Benefits
Fund offers feds free masks, financial help
Federal employees who have contact with the public in their jobs or who are returning to their workplaces with fellow employees can get, on request, free washable cloth masks to help fight the spread of COVID-19.
Defense
Pentagon Starts Bailing Out Companies That Have Lost Business Due to Coronavirus
The Defense Department is sending millions of dollars to keep companies afloat, and more deals are expected.
Employee Policy
DOD moves to restricted opening
The Pentagon is moving to a restricted Phase One of its reopening plan June 15, the Defense Department announced, with essential personnel returning to headquarters.
Employee Policy
Federal agencies have spent millions on KN95 masks, often without knowing who made them
Government employees at several agencies are relying on KN95 masks that the agencies cannot guarantee offer the most protection. Some agencies have paid little attention to important manufacturing details and been tripped up by shifting regulations.
Workforce
How the Pandemic Upended Our Perception of Time
Research funded by the National Science Foundation shows the extent to which Americans' internal clocks went haywire.
Oversight
GovExec Daily: An Accountability and Oversight Update
Nextgov’s Frank Konkel and GovExec’s Courtney Bublé cover the latest news on inspectors general and the Trump administration.
Oversight
'I Can’t Speak Negatively About the President,' Says Official Charged With Stimulus Oversight
President Donald Trump’s purge of watchdogs is on the mind of one of the newly hired officials charged with overseeing the more than $2 trillion CARES Act.
Route Fifty
A Governor Proposes Furlough Days, Some Layoffs to Help Balance Budget
Nevada is looking for ways to bridge a massive revenue shortfall brought on by the coronavirus.
Management
Election Assistance Commission Regains Permanent Leaders In Top Positions
After nearly eight months, the agency now has a permanent executive director and general counsel.
Management
Watchdog: HUD Telework During the Pandemic Has Been Mostly Successful
A survey of employees found that the department was well prepared to move its workforce to full-time telework, although there were some hiccups around paper-based processes.
Route Fifty
From Jacksonville to Louisville, Confederate Statues Are Coming Down
Calls to remove the statues, denounced as symbols of white supremacy, were reignited in the wake of national protests against police brutality and the death of George Floyd.
Workforce
DHS to Begin Sending Furlough Notices to 15,000 Employees Next Week
Immigration agency is set to start 30-day RIFs for three-quarters of its workforce next month absent congressional intervention.
Nextgov
Energy Explores the Potential of an Artificial Intelligence Grand Challenge
The department’s new AI-focused office highlighted its intent to “push the frontiers” of AI development.
Nextgov
Federal Tech Leaders Outline How Agencies Need to Adapt to the Changing Workforce
Old hiring methods and assumptions won’t hold up in the future, according to a new report from the Federal CIO Council.
Workforce
Coronavirus Roundup: EPA Union Asks for Transparency on Reopenings; OSHA Provides Guidance on Wearing Masks at Work
There's a lot to keep track of. Here’s today’s list of news updates and stories you may have missed.
Management
Federal Agencies Have Spent Millions on KN95 Masks, Often Without Knowing Who Made Them
Government employees at several agencies are relying on KN95 masks that the agencies cannot guarantee offer the most protection. Some agencies have paid little attention to important manufacturing details and been tripped up by shifting regulations.
Oversight
House Democrats Ask IC for Plans to Prevent Foreign Actors from Exploiting Racial Tensions
“Unfortunately, we know that foreign actors have historically sought to exploit tensions in American communities during times like these,” they wrote.
Defense
Trump Vows to Keep Confederates’ Names on US Army Bases
As the military wrestles with racism and its symbols, the commander-in-chief draws a line.
Management