Management
Talking Politics in 2021: Lessons on Humility and Truth-Seeking from Benjamin Franklin
Benjamin Franklin spoke and wrote in ways that, if taken up now, could begin to erode the polarization of the current era.
Oversight
GovExec Daily: OMB's Secret Spending Decisions
The National Taxpayers Union's Andrew Lautz and the Project on Government Oversight's Dylan Hedtler-Gaudette join the show to discuss how to fix the apportionments process.
Route Fifty
Study: $15 Minimum Wage Would Result in Fewer Jobs, Less Poverty
A report by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office comes as the Biden administration pushes the federal minimum wage hike.
Pay & Benefits
Personnel Office Urged to Provide Feds with Administrative Leave to Get COVID-19 Vaccinations
Washington, D.C.- area House Democrats said some agencies have declined to offer paid time off, although the lawmakers would not say which ones.
Management
Biden Names a Czar for Federal Workforce and Agency Performance Issues
Pam Coleman will lead efforts to "empower and rebuild the federal workforce."
Management
Senate To Take Up Impeachment Amid Confirming Key Biden Administration Nominees
President Biden has seven high-level nominees approved so far.
Workforce
Federal Agencies Are Increasingly Avoiding Normal Hiring Procedures to Bring On New Staff Quickly
Policymakers should resolve a conflict in how direct hiring is being used, reviewing agency says.
Workforce
Coronavirus Roundup: Biden Administration Invokes Defense Production Act; Ongoing Talks About a Pre-flight COVID Testing Mandate
There's a lot to keep track of. Here’s today’s list of news updates and stories you may have missed.
Defense
Biden Extends Ban on Turkey Buying F-35 Stealth Fighter
Pentagon spokesman urges Ankara “not to retain” an advanced Russian air-defense system.
Management
Setting the Stage for Improved Performance
The Biden administration has an opportunity to significantly change how government works.
Tech
‘Cruel’ Digital Race For Vaccines Leaves Many Seniors Behind
Glitchy websites, jammed phone lines and long lines outside clinics are commonplace as states expand who’s eligible to be vaccinated. The oldest Americans and those without caregivers and computer skills are at a distinct disadvantage.
Pay & Benefits
GovExec Daily: Paying Feds More to Fix the Civil Service
Dr. James L. Perry joins the podcast to discuss how compensation reform should be a top priority for the Biden administration.
Oversight
Comparing Death Tolls From COVID-19 to Past Wars Is Fraught
COVID-19 has now killed more Americans than World War II did. That fact helps some people put the viral death toll in perspective, while others find it offensive.
Route Fifty
Poll Finds Steep Drop in Satisfaction With Government in the U.S.
The Gallup survey results indicate people are unhappy with other aspects of American life as well, like the moral climate and the influence of corporations.
Workforce
Biden's Early Immigration Overhaul Has Overlooked One Growing Problem: A Massive Court Backlog
The nation's immigrations courts have 1.3 million pending cases, and some immigrants in Texas wait nearly five years for a court hearing.
Management
Civilian and Military Personnel Will Be Deploying to First Federally Run Vaccine Sites in Coming Days
Biden administration launches pilot program for "mega-sites" staffed primarily by federal workers to assist state and local governments.
Management
Union: VA Continues Stonewalling Contract Negotiations Despite Biden Order
In the two weeks since President Biden signed an executive order instructing agencies to work collaboratively with labor groups, the VA has continued Trump-era tactics against its largest union, AFGE says.
Management
Rocky Presidential Transition Prompts Calls for Changes in the Law
The delay in the formal start of the changeover, coronavirus pandemic and President Trump’s lawsuits all presented challenges.
Management
6 Ways New Appointees Can Work Effectively With Career Federal Employees
Advice from a former Obama administration official on how to smooth the transition.
Oversight