Workforce

Biden rescinds COVID-era executive orders, folding safer federal workforce task force

The Office of Personnel Management issued new guidance last week rescinding some forms of COVID-19-related administrative leave, but preserving four hours of paid leave for federal employees to get vaccine booster shots.

Oversight

Lawmakers propose extending pandemic analytics center beyond 2025 sunset

Oversight officials say that the Pandemic Analytics Center of Excellence needs to survive past the looming sunset date, unlike a similar analytics center used to oversee stimulus spending that shuttered in 2015.

Workforce

Anti-vaccine feds still fighting for damages over Biden's federal employee mandate

After the Supreme Court's dismissal, a group of 8,500 federal employees is trying a new approach to score a win against the administration.

Oversight

From payment accuracy to program integrity

COMMENTARY | The staggering level of pandemic fraud coupled with mounting concerns about the size and trajectory of the nation’s debt load should elevate program integrity as a top management focus, writes one observer.

Management

Under fire, Social Security chief vows ‘top-to-bottom’ review of payment clawbacks

House members faulted the agency for issuing billions of dollars of payments in error and then, often much later, demanding that beneficiaries pay the money back.

Management

COVID relief payments triggered feds to demand money back from Social Security recipients

House and Senate members have called for action on problems at the Social Security Administration.

Management

The painful pandemic lessons Mandy Cohen carries to the CDC

Cohen has been criticized for North Carolina's failure to get COVID tests to the most vulnerable residents, during her leadership of the state's pandemic response.

Oversight

House GOP demands info on Biden’s implementation of vaccine mandate for feds

A subcommittee is probing several agencies to look for "wrongdoing by government officials" during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Workforce

Biden asks Supreme Court to salvage a president’s right to issue federal workforce mandates

The White House’s vaccine mandate is no longer in effect, but the Biden administration is worried about precedent.

Oversight

How a combination of covid lawsuits and media coverage keeps misinformation churning

Even as the covid-19 pandemic wanes, litigation — whether about vaccines, masks, or a range of other public health policies made during the pandemic — isn’t about to end.

Tech

CDC rolls out new COVID-19 website

The reworked COVID-19 website is part of a larger push to make the public health agency’s web presence easier to navigate, with plans to relaunch CDC.gov early next year.

Management

The CDC is getting a new leader as it seeks to remake itself after the pandemic

Dr. Mandy Cohen, former head of North Carolina’s Health and Human Services Department, will be stepping in as the public health agency’s new director in July. 

Oversight

‘These were not normal times’: A former watchdog reflects on COVID-19 oversight

Bob Westbrooks, who first joined the government in 1994, served as executive director of the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee for over two years.

Defense

Republicans rehash vaccine mandate policies in defense authorization bill amendments

House Armed Services Committee markup adds legislation aimed at helping troops who refused the COVID-19 vaccine.

Workforce

Biden Killed the Vaccine Mandate for Feds. He’s Still Threatening to Take the Case to the Supreme Court.

The administration is looking to avoid a potentially far-reaching decision that would limit presidential authority over the federal workforce.

Oversight

Struggles With Air Quality in Federal Offices Put Occupants At Risk of COVID Exposure

Leadership at the General Services Administration agreed with recommendations to address the issues from its watchdog.

Management

Coronavirus Roundup: The Last One

There's a lot to keep track of. Here’s a list of this week’s news updates and stories you may have missed.

Management

Coronavirus Roundup: The Future of the OSHA Standard to Protect Healthcare Workers from COVID is Unclear

There’s a lot to keep track of. Here’s a list of this week’s news updates and stories you may have missed.