Management
VA’s contracting crackdown gave some staff hours to do hundreds of reviews
VA's watchdog office noted these reviews happened quickly under strict deadlines, but generally complied with requirements for terminating contracts.
GSA claims it found $1.2B in suspected COVID-related contracting fraud
The agency previously said it found $13 billion in suspected procurement-related fraud and is investigating other sources of potential fraud.
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IRS and Social Security will see more employees quit without advanced leave, senators warn
Senate Democrats warn employees will “inevitably leave” both agencies following a suspension of advanced leave, adding to deep staffing cuts.
Updated
IRS watchdog audits employee reassignments, as agency looks to extend some tours of duty
Employees placed on these involuntary details are doing jobs several pay grades below the work they were hired to perform, but continue to receive their regular paychecks.
A second lawsuit challenges plans to put ICE agents near polling places
The filing comes after administration officials said federal agents could conduct immigration enforcement at polling locations in certain circumstances.
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.
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.
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.
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
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
‘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.
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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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.”
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.
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.
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.
