Oversight
Poorly Protected Postal Workers Are Catching COVID-19 by the Thousands. It’s One More Threat to Voting by Mail.
More than 50,000 workers have taken time off for virus-related reasons, slowing mail delivery. The Postal Service doesn’t test employees or check their temperatures, and its contact tracing is erratic.
Nextgov
VA-Made ‘Smart Bandage’ Can Track Chronic Wounds—and Treat Them
The innovation also sparked a new startup to bring the technology to market.
Workforce
Poll: Biden Leads Trump Among Federal Workforce by 28%
Six-in-10 feds say they plan to vote for the former vice president.
Management
To Be a Great Innovator, Learn to Embrace and Thrive in Uncertainty
Many great innovators have personality traits in common. Comfort with uncertainty is critical, but passion, curiosity and a number of other learnable skills can prime you for an innovate idea.
Pay & Benefits
GovExec Daily: What are the Best Dates for Feds to Retire?
Tammy Flanagan joins the podcast to discuss her annual column on the best times for public servants to retire.
Route Fifty
CDC Officials Say Agency Didn’t Write Controversial Covid Testing Guidance, Report Says
STATE AND LOCAL NEWS ROUNDUP | People in flooded Florida neighborhoods waited for rescue on Thursday, the day after Hurricane Sally slammed coast … Salt Lake City considers new restrictions on military equipment purchases by police … Attorney General Bill Barr reportedly suggested prosecutors charge Seattle mayor.
Oversight
OPM Isn’t Doing Enough to Prevent Political Meddling in Reassignments of Senior Executives, Watchdog Finds
GAO reports that several agencies have made efforts to ensure that they comply with rules designed to prevent capricious reassignment of senior executives by political appointees, but gaps remain and OPM is unwilling to conduct oversight.
Oversight
Federal Court Blocks Postal Service's Controversial Operational Changes Nationwide
USPS has admitted Postmaster General Louis DeJoy's reforms caused delays, which the judge found politically motivated and risked disenfranchising voters.
Route Fifty
New Jersey Leaders Agree On Deal to Hike Taxes on Millionaires
Governor Phil Murphy and top Democratic lawmakers announced plans on Thursday for a higher tax rate on incomes between $1 million and $5 million. The bulk of the revenue from the tax increase would cover the cost of a new middle class tax break.
Oversight
IG Finds ‘Significant Inaccuracies’ in Federal Acquisition Service’s Reporting of Small Business Contracts
This resulted from issues with the GSA-managed federal procurement data system.
Workforce
Survey: Most Teleworking Federal Employees Expect to Remain Home for At Least Six More Months
Many more feds say COVID-19 is having little impact on operations than at pandemic outset.
Pay & Benefits
Best Dates to Retire 2021
Our annual look at the optimum days to bid farewell to a career in government.
Route Fifty
Young People Fueling a Pandemic Rise in Freelancing, Report Says
A survey of American workers revealed that young people between ages 18 to 22 are increasingly picking up freelancing.
Nextgov
Justice Wants to Add Facial Recognition to Marshals’ Smartphones
The service is looking for a software development kit to help it integrate biometrics tools with an app used to facilitate prisoner transfers.
Workforce
Coronavirus Roundup: Air Force Will Keep Telework Options After the Pandemic; A Bipartisan Call for Mental Health Guidance for Students
There's a lot to keep track of. Here’s today’s list of news updates and stories you may have missed.
Management
When Politics and Procurement Mix, The Effects Can Be Deadly
Important components of the pandemic response have bypassed essential rules and protocols, but the problems go beyond the current crisis.
Defense
Defense Intel Head: We ‘Did What We Were Supposed To’ With COVID Warning
DIA chief hints that the public doesn’t yet know just what the military knew about the coronavirus.
Insights
Artificial Intelligence in the State Department
An AI Brief on the Challenges Agencies Must Address in Order to Deploy and Scale AI
Insights
Flash Poll: States Under Siege
A Short Poll on Organizational Readiness and Employee Confidence in Cyberattack Defense Capabilities.
Defense