Management

Labor’s disability accommodation delays under scrutiny by House lawmakers 

Lawmakers say interim accommodations “are infrequently considered,” and that staffing shortages have contributed to significant processing delays and growing backlogs. 

Management

The FDA requires follow-up studies for drugs and devices. Years later, many still aren’t done

An analysis of FDA data found hundreds of postmarket studies running behind schedule, raising questions about the agency’s ability to ensure manufacturers follow through.

Management

VA disputes arbitration fees split with union it’s fighting to no longer recognize 

VA officials say the agency will pay a "portion" of what a third-party arbitrator billed it, but is "unable to pay” for services rendered when VA didn't officially recognize its largest union.

Management

ICE chief nominee’s path to Senate confirmation ends abruptly

Richard “Lance” Schroyer’s nomination had yet to reach a confirmation hearing before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee.

Updated Management

VA’s reported staffing challenges in healthcare facilities hit 7-year high 

An annual report from VA’s inspector general office highlights the types of positions VA healthcare facilities have difficulty filling when they need to hire, but “does not necessarily indicate the presence of vacancies.”

Updated Management

‘I love to solve problems’: Awards program honors feds who improved the delivery of public services

The Service to the Citizen award recognizes public servants at the federal, state and local levels as well as contractors.

Management

Education Department shutdown plans face a new hurdle

House and Senate Democrats optimistic about the outcome of year's midterm elections outlined their plans on Tuesday to stop the Education Department from closing down.

Management

Patel won’t say whether FBI agents will be at the polls this fall

The FBI director faced senators’ questions about election activity, hiring standards and the bureau’s handling of AI crimes during a tense five-hour hearing on Tuesday.

Management

More ‘Big Balls’-type young feds are what the OPM chief wants

In an interview on Monday, Scott Kupor also discussed implementing skills-based hiring, which had been a priority of the Biden administration as well.

Management

Supreme Court keeps USPS from carrying out mail-in voting changes in midterm elections

Postmaster General David Steiner previously told Government Executive that USPS would comply if the courts decided to block these changes.

Management

DHS secretary defends smaller FEMA workforce after judge challenges 50% staffing cut plans  

Markwayne Mullin pointed to technology investments as a way for the disaster agency to operate with a smaller workforce, even as a federal judge in San Francisco ruled that DHS "unlawfully ordered” FEMA to cut its staffing by half.

Updated Management

Judge grants temporary pause in USDA relocations in new lawsuit

A federal judge in San Francisco said an administrative stay “doesn't say anything about the merits" of the case, but would give him more time to “adjudicate this properly.”

Management

USPS workers most impacted by mail-in ballot EO haven’t been trained yet, union warns

If the Supreme Court clears the way for USPS to implement the Trump administration’s mail-in ballot executive order, the American Postal Workers Union says its members will have little time to prepare for these changes. 

Management

Trump is staffing up agencies with political appointees. They’re not sticking around, new analysis finds

The Partnership for Public Service previously reported on high turnover among Senate-confirmed political appointees during the president’s second term. In a new report, researchers from the nonprofit find a similar trend with non-Senate-confirmed ones.

Management

CDC, after months of delays, gives employees 20 days to resubmit disability accommodation documentation

CDC is spending months, if not longer, to process reasonable accommodation requests because HHS-wide layoffs and separation incentives decimated the department’s human resources functions.

Management

FEMA’s future looks clearer. Disaster aid is still uncertain

The emergency management agency is rebuilding after a year of upheaval, but the Trump administration’s approach to disaster declarations and federal recovery funds is leaving states unsure what support they can count on.

Updated Management

USDA employees dispute ‘inflated’ claim that most staff asked to relocate will do so 

USDA employees say they have nothing to lose by saying they plan to relocate, even if they have no intention of moving, or are only considering it as a last resort. 

Management

OPM taps new healthcare and insurance chief ahead of Open Season 

Matthew Kiley will take over as the division prepares for Open Season following a round of workforce cuts.

Management

Scammers are making the government harder to trust

COMMENTARY | As government impersonation scams proliferate, agencies face a growing challenge: convincing Americans that legitimate calls, texts and other messages are actually from the government.

Management

Inspector general fired by Trump talks leadership, OIG independence and his new memoir

Former Labor watchdog Larry Turner writes about confronting racism, working under “toxic” bosses and what he misses most about being in government.