Oversight
Trump Friends and Family Cleared for Millions in Small Business Bailout
Beneficiaries of the PPP included a lettuce farming venture backed by Trump’s son, Kushner companies, and a dentist who golfs with the president. The figures were released after a lawsuit by several news organizations, including ProPublica.
Employee Policy
Is it too soon to send feds back to their workplaces?
Federal agencies -- especially those in the Washington, D.C., region -- are returning employees to their regular workplaces at a faster clip than most private-sector employers, according to a report.
Management
A College Degree Is No Guarantee of a Good Life
Higher education is often described as an investment. But it’s still unclear if it pays off in happiness.
Management
GovExec Daily: The FEC Loses Its Quorum
Courtney Bublé joins the show to examine how the Federal Elections Commission can go forward with only three commissioners.
Route Fifty
Don't Want to Wear a Mask? In Some Places, It Could Cost You.
States and cities are introducing penalties for people who don't comply with mandatory mask policies. But enforcement is tricky, with some public officials and civil rights experts arguing fines are counterproductive.
Management
The Marijuana Superweapon Biden Refuses to Use
Legalizing marijuana is extremely popular. So why won’t Joe Biden embrace the idea?
Route Fifty
One City’s Plan to Help Local Businesses by Funding a Cash Rewards Program
As Akron, Ohio grapples with fallout from the coronavirus, the city is working to launch a mobile app where people will earn “blimp” credits for local purchases. The credits can then be used like currency at other area establishments.
Management
Agencies Can Fire Employees Who Improperly Burrow In, Court Rules
Decision upholds OPM's push to oust Obama political appointee holdover.
Oversight
Victims Sue AFGE Over Former President’s Misconduct
A group of former employees, contractors and union members assert that for years, the upper management of the largest federal employee union turned a blind eye to former President J. David Cox’s sexual harassment and abuse.
Oversight
EPA Watchdog To Review the Agency’s Reopening Process
The return to offices during the pandemic has been a source of tension between the agency and its union.
Nextgov
GSA Opens Bids for Largest Governmentwide Small Business Contract to Date
The final request for proposals is out for GSA’s IT services-focused 8(a) STARS III contract, which will have a ceiling of $50 billion.
Nextgov
GSA’s Centers of Excellence Program Would be Codified in Senate Bill
The bill follows a bipartisan counterpart in the House.
Management
OPM Should Take a Lesson From the Army
Making skills and competencies integral to talent management is an effective strategy in every field.
Management
Bipartisan Senate Bill Would Provide $25 Billion to Postal Service
As losses during pandemic mount, senators pitch emergency funds to not "let so vital an agency fail."
Workforce
Coronavirus Roundup: TSA Sees Major Uptick in Travelers; OSHA Sees Spike in Unsafe Working Condition Complaints
There's a lot to keep track of. Here’s today’s list of news updates and stories you may have missed.
Employee Policy
DOD pushes ahead with phased reopening
The Defense Department has moved to Phase 2 of its multiphase reopening plan for the Pentagon reservation.
Benefits
Feds like their perks, fueling recruitment, retention
Federal employees continue to rate their benefits highly, as revealed in the most recent Federal Employee Benefits Survey.
Management
U.S. Marine Corps Concludes Its Investigation Into a Fatal 2018 Midair Crash Was Inaccurate
A new review reexamined the December 2018 crash after a ProPublica investigation revealed that Marines had been deprived of adequate training and equipment, and that their repeated pleas for help from superiors before the crash went unaddressed.
Management
He Built a Privately Funded Border Wall. It’s Already at Risk of Falling Down if Not Fixed.
Trump supporters funded a private border wall on the banks of the Rio Grande, helping the builder secure $1.7 billion in federal contracts. Now the “Lamborghini” of border walls is in danger of falling into the river if nothing is done, experts say.
Workforce