Hiring
National Park Service’s IRA hiring surge could fail ahead of funding deadline
While the legislation gave hundreds of millions to NPS for hiring, it didn’t grant new hiring flexibilities, which the Interior Department inspector general reports is hampering progress.
OPM and OMB unveil a new plan to improve the federal hiring ‘experience’ for both workers and HR managers
The Biden administration’s latest effort to improve the federal hiring process provides a roadmap for implementing decades-old calls for reform.
As millions of acres burn, firefighters say the U.S. Forest Service has left them with critical shortages
The country’s wildland firefighting resources are spread thin, more blazes are imminent, and supervisors of local crews are reluctant to allow firefighters to travel far from home to help elsewhere.
A Senate panel has advanced bills codifying skills-based hiring, restricting IG employees’ political activity
Bipartisan legislation would add employees in agency offices of inspectors general to the list of those “further restricted” from political activity under the Hatch Act.
Agencies get creative to recruit AI experts
The federal government has hired more than 200 technologists through the national artificial intelligence talent surge, which is one part of President Biden’s AI executive order.
Gen Z is underrepresented in the federal workforce. Here’s how some experts would fix that
People younger than 30 represent 7% of the full-time civil service despite being 20% of the overall U.S. labor force.
Nuclear waste cleanup agency undermined by staff shortages, report says
The Energy Department’s Office of Environmental Management had a 17% vacancy rate at the end of fiscal 2023 and most were mission-critical roles.
The DOOBIE Act would codify federal hiring policy for former marijuana users
The bill, introduced by Sen. Gary Peters, D-Mich., would enshrine in law that past marijuana use cannot be the sole basis for denying federal job applicants a position or security clearance.
White House details almost $100M investment to boost tech hiring
Arati Prabhakar, the director of the White House’s Office of Science and Technology Policy, said the government’s adoption of emerging capabilities “hinges on getting terrific people to come do this work.”
The Forest Service will focus hiring on its ‘highest priority positions’ amid tighter budgets
Lower attrition means that the agency will continue to promote internal recruitment, but limit some outside hires to ensure it that it can align both funding and core mission functions.
DHS wants to go big with its hiring fair this week
The department says it's cutting red tape in government hiring by giving tentative job offers on the spot and starting vetting processes in person.
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NSF’s ongoing major infrastructure project delays due to personnel, supply challenges, report says
Staffing challenges were partially at the root of delays for two of the agency’s construction facilities projects costing more than $100 million.
DHS needs to improve how it collects employee hiring and vetting data, GAO reports
The watchdog’s analysis found that the department did not meet its average hiring time targets in fiscal 2022 for nine out of 13 priority positions.
VA employees warn of stark consequences from hiring restrictions
New memorandum entrusts local VA leaders to make "difficult staffing decisions" as department looks to shed employees.
Government watchdog reminds OPM about open HR recommendations
Some of the GAO’s priority recommendations include overhauling the General Schedule classification and pay system and simplifying agency hiring authorities.
Nuclear agency needs more insights into its workforce recruitment efforts, GAO says
A new report from the watchdog said that the National Nuclear Security Administration has made progress on addressing its staffing efforts, but continues to budget for a smaller workforce than it needs.
New analysis shows U.S. staff are underrepresented at the UN
Despite being the top contributor to the United Nations, the GAO found that the number of American citizen employees at certain agencies fell short of geographic representation targets set by the international organization.
Agencies’ best tool in closing talent gaps: Diversity, equity and inclusion
COMMENTARY | By keeping DEI at the heart of recruitment and retention strategies, government leaders can address some of the complex challenges our country faces day in and out.
Investing in job skills pays off
COMMENTARY | Well-defined competencies are tools that help managers provide useful feedback.
FAA will soon be able to hire thousands of new staff as reauthorization bill heads to Biden’s desk
The agency is hopeful the hiring spree will mitigate flight delays, employee fatigue and near accidents at airports.
