People
OMB job satisfaction scores plummeted in 2020
Almost 40% of OMB survey participants choose strongly disagree when presented with the statement, "my organization's senior leaders maintain high standards for honesty and integrity."
Ideas
Your Brain Responds to Happy Screams Faster than Fearful Ones
A study revealed six emotionally distinct types of these calls indicating pain, anger, fear, pleasure, sadness and joy.
Digital Government
FCW Insider: April 30, 2021
The latest news and analysis from FCW's reporters and editors.
Digital Government
Federal Employees Sing Telework’s Praises, Want to Continue After the Pandemic
Survey results show those who have been doing their jobs remotely are happier and feel they are just as productive.
Cybersecurity
Homeland Security Secretary Backs Call for Mandatory Disclosure of Ransomware Payments
DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said the department will work with a task force developed by the private sector on ways to tamp down the increase in ransomware attacks.
Emerging Tech
Army Researchers Examine Soldiers’ Brain and Muscle Responses to Smart ‘ExoBoot’
One of the end goals is to cut down on training time soldiers need to get acclimated with assistive, wearable technologies.
People
OPM details pandemic emergency paid leave program
This special leave will be available through the end of the fiscal year or until the $570 million fund is exhausted, OPM documents say.
Modernization
GAO: Only 2 of the 10 Most Critical Legacy IT Systems Have Full Modernization Plans
The federal watchdog warned that eight of the most important mission-critical modernization efforts could fail without sufficient, documented plans.
People
Boosting student loan debt forgiveness could pay off for cyber recruiting
Almost all Defense Department personnel who have sought student loan debt forgiveness have been denied -- a trend that, if unchanged, could make it even harder to recruit and retain tech talent.
People
Senate defense committee delays NDAA markup
Sen. Jack Reed (D-R.I.), chairman for the Senate Armed Services Committee, announced that the committee would delay marking up the 2022 National Defense Authorization Act due to "uncertainty" in White House budget delivery.
Cybersecurity
Mayorkas: DHS running ransomware task force, White House plan coming
DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas on Thursday said his agency plans to take up the recommendations from a new report focused on combating ransomware and that the White House is developing its own plan to confront the growing cybersecurity threat.
Modernization
Air Force to Field Kessel Run Command and Control Product
The service wants feedback on a suite of tools called Kessel Run All Domain Operations Suite, or KRADOS, to continue developing it.
Modernization
$2.1 billion in UI modernization comes with oversight
Labor Secretary Marty Walsh told a panel of House Appropriators that the agency's planned $2.1 billion investment in state unemployment systems needs oversight and monitoring, and metrics for measuring success.
Artificial Intelligence
Lawmakers Consider the National Science Foundation’s Future
Federal leaders made their cases for increased funding into research and continued focus on technologies like artificial intelligence and quantum computing.
Digital Government
Biden Nominee for Pentagon Weapons Buyer Under Investigation
Inspector General complaint alleges DIU Director Michael Brown’s agency used federal hiring tools to hire friends, but office says it’s competing for talent.
Ideas
To Future-Proof the American Economy, We Need 5 Million Digital Jobs in 5 Years
The challenge isn’t having enough workers to fill these roles: It’s that available workers aren’t trained in these high-demand areas.
Ideas
Space Tourism – 20 Years in the Making – Is Finally Ready for Launch
With companies like SpaceX and Blue Origin hoping to build a future for humanity in space, space tourism is a way to demonstrate both the safety and reliability of space travel to the general public.
Digital Government