Route Fifty
Winter Storm Power Outages Lead to Calls for Investigation
At least 4 million people were without power in Texas after freezing temperatures and surging electricity use overwhelmed the state’s grid.
Management
Judge Rules He Lacks Jurisdiction to Hear Impasses Panel Case
U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols dismissed a lawsuit filed by a union representing VA employees challenging the appointment process for members of the Federal Service Impasses Panel.
Workforce
Whistleblower Protection Agency Argues for Lower Standard for Feds to Prove They've Been Retaliated Against
Office of Special Counsel continues to butt heads with appeals board over whistleblower laws.
Oversight
House Republicans Call for Accounting of Unused COVID Relief Funds
Effort seeks to bolster transparency and accountability as Congress and the president are working to pass the next aid package.
Nextgov
State Department Wants a Small Business to Manage Its Cloud Office
The vendor will support the relatively new Cloud Program Management Office.
Workforce
To Close Gender Gap, Fight Pay Secrecy
"An emerging body of research finds that pay secrecy policies... disadvantage women in particular."
Oversight
CDC Issues New Guidance on How to Reopen Schools
High COVID-19 case counts mean most schools likely aren't ready to be fully in person.
Oversight
It’s not Just Trump – Presidents and Politicians Have Long Shredded Etiquette
'Mind your manners' isn't just something your mother told you. Manners – and civility – are an essential component of how things get done in government, and the Founding Fathers knew it.
Management
GovExec Daily: How the Vaccine Rollout is Leaving out Communities of Color
The Center for Urban and Racial Equity's Dr. Judy Lubin joins the podcast to discuss the inequality still present in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.
Management
Controversial EEOC Official Time Rule Caught Up in Biden ‘Midnight Regulations’ Freeze
The agency tasked with investigating employment discrimination said it is considering “next steps” after a planned rule ending union officials’ guaranteed access to official time to work on complaints was withdrawn following President Biden’s inauguration.
Workforce
Some Agencies Tell Employees They Should Be Prioritized for COVID-19 Vaccine, But Offer Little Other Help
Federal agencies and states appear to disagree on who is responsible for vaccinating frontline federal workers.
Route Fifty
Maryland Created the Police Officers’ Bill of Rights. Now Lawmakers There Might Repeal It.
Passed in 1974, the statute grants broad workplace protections for officers accused of misconduct and has served as a blueprint for similar laws in more than a dozen other states.
Oversight
Justice IG Identifies Gaps in Whistleblower Protections for Contract Employees
The department said it’s working to ensure they know their rights.
Route Fifty
‘Vaccine Tourism’ Leads to Tighter Eligibility Checks
States’ rollout of the coronavirus vaccine has been uneven, and left some people searching for appointments across state lines. Health officials say it’s a problem given scarce resources.
Workforce
Coronavirus Roundup: Concerns Over Lack of FDA Administrator Nominee; Agencies Consider Post-Pandemic Work Structure
There's a lot to keep track of. Here’s today’s list of news updates and stories you may have missed.
Management
Vice President Kamala Harris Emphasizes Speed and Equity in Response to COVID-19 Crisis
In Harris’ first national sit-down interview since becoming vice president, she discusses her focus on an equitable response to the COVID-19 crisis with 19th editor-at-large Errin Haines.
Management
The Next Steps in Performance Management are Critical
The Biden administration should restore and stimulate performance management across the executive branch, encouraging managers doing the hard work of improvement.
Oversight
GovExec Daily: Tanden and the State of Biden's Nominations
Courtney Bublé joins the podcast to discuss how the administration is filling out.
Route Fifty
Proposals Would Help States and Localities With Paid Leave Costs
Congressional lawmakers reintroduced bills that would extend payroll tax credits to state and local governments, to help offset the expense of coronavirus-related leave for their workers.
Nextgov