Tech
The Thorniest Subject at NASA Right Now
The space agency is carefully following pandemic measures. Elon Musk thinks they’re overblown. But both are going to the moon together.
Management
Honoring Public Servants in the Midst of a Pandemic
Government workers have long put their lives on the line to protect us but today, they’re doing so on a massive scale and under the most challenging circumstances.
Workforce
Coronavirus Roundup: FEMA Prepares for Hurricane Season During a Pandemic; Whistleblower Cases Spike
There's a lot to keep track of. Here’s today’s list of news updates and stories you may have missed.
Nextgov
The Army Wants a Wearable COVID-19 Detector
Due to the urgent need, the managing consortium has suspended some—but not all—of its members-only restrictions.
Management
FEMA to Begin Distributing PPE to Federal Employees This Week
FEMA and HHS will coordinate deliveries.
Pay & Benefits
TSP Portfolios Bounce Back after March Losses
All funds in the federal government’s 401(k)-style retirement savings program posted gains last month, as the stock market began to rebound from a historic fall.
Workforce
How Profit and Incompetence Delayed N95 Masks While People Died at the VA
Federal agencies have hired contractors with no experience to find respirators and masks, fueling a black market filled with price gouging and multiple layers of profiteering brokers. One contractor called them “buccaneers and pirates.”
Management
Feds Send Coronavirus Strike Force to Amarillo in Response to Outbreaks in Meatpacking Plants
Potter County has roughly four times the infection rate of Harris and Dallas counties.
Defense
States' 'Reopening' Might Not Apply to Troops, Military Families
Georgia is opening up. Fort Benning may not.
Nextgov
Senator Wants Details on Clearview AI’s Contact Tracing Pitches
Sen. Ed Markey wrote a letter to the controversial startup asking about its plans to use facial recognition technology to track patients during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Employee Policy
Americans get behind the Postal Service
A recent survey showed that Americans overwhelmingly support the U.S. Postal Service, with 94% of respondents saying mail and package service is important during the coronavirus crisis.
Oversight
Will COVID-19 Disrupt Election Day 2020?
What if the nation is in the midst of another COVID-19 shutdown come Election Day in November? An expert weighs in.
Employee Policy
SSA hits pause on 9 contract articles amid suit with law judges' union
The move comes as administrative law judges for the Social Security Administration sue the Federal Services Impasse Panel over their contract rulings.
Workforce
GovExec Daily: Political Influence on Government Science
The Brennan Center’s Dan Weiner joins the podcast to explain how science is – or isn't – valued in the Trump administration.
Management
Sammie Finalists Highlight Outstanding Accomplishments of Federal Employees
Dr. Anthony Fauci is one of 27 career civil servants recognized in the Partnership for Public Service’s prestigious annual awards program.
Tech
Astronaut Advice: How to Cope with Social Distancing
If you think social distancing is tough, imagine doing it in space. Veteran astronaut Michael E. Fossum offers some tips on coping with isolation.
Workforce
How to Listen to Your Loved Ones with Empathy when You Yourself Are Feeling the Strain of Social Distancing
When you are stuck at home during social distancing, it's only natural to feel on edge at times. So how do you listen to a loved one who is on edge, too?
Route Fifty
Federal Aid Critical for Closing West Virginia Budget Gap, Republican Governor Says
State revenues are lagging by about $200 million. Without enough federal funds to help bridge that shortfall, Gov. Jim Justice warns “you're going to have a bankrupt state.”
Route Fifty
Coastal Towns Weigh Reopening Beaches Before Memorial Day
Towns with economies that rely on summer tourism are anxious to reopen, but leaders don’t know when it will be safe to do so.
Management