Management

Coronavirus Roundup: Labor Secretary Leaving His Post; Vaccine Access Updates

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

Pay & Benefits

Federal Prisons Employees Aren’t Entitled to COVID Hazard Pay, Appeals Judges Rule

In a 10-2 decision, the appeals court said OPM regulations around hazardous duty pay only address the handling of “virulent biologicals” in a laboratory setting, not “ambient” exposure to infected individuals.

Oversight

Transitioning into the New 'Normal' of Post-Pandemic Life

Courtney Bublé joins the podcast to discuss the upcoming end of the public health emergency.

Oversight

Era of ‘Free’ Vaccines, Test Kits, and Treatments Is Ending. Who Will Pay the Tab Now?

Insurers, employers, and taxpayers will all be affected as drug manufacturers move these products to the commercial market.

Management

Coronavirus Roundup: Watchdog Slams Trump-Era ‘Project Airbridge’ For Medical Supplies

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

Tech

Congress Told HHS to Set Up a Health Data Network in 2006. The Agency Still Hasn’t.

Since 2006, federal officials have been charged with setting up a network to let various parts of the U.S. health system share information during emergencies. It still hasn’t been built or even planned, even after the communication and data-sharing failures put on display during the pandemic.

Management

Here’s What the End of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Could Mean for Federal Agencies

The director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention asked Congress for more authority related to health data and the workforce.  

Management

The HHS to Industry: Let’s Connect on Medical Supply Chain Issues

The pandemic showed “the need for critical public health industrial investments at a scale never seen before in the United States,” an HHS official says. 

Oversight

Biden’s Plan for Ending the Emergency Declaration for COVID-19 Signals a Pivotal Point in the Pandemic—4 Questions Answered

President Joe Biden’s intention to end the national COVID-19 emergency will have long-lasting ripple effects on federal programs such as Medicare, Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program.

Management

Coronavirus Roundup: The Emergencies Declared Due to COVID-19 Will be Ending

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

Oversight

Watchdogs to Congress: Keep the COVID-Era Data Center

The first hearing of the House Oversight and Accountability for the 118th Congress focused on pandemic money and fraud.

Workforce

Why Zoom Happy Hours Fall Flat

Alcohol doesn't have the same power to lubricate social interaction online as it does in person, new research suggests.

Workforce

Fed Managers Shouldn't Distance Themselves from Remote Work

Bob Westbrooks joins the podcast to discuss telework lessons learned from his experience at the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee.

Oversight

Fixing The Fraud Problem is Going to be a Heavy Lift

Natalie Alms joins the podcast to discuss two new GAO reports.

Management

Coronavirus Roundup: Changes at the CDC; the Republicans on the COVID Panel

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

Workforce

Even Bivalent Updated COVID-19 Boosters Struggle to Prevent Omicron Subvariant Transmission – An Immunologist Discusses Why New Approaches Are Necessary

The new bivalent boosters against COVID-19 have failed to halt omicron infections. However, new technologies are being developed that pave a way forward.

Management

Couch, Private Meeting Booth or Desk? Feds Can Come Try Out New Office Digs in D.C.

This is part of GSA’s “workplace 2030” initiative as federal agencies work on their post-pandemic plans.   

Workforce

To Mask or Not to Mask? CDC's Mixed Messages During the Pandemic

GovExec Daily staff examines the pandemic response from the most-visible federal health agency.

Management

Coronavirus Roundup: Two Years of the Biden Administration

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

Oversight

COVID-19 and How the CDC Can Change Before the Next Pandemic

Courtney Bublé joins the podcast to discuss a new report with recommendations.