Management
Pressure for USPS Funding Ramps Up as Budget Outlook Worsens
Postal Service also clashes with local officials over how to protect workers.
Pay & Benefits
OPM Clarifies Leave Policy, Pentagon Outlines Elective Surgery Plans, and More
A weekly roundup of pay and benefits news.
Nextgov
Bill Proposes Restructuring NSF and $100B to Focus on Tech
The new agency would feature a technology directorate to usher advancements in cutting-edge fields like artificial intelligence, 5G communications and cybersecurity.
Workforce
Coronavirus Roundup: Pentagon Plans for Return to Normalcy; Lawmakers Seek More Research and Funding for Science Amid the Pandemic
There's a lot to keep track of. Here’s today’s list of news updates and stories you may have missed.
Nextgov
The Air Force’s Platform One Team Thought It Was Agile. Then COVID-19 Hit.
The pandemic pushed the service’s internal DevOps team to hit a 10-updates-a-day deployment schedule for a new secure communications platform.
Oversight
Democratic Congressman Calls for Probe Into Former White House Official’s $3 Million Mask Deal
Trump’s former deputy chief of staff won a $3 million federal contract just days after registering his company. He delivered masks to Navajo hospitals that may not work. Rep. Gerry Connolly asked the HHS inspector general’s office to look into it.
Defense
Pentagon Sets New Rules for ‘Return to Normal Operations’ Worldwide
"We’ve got a ways to go," says official in charge of re-opening, but local commanders given authority to decide.
Employee Policy
FLRA extends delay on SSA judges' contract
The reversal pauses of the implementation of a new contract while a lawsuit against a subcomponent of the Federal Labor Relations Authority plays out.
Management
Revenge of the Obamacrats
Obama’s top environmental official wanted nothing to do with politics after leaving the government. What did it take to bring her back?
Employee Policy
DOD's 5-phase plan for reopening
The Defense Department is planning to shift from pandemic footing to more normal operations, and is using White House issued criteria on declines in reported symptoms, declines in new cases and hospital access to determine when restrictions will be lifted.
Management
GovExec Daily: The Pandemic Divide Between Public and Private Sector Workers
Brian Michael, VP & GM Public Sector at Medallia and Sheri Petras, CEO at CFI Group, join the podcast to look at a survey on the ways employees are handling the COVID-19 .
Route Fifty
A City Looks to Expand Its Virus Tracing Workforce in Distressed Neighborhoods
Chicago is one of the latest jurisdictions around the U.S. seeking to beef up its contact tracing program. Experts say it’s a key step towards reopening the economy.
Oversight
Acting HHS Inspector General Outlines Plan To Review the Coronavirus Response
Christi Grimm says the president’s rebuke of a report from her office will not have a chilling effect on her work.
Workforce
Agencies Start Reopening Offices, Though Approaches Vary
VA, EPA and IRS are among the agencies bringing employees back to their offices despite worker anxieties.
Nextgov
DARPA Funds Earthworm-Inspired Soft Robot to Rapidly Dig Military Tunnels
As part of the Underminer program, General Electric’s innovation arm is perfecting a soft robot to boost battlefield operations.
Nextgov
Defense Department’s AI Center Seeks Own Acquisition Authorities
Having its own mechanism for purchasing artificial intelligence will increase speed, according to the Joint Artificial Intelligence Center’s chief.
Employee Policy
Lawmakers aim to limit president’s removal of IGs
The Inspector General Independence Act would require the White House to notify Congress of any firings of IGs and only allow an IG to be removed for one of 10 documented reasons such as neglect of duty, malfeasance, permanent incapacity and abuse of power.
Employee Policy
Agencies’ inconsistent approach to reopening worries feds
Attendance demands often aren’t matched by measures to ensure employees’ safety.
Workforce
Coronavirus Roundup: DHS Strengthens Cyber Protections for HHS and CDC; Federal Contract Spending on the Pandemic Passes $13 Billion
There's a lot to keep track of. Here’s today’s list of news updates and stories you may have missed.
Oversight