Route Fifty
Buddying Up For Quarantine: Animal Shelters Report Adoption Spikes Amid Pandemic Shutdowns
Requests to foster and adopt animals have skyrocketed across the country as Americans hunker down at home. But leaders at some animal shelters say they haven't seen the same boom, while all worry about future funding.
Workforce
Coronavirus Roundup: IRS Will Automatically Send Checks to Social Security Recipients
There's a lot to keep track of. Here’s today’s list of news updates and stories you may have missed.
Nextgov
COVID Response Delays Awards for GSA’s E-Commerce Platform Pilots
The online purchasing platforms were meant to be awarded and rolled out before the end of the year. But getting agencies equipped with teleworking tech has taken priority.
Oversight
Implementing the 2020 Stimulus: Lessons From the 2009 Recovery Act
The new loan initiative could overwhelm the Small Business Administration’s staff and is likely to be a high-risk area for implementation bottlenecks and confusion.
Management
Viewpoint: Authoritarian Populists Have Six Classic Moves. Trump's Response to COVID-19 Uses 5 of Them.
While the president may not be using the coronavirus to consolidate power, Americans should still be worried about the threat he poses to democracy.
Route Fifty
Cities and Counties Make Workforce Cuts as Coronavirus Financial Toll Mounts
Cincinnati this week announced it would place hundreds of workers on unpaid temporary leave. It’s just one of the places facing tough staffing decisions.
Nextgov
Argonne Taps Supercomputing Network to Study How Coronavirus Spreads
The national laboratory enlisted collaborators to help unleash a range of efforts in the fight against COVID-19.
Defense
How the Marine Corps Plans to Become Lighter, Nimbler, More Unmanned
The Force Design 2030 report discards tanks and doubles UAV squadrons.
Workforce
How To Keep Your Pets Happy While Social Distancing
Staying home for social distancing may disrupt your pets' routine. But recreating a schedule can keep them (and you) happy.
Management
GovExec Daily: Medical Supply Shortages and the Pandemic
Route Fifty’s Emma Coleman and GovExec’s Eric Katz join the podcast to discuss the coordination between government and health officials – and where that is failing.
Workforce
Thousands of IRS Employees Are Currently Home With Pay, But Not Working
Agency faces major logistical challenges after massive stimulus package, but union says tens of thousands of employees cannot work remotely.
Management
What Happens if Social Distancing for COVID-19 Ends Too Soon?
A new model can show how different interventions, like social distancing, will affect the spread of the novel coronavirus.
Oversight
House Lawmakers Accuse GSA of Breaching Ban on Implementing OPM Merger
Oversight panel leaders say newly uncovered emails confirm that the General Services Administration’s pending revocation of the Office of Personnel Management’s building operation authority is part of the plan to abolish the HR agency.
Management
Federal Prison System Goes Into ‘Modified Lockdown’
New procedures due to coronavirus concerns will last 14 days, after which the agency will re-evaluate.
Workforce
Sexual Harassment Protections for Feds a ‘Byzantine Morass,’ Commission Finds in Calling for Widespread Reforms
Claims of sexual harassment by federal employees have spiked by 36% in recent years.
Nextgov
Defense Department Halts Health Records Rollout During COVID-19
The pause is in response to the coronavirus outbreak.
Route Fifty
Lessons from States that Embraced Telework Before the Coronavirus
COMMENTARY | How to avoid certain pitfalls now that many—or most—employees must now work from home.
Workforce
Coronavirus Roundup: A Dire New Assessment, More Calls to Close National Parks
There's a lot to keep track of. Here’s today’s list of news updates and stories you may have missed.
Pay & Benefits
TSP Portfolios Plummet, and a Delay to the Annual Federal Morale Survey
A weekly roundup of pay and benefits news.
Nextgov