommend closures of VA medical facilities, or call for more of them.
Management
New Blacks in Government President Reflects on Her Career During Women’s History Month
She was the first African American female to be appointed to the position of managing associate general counsel at the Government Accountability Office.
Workforce
Biden Asks Feds Across Government to Volunteer to Assist at the Border
Employees would serve four-month stints and work directly with migrant children.
Nextgov
COVID-19 Drove .Gov Search Traffic in 2020 But Not Always About Health
Data on searches performed on .gov websites shows people wanted information on every aspect of the pandemic, as well as continued interest in NASA and immigration.
Oversight
‘Immediate Relief Is Really Critical’: Isabella Guzman on Her New Role as Head of the Small Business Administration
Guzman is leading a department that will shepherd an influx of federal cash to help businesses impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. She says she wants to prioritize women and people of color.
Workforce
GovExec Daily: The NIH Director Talks Pandemic and Workforce Morale
Dr. Francis Collins speaks to GovExec's Courtney Bublé about his agency's role in fighting COVID-19.
Route Fifty
Buttigieg Underscores Urgency of Transportation Infrastructure Investment
Republican lawmakers are skeptical of the scope of the Biden administration’s planned infrastructure package, which the president is expected to provide more details on next week.
Management
Social Security Clears Way for Stimulus Checks After Accusations of Malfeasance
SSA Commissioner Andrew Saul argued that the agency was required to wait to provide payment files for beneficiaries because it received no appropriations to fund its work on stimulus payments in the most recent $1.8 trillion COVID-19 relief law.
Nextgov