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
Biden Commits to Investing ‘Closer to 2%’ of GDP in Science Research
The president referenced infrastructure, immigration, quantum computing and much more in his first formal press conference.
Pay & Benefits
Countdown to Retirement: What You Need To Be Ready For
A detailed look at the steps you can expect to go through in the process.
Management
Which Federal Agencies Are Giving Their Contractors Access to COVID-19 Vaccines?
Agencies are taking different approaches to inoculating their contract employees, even though—as one trade association executive put it—“The virus doesn’t care whether someone is wearing a blue government badge or green contractor badge.”
Management
Lessons From 30 Years of Government Reform Efforts
There’s much that newcomers to government should learn from the past.
Management
Dr. Rachel Levine Makes Transgender History in Confirmation as Assistant Secretary of HHS
Levine is the first ever Senate-confirmed trans official in U.S. history, but she faced anti-trans sentiments on her road to the historic confirmation.
Defense