Management
What Feds Can Do if Called Back to an Unsafe Workplace
As some in the Trump administration push toward “reopening the government,” a federal employment lawyer said worried workers might find solace in existing leave policies and the whistleblower protection statute.
Oversight
Trump Intends to Nominate an Assistant U.S. Attorney to be HHS Inspector General
The acting HHS watchdog recently came under fire for a report on medical equipment shortages during the pandemic.
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.
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.
Management
FEMA to Begin Distributing PPE to Federal Employees This Week
FEMA and HHS will coordinate deliveries.
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.
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.
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?
Management
Americans Support Postal Service Bailout, Polls Show
Trump has said he would oppose any effort to provide financial assistance to the cash-strapped agency.
Workforce
What Feds Teleworking During the Pandemic Need to Know About Complying With the Hatch Act
Special counsel releases guidance on what counts as “on duty” while working from home, and what not to do during video conferences.
Workforce
Coronavirus Roundup: IRS Issues Stimulus Payment Deadline Reminder, Watchdog Has Advice for HHS and IRS
There's a lot to keep track of. Here’s today’s list of news updates and stories you may have missed.
Management
NASA’s Jane Datta On the People Part of the Space Mission
In a time of pandemic, serving as the space agency’s chief human capital officer presents unprecedented challenges.
Defense
U.S. Intel Community Says Coronavirus Was Not Made In a Lab
The statement from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence comes after months of speculation and disinformation.
Oversight
Grieving Families Need Help Paying for COVID-19 Burials, but Trump Hasn’t Released the Money
FEMA has helped pay for the burials of victims of past disasters. But months into the coronavirus pandemic, the Trump administration has sat on similar requests. Families of COVID-19 victims have been forced to turn to religious centers and GoFundMe.
Workforce
Federal Inspectors Are Fearful, Angry About Trump's Order to Reopen Outbreak-Stricken Meat Plants
USDA is still not providing masks and is doing "absolutely nothing" to protect workers, inspectors say.
Management
Legislation Would Designate a Civilian Official to Oversee Acquisition of Medical Supplies, Bolster Transparency
Process of getting equipment to front-line workers during the coronavirus pandemic has been “absolute chaos” so far, bill sponsor says.
Pay & Benefits