Management
ICE Detention Operators Defend Coronavirus Response Amid Growing Concerns
More than 3,000 immigrants in federal custody have tested positive for COVID-19.
Route Fifty
Bars Are ‘One of the Worst Environments’ for the Spread of Covid-19. Is It Time for Governors to Shut Them Down?
If you go to a bar in a pandemic, you might get more than a cocktail.
Nextgov
Customs to Expand License Plate Reading Program Nationwide
Customs will have access to commercial datasets including license plate images and data from parking garages, toll booth cameras and financial institutions, as well as local governments and law enforcement.
Pay & Benefits
House Lawmakers Call for Pay Parity Between Military and Civilian Federal Workers
Although the House version of a defense policy bill includes a 3% pay increase for members of the military in 2021, an appropriations bill under consideration effectively endorses only a 1% raise for civilians.
Workforce
Coronavirus Roundup: CDC Employees Decry Systematic Racism at Agency; Top House Lawmakers Ask Watchdog to Review Medical Supply Chain
There's a lot to keep track of. Here’s today’s list of news updates and stories you may have missed.
Management
You Can Make Millions Selling Masks to the Government in Three Easy Steps
The federal government is essentially providing seed money to PPE startups, including some run by people accused of fraud. Mask brokers describe a simple blueprint for buying masks from China to get rich.
Oversight
Trump Says He 'Disagreed' With Privately Funded Wall, So Why Did His Administration Award the Builder $1.7 Billion in Contracts to Erect More Walls?
President Trump now claims this privately funded border wall — touted as the “Lamborghini” of fences — was built to “make me look bad,” even though the project’s builder and funders are Trump supporters.
Defense
The Defense Bill Could Rewrite How the US Does Cyber Defense
A proposed new office would help private entities and the government respond together to major hacks.
Management
Does the COVID-19 Crisis Cap 25 Years of Government Blunders?
"What went wrong? The answer is: Almost everything went wrong, and almost everything that did go wrong had been foretold."
Oversight
GovExec Daily: Pandemic Response and Trust in Government
Dr. Barry Eichengreen joins the podcast to discuss a study on how young people see government based on its ability to deal with a public health disaster.
Management
Book Review: Voices From a Slow-Moving Nuclear Calamity
In “The Hanford Plaintiffs,” Trisha T. Pritikin gives voice to the downwinders of the notorious Hanford nuclear plant.
Management
How a Key Federal Civil Rights Agency Was Sidelined as Historic Protests Erupted
Launched by President Lyndon Johnson in 1964, the Community Relations Service has been without a director and short-staffed during recent unrest. The Trump administration has repeatedly tried to eliminate the agency.
Route Fifty
‘A Safety Net That’s Ripped’: Problems Plague State Unemployment Systems
In states like Florida and Alabama, people have struggled to get unemployment insurance benefits as the coronavirus continues to drive a flood of claims.
Oversight
One Federal Agency Was Suing Him for Fraud. Another Paid His Company Millions for Masks.
Court records show the federal government gave $20 million in contracts to a company partly controlled by a man with a history of shady business practices.
Oversight
Eroding Private Border Wall to Get an Engineering Inspection Just Months After Completion
Months after the “Lamborghini” of border walls was built along the Rio Grande, the builder agreed to an engineering inspection of his controversial structure. Experts say the wall is showing signs of erosion that threatens its stability.
Oversight
COVID-19: as Offices Reopen, Here’s What to Expect if You’re Worried about Getting Sick on the Job
Tens of millions of Americans who have been telecommuting during the pandemic are beginning to head back to the office – even though COVID-19 remains a threat.
Management
The Most Common IRS Tax Forms You’re Likely to Come Across When Filing
For 2020, the tax deadline was extended to July 15. Here’s a guide to the most common tax forms and when they’re used — as well as other things to keep in mind when filing during COVID-19.
Route Fifty
One-Third of U.S. Workers Want Permanent Remote Work
A new Morning Consult survey finds many workers would like to continue working from home after the coronavirus pandemic recedes and some would likely move to a new city or state if remote work becomes permanent.
Management
OPM Delays Annual Workforce Survey Again Four Days Before Kickoff
The federal government’s human resources agency declined to explain the reasoning for the last minute postponement aside from allowing agencies to “focus on critical missions.”
Workforce