Management

Texas National Guard Deployed to Get COVID-19 Vaccines to Older Texans Who Are Homebound

Gov. Greg Abbott said he wants the majority of Texans who are 65 and older to be inoculated against COVID-19 by the end of March. He said the state could announce more eligibility for the vaccines next month.

Oversight

Watchdog Finds ‘Minimal Oversight’ of Program to Help Workers Who Lose Their Jobs Following Disasters

IG proposes improvements based on a Labor Department agency’s response to 2017 hurricanes and wildfires.

Management

Viewpoint: As Wildfires Burn, Assigning Blame Is Complicated

Climate change has made environmental catastrophes more frequent and severe. But government missteps are also at fault.

Management

Hurricanes and Wildfires Are Colliding with the COVID-19 Pandemic – and Compounding the Risks

Disaster preparation and evacuation procedures weren't made for social distancing. The pandemic means response decisions are now fraught with contradictions.

Management

Millions of Homeowners Who Need Flood Insurance Don’t Know It — Thanks to FEMA

It is FEMA’s job to warn homeowners about major flood risks, but its approach is notoriously limited. In Cook County alone, researchers found about six times as many properties in danger as FEMA estimated. Look up your address with a new tool.

Defense

Can the President Really Order the Military to Occupy U.S. Cities and States?

President Trump has warned that he will send the military into states to curb protests. Is Trump’s warning bluster? Or does the president have the authority to send the military into American cities?

Management

Is This the Worst Year in Modern American History?

Comparing 2020 to 1968 offers some disquieting lessons for the present.

Management

Viewpoint: Treat It and Beat It

The federal government has a unique role to play in enabling rapid progress toward drugs to improve COVID-19 recovery and survival rates.

Oversight

Who Has Emergency Authority Over Elections? Nobody’s Quite Sure.

The tug of war over whether and how to hold Tuesday’s Wisconsin primary exposes a national problem: State and local officials with the most experience running elections lack the power to revamp or postpone voting during a crisis.

Workforce

America’s Other Heroes: The U.S. Public Health Service

On a recent visit to San Antonio, I encountered a new example of selfless service.

Management

Former FEMA Chief: Don’t Expect FEMA to ‘Fix’ the Coronavirus Response

Agency faces challenges allocating resources and getting supplies out the door, and could be short-staffed to handle other disasters that arise.

Management

Internal Emails Show How Chaos at the CDC Slowed the Early Response to Coronavirus

The CDC fumbled its communication with public health officials and underestimated the threat of the coronavirus even as it gained a foothold in the United States, according to hundreds of pages of documents ProPublica obtained.

Oversight

The Coronavirus Testing Paradox

Administering coronavirus tests requires time and supplies that are already running out. But aggressive testing has proven to be the best way to track and isolate the disease, stopping its spread. The best path forward depends on where you are.

Oversight

Voting by Mail Would Reduce Coronavirus Transmission but It Has Other Risks

As COVID-19 spreads, many are proposing to hold the November election by mail. Without careful preparation, though, the transition could run into logistical problems and provide opportunities for voter fraud.

Management

The Federalism Divide Is Shading Government’s Response to COVID-19

We can’t afford a government where the odds of an effective attack on the novel coronavirus depend on where citizens live.

Workforce

GovExec Daily: How the Coronavirus Scare is Changing How Feds Work

Nextgov's Heather Kuldell and GovExec's Eric Katz join the podcast to talk about agencies' plans for the workforce as the COVID-19 epidemic grows.

Oversight

America’s Coronavirus Testing Still Isn’t Moving Fast Enough

Without adequate testing, people with coronavirus symptoms are left to agonize over the right course of action on their own.