FCW Insider: Feb. 18
The latest news and analysis from FCW's reporters and editors.
Margaret Weichert, deputy director of management at the Office of Management and Budget, is leaving government for a job in the private sector in mid-March. Lia Russell has the story.
Defense Secretary Mark Esper told reporters on the sidelines of a security conference in Germany that he "never felt pressure from the White House" with regard to the award to Microsoft of the $10 billion Joint Enterprise Defense Infrastructure contract. Adam Mazmanian has more.
The General Services Administration is extending a popular pilot program that offers contractors a longer and more detailed explanation of award decisions. Mark Rockwell explains.
A new bill would update federal workforce law to allow more employees to take advantage of a paid parental leave benefit. Currently the benefit is extended to employees classified under Title 5 of U.S. Code, and excludes certain workers at the Transportation Security Administration, the Federal Aviation Administration and others. Lia Russell reports.
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) wants to create a new agency for data protection. The independent agency would be charged with coordinating federal policy on privacy, process complaints from consumers and launch investigations and audits. Derek B. Johnson has more.
The General Services Administration is seeking a new assistant commissioner to help oversee assisted acquisitions, including FedSIM. Mark has more on the new opening at GSA.
Quick Hits
*** Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-Ariz.) led the House Natural Resources Committee in a Feb. 12 party line vote to give the panel subpoena power. The move comes as committee Democrats are pushing on the Interior Department for a cost-benefit analysis and justification for the reorganization of the Bureau of Land Management, and the move of its headquarters from Washington, D.C. to Grand Junction, Colo.
*** The Department of Labor and the General Services Administration are teaming up on a Centers of Excellence initiative focused on using robotics process automation to modernize acquisition capabilities. The deal brings together workers from GSA's Technology Transformation Services and the Labor Department.
*** Ed Simcox, the chief technology officer at the Department of Health and Services, is leaving government for a private sector job, he announced in a Feb. 11 blog post.