Management
NIH Director: ‘We’re on an Exponential Curve’
Francis Collins speaks about the coronavirus, his faith, and an unusual friendship.
Workforce
Coronavirus Roundup: Federal Response Could Last 18 Months
There's a lot to keep track of. Here’s today’s list of news updates and stories you may have missed.
Management
Immigration Courts Become the Latest in the Executive Branch to Postpone Cases
Immigration courts and services will largely pause during the coronavirus pandemic.
Defense
F-35 Factories In Italy, Japan Are Reopening After Closing for Coronavirus
An assembly plant in Japan is already open and another in Italy is expected to reopen on Wednesday.
Nextgov
Lawmakers Pressure Trump to Issue Federal Telework Executive Order
An increasing number of senators and representatives calling on President Trump to order telework to eligible federal employees and contractors.
Management
New White House Guidance Says Agencies Should ‘Minimize Face-to-Face Interactions’
The Office of Management and Budget said the government must continue to operate through the COVID-19 pandemic.
Management
Understaffed Veterans Affairs Scrambles to Confront COVID-19
The nation’s largest integrated health care system has only limited protocols in place to protect elderly patients. Roughly half of the 9 million veterans who use the VA’s hospitals are at least 65 years old.
Defense
‘We Want to Be the Last Resort,’ Says Defense Secretary
Pentagon’s Esper says the U.S. military is ready to help fight the coronavirus, but may not be the best — or fastest — solution.
Workforce
GovExec Daily: How the Pentagon is Responding to Coronavirus
Defense One's Brad Peniston joins the podcast to explain the Defense Department's moves during the early stages of the pandemic.
Workforce
OPM Director Abruptly Quits
The government’s top HR manager Dale Cabaniss was reportedly frustrated by White House interference.
Route Fifty
Coronavirus Threatens to Blow Big Holes in State Budgets
States are dealing with financial uncertainty as they spend to combat the virus, but also face the possibility of lost revenues as the disease puts a major drag on the economy.
Management
TSA’s Decision This Year to End Payments for Janitorial Services at Checkpoints Has Some Worried
Airports are being forced to do more with less as cleaning efforts ramp up to prevent coronavirus spread.
Management
Native American Energy Department Employee Wins Significant Civil Rights Settlement
Jody TallBear was awarded $200,000, the restoration of 100 hours of sick leave, and executive training.
Pay & Benefits
Social Security Closes All Local Offices Amid Coronavirus Threat
Although officials said the agency is working to expand telework as much as possible, union leaders disputed that, describing “Kafkaesque” inaction.
Nextgov
Attorney General Prioritizes Prosecuting COVID-19 Scammers
William Barr directed federal attorneys to go after people behind phony cures and phishing schemes.
Route Fifty
Cities, States Halt Evictions During Coronavirus Pandemic
Growing numbers of cities and states are pausing evictions to help workers who've lost income during the coronavirus outbreak.
Management
A Leadership Reality Check
It doesn’t matter how good the plan is to combat the COVID-19 outbreak if leaders don’t lead.
Pay & Benefits
Federal Judge Dismisses Shutdown Lawsuit
A federal employee union had argued that forcing federal employees to work without pay during a lapse in appropriations constitutes a violation of the Anti-Deficiency Act, but a judge on Monday ruled that with the government open, the case is now moot.
Nextgov
Trump Relaxes Patient Data Rules to Allow Doctors to Use Personal Phones for Telehealth
The administration broadened telehealth coverage to all Medicare beneficiaries and eased HIPAA regulations for the duration of the pandemic emergency.
Workforce