Nextgov
How USPTO’s First Emerging Tech Director Is Approaching the Nascent Role
Jerry Ma recently offered a glimpse into his first months with the agency.
Defense
How the Service Academies Could Improve Defense Management
Why a disciplined study of the economics of national security should be required for future military leaders.
Pay & Benefits
OPM, HHS Move to End Surprise Medical Billing, and More
A weekly roundup of pay and benefits news.
Route Fifty
As Variant Spreads, Some Regions Bring Back Mask Advisories
In St. Louis and Los Angeles, officials are urging vaccinated residents to wear masks as cases of the Delta strain of Covid-19 are on the rise.
Management
Agencies Ramp Up COVID-19 Deployments Again to Address Outbreaks
White House launches “surge response teams” just as agencies were starting to bring back federal personnel.
Management
COVID-19 Vaccines Likely Activate Strong, Lasting Immunity
How long does immunity from COVID-19 vaccines last? Researchers have found the immune response to the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines could last a long time.
Oversight
Oversight Groups Express Concern About Future of the Housing Finance Agency IG Office
Three wrote to the president following the IG’s resignation announcement.
Nextgov
IG: SBA’s Cybersecurity ‘Not Effective,’ In Part Due to COVID
The pandemic created new cybersecurity problems for the Small Business Administration, according to the agency’s annual FISMA report.
Workforce
Coronavirus Roundup: Early Talks on Possible Military Vaccination Requirement; DHS to Maintain Telework Post-COVID
There's a lot to keep track of. Here’s today’s list of news updates and stories you may have missed.
Management
OPM Asks Watchdog to Review Assessment Process for Prestigious Fellowship Amid Diversity Concerns
The agency acknowledged an “unacceptable decline” in finalists in certain demographic groups and is taking steps to improve inclusivity within the program.
Defense
How JEDI’s Ghost Will Bring Bitter Rivals Together
The death of the Pentagon’s controversial cloud computing mega-contract likely puts Amazon and Microsoft in a new sort of partnership.
Management
GovExec Daily: How Biden is Managing Government So Far
Courtney Bublé joins the podcast to discuss the administration's rollback of its predecessors' policies.
Employee Policy
Opinion: Require financial training at military academies, to combat waste, fraud and abuse
GAO auditors often cannot rely on financial figures submitted on DOD use of resources. Some financial experts say one solution would be to require courses in economics, including accounting and other pertinent subfields, to graduate from all service academies.
Pay
Biden admin ups pay for fed firefighters
Average annual pay for U.S. Forest Service firefighters is $38,000, versus $70,000 to $88,000 for their state, local and private counterparts. The White House has ordered an immediate modest boost, and bills pending in Congress could lock in this and additional gains for these crucial first responders.
Route Fifty
Pandemic Growth Led This State to Slash Taxes, Issue Rebates
Tax policy experts and state officials believe Idaho’s rapid economic growth will offset the tax cuts, making them feasible under federal funding rules.
Management
White House Tells Watchdog It Won’t Comply With Some Priority Suggestions to Improve Government
OMB has 153 open recommendations from GAO and a lower completion rate than the rest of government.
Pay & Benefits
White House Moves to Bolster Wildland Firefighter Pay
President Biden previously expressed outrage that some federal firefighters make less than $15 per hour.
Management
Office of Government Ethics Seeks Feedback on Upcoming Strategic Plan
New objectives are slated to focus on equity and broader outreach.
Route Fifty
This Week in Federal Funding
In the July 6 edition we look at how states have approached their American Rescue Plan Act allotments so far.
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