Route Fifty
Chances Dim For State and Local Aid in Pending Virus Relief Deal
While President Trump has indicated some support to bolster struggling state and local governments, he has said it can wait until the next coronavirus aid package.
Management
Despite Coronavirus, ‘The Machinery Continues’ at Immigration Courts
Immigration judges and employees at the Executive Office of Immigration Review said the agency’s informal policy to keep offices and courts open puts deportations over workers’ safety.
Workforce
Union Files National Grievance Over Alleged Safety Violations at Federal Prisons During Coronavirus Pandemic
Forced leave, lack of protective gear and privacy breaches are among the allegations.
Management
White House Instructs Agencies to Begin Process of Returning Some Employees to Their Offices
Operations will remain abnormal for the coming months and will vary widely across the country.
Nextgov
VA and DOD Now Default to Sharing Patient Data with Private-Sector Providers
The joint electronic health records management office launched an information exchange program to make it easier to share patient data with thousands of “community partners.”
Route Fifty
As New York Begins ‘Aggressive’ Antibody Testing, Experts Caution Much Still Unknown About Immunity
The state announced a plan on Sunday to begin testing people for antibodies that might indicate some immunity to Covid-19. International public health officials warn that the tests aren’t conclusive.
Oversight
Analysis: What Federalism Means for the Coronavirus Response
Throughout the coronavirus crisis, President Trump has made inconsistent statements about who is responsible for key aspects of the nation’s response to the pandemic. The Constitution has the answer.
Workforce
Survey: Most Feds Say the Coronavirus Pandemic Has Had a 'Major' or 'Extreme' Impact on Agency Operations
Only 4-in-10 of those still reporting to work say their agencies have provided adequate protections.
Route Fifty
‘There’s Never Been Anything Like This:’ Managing the State Employee Workforce
An interview about the challenges faced by human resource directors as they figure out leave policies, hazardous duty pay and countless other workforce issues during the coronavirus crisis.
Workforce
Coronavirus Roundup: GAO is Reviewing the Federal Government’s Pandemic Response
There's a lot to keep track of. Here’s today’s list of news updates and stories you may have missed.
Management
Internal Documents Show Federal Agencies Supported the WHO Before Trump Was Against It
In a battle between China and the U.S. over global leadership, American diplomats and aid officials cited U.S. funding of the World Health Organization as key and relied heavily on the agency for help. When Trump cut its funding, he upended all that.
Workforce
Office of Special Counsel to Federal Employees: We’re Here to Protect You
As the office takes steps to protect its own employees, OSC has created a coronavirus task force to handle the rise in whistleblower disclosures and charges of retaliation.
Management
The Army Corps of Engineers' Race to Convert Hotels and Convention Centers to Hospitals
The agency's first makeshift hospital was in New York’s Javits Center, and it is building or has built close to 30 similar projects around the country.
Nextgov
VA to Distribute Thousands of Facebook Portals to Vets and Caregivers in Isolation
The devices will be distributed in pairs to connect qualifying veterans and caregivers during the pandemic.
Tech
GovExec Daily: Oversight and the JEDI Contract
Frank Konkel joins the podcast to explain the Pentagon IG report on the huge defense cloud contract.
Workforce
Millions of Essential Workers Are Being Left Out of COVID-19 Workplace Safety Protections, Thanks to OSHA
Even as the federal worker-safety agency has been inundated with complaints, it has rolled back safety standards and virtually eliminated non-health care workplaces from government protection.
Route Fifty
Prospect of Steep Service Cuts Looms as Virus Batters State and Local Budgets
“The longer this persists, the deeper it will be for state and locals and state and local cutbacks,” one expert noted this week.
Workforce
Restarting the Economy Too Soon Could Damage It More
Preventing people from getting sick with COVID-19 and saving lives is better for the economy than reopening businesses too soon, a new paper finds.
Nextgov
How a Slice of Spectrum Split the U.S. Government
The head of the Federal Communications Commission wants to allow a satellite company access in the interest of 5G despite objections from Defense, Commerce and other departments and agencies.
Route Fifty