Route Fifty
State, Local Government Workers Vaccinated at Higher Rate Than General Public
A new report found 70% of public sector employees were vaccinated, but also reveals some troubling disparities.
Nextgov
Watchdog: 10 Government Agencies Deployed Clearview AI Facial Recognition Tech
A Government Accountability Office report details how agencies used different versions of the biometric technology during the pandemic and protests.
Pay & Benefits
TSP Can Do More to Assess Financial Risk of Climate Change, Watchdog Finds
GAO urged the federal government’s 401(k)-style retirement savings program to conduct a more thorough review of participants’ exposure to climate change-related risks next year.
Workforce
Lawmakers Advance Bills to Boost Federal Employee Protections, Agency Oversight
Republicans say measures would allow feds to "slow roll" policies and discourage individuals from joining government.
Management
Federal Agencies Respond to Partial Condo Collapse in Florida
President Biden would support a federal probe, if one is warranted.
Oversight
Analysis: Why We’ll Likely Never Know Whether a COVID-19 Lab Leak Happened in China
If international scientific sleuths are hoping to see a lab log or find a whistleblower, that sort of information won’t be revealed. In China today, it is dangerous to say what you know if it challenges the official government narrative.
Nextgov
DARPA Wants AI That Can Learn From Others’ Experiences
The advanced research agency is putting up $1 million per project to overcome challenges associated with AI systems learning from each other.
Management
Building On Biden’s EO on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Research offers recommendations for improving transparency, access, recruitment and accountability.
Management
Why No One Is Sure If Delta Is Deadlier
The variants are spreading faster, but they don’t necessarily have incentive to kill more often.
Management
Poll: Many Americans Are Relaxing COVID-19 Precautions
A poll shows 63% of Americans plan to go to a bar or restaurant in the next few weeks. A year ago, 43% were willing to if COVID restrictions were lifted.
Management
GovExec Daily: How to Best Apply Performance Pressure
University of Georgia's Dr. Marie S. Mitchell joins the podcast to discuss how best to manage employees using challenging pressure against threatening pressure.
Management
NASA Ranks as the Best Place to Work in Government for Ninth Year
The federal government still has “a lot of work to do to improve its competitiveness with the private sector as an employer of choice,” head of the nonprofit that released the rankings says.
Employee Policy
Federal job satisfaction still lags
The annual Best Places to Work in the Federal Government Survey, an analysis by the Partnership for Public Service of OPM survey research, shows federal employee engagement, as in previous years, remains lower than in private sector employees.
Nextgov
Experts Assess the Unexplained in Government’s Recent UFO Report
Officials briefed Nextgov on notable inclusions—and what might come next.
Workforce
Panel Reaffirms Blow to Trump's Signature Civil Service Reform, Again Calling for Rehiring of Fired Workers
Labor authority dismisses VA's attempt for further consideration of the case.
Workforce
Biden Signs Sweeping Order to Improve Diversity, Inclusion and Accessibility Across Federal Workforce
All agencies will be required to submit a plan to improve their diversity initiatives, while OPM will be tasked with ensuring its various benefits programs are responsive to LGBTQ+ employees’ needs.
Route Fifty
Bipartisan Infrastructure Plan, Supported by State and Local Governments, Back on Track
President’s Biden walked back comments that he would not sign an infrastructure bill without a second Democrat-backed proposal. That irked Republicans who threatened to derail the agreement.
Management
After Nearly 60 Years, National Intelligence University Moves to ODNI
“We're one stop on that journey for developing that future officer, that future leader,” said the university president.
Management
Why America Must Lead—and Fund—the Ocean Data Revolution
We have an opportunity to empower natural resource managers, federal agencies and local communities to make informed decisions with the best available science.
Nextgov