People

How an IRS hiring blitz can help pave the way for IT modernization

The tax agency's chief procurement officer says she's on a mission to find top talent to work with industry while modernizing the agency's acquisition processes amid a ballooning tax gap.

People

HHS mandates COVID vaccine for its public-facing clinicians

Nearly 25,000 HHS employees will be required to get vaccinated against COVID-19 amid a surge in national infections, Secretary Xavier Becerra announced on Thursday.

People

DOD moves to mandate COVID-19 vaccines by September

The Defense Department plans to require COVID-19 vaccines for civilian, military and contractor personnel as early as September.

People

Feds who lie about vaccination status or avoid testing could face discipline

The Biden-Harris administration is looking into what feds could be subject to more stringent vaccination requirements in addition to the mandate for VA clinical staff, said Jeff Zients, COVID-19 response coordinator.

People

Biden puts his stamp on FLRA, Thrift Board

Biden's nominee to the general counsel at the FLRA could help clear a backlog of unfair labor practice charges from federal unions.

People

Kiran Ahuja's to-do list at OPM

Kiran Ahuja, the recently installed director of the Office of Personnel Management, has a host of long-standing agency issues to deal with, along with helping implement governmentwide workforce policy to combat the spread of COVID-19.

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HHS looks to reset labor relations

Some federal agencies are leveraging a Biden administration executive order to change the tone of labor-management relations but unions say a few departments aren't taking the order to heart.

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Unions press SSA leaders for a new contract, workplace safety plan

Biden ousted top leaders at the Social Security Administration last month, but some union officials say more personnel change is needed further down the ladder.

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White House says agencies will pay for COVID tests as needed for feds

Under a new COVID prevention regime, civilian federal employees will have to either attest to their vaccination status or get regular tests. The federal government will organize and pay for testing for feds.

People

Biden tells civilian feds to get vaccinated or take regular COVID tests

As expected, the Biden-Harris administration rolled out new COVID-19 guidelines for the federal workforce as part of an overall strategy to increase the U.S. vaccination rate.

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A vaccine requirement for feds could get complicated

Unions and other employee groups are taking a look at what a vaccination requirement might mean for their members.

People

Move of BLM headquarters to Colorado still under review

Deb Haaland, secretary of the Interior, told a Senate panel on Tuesday that a decision on whether to keep the Bureau of Land Management's headquarters in Grand Junction, Colorado needs to come "fairly soon."

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New OPM guidance addresses locality pay and travel costs for remote workers

A new document addresses a range of considerations for post-pandemic workforce planning in the context of current regulations.

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VA mandates vaccines for clinical staff

Agency chief Denis McDonough cited the spread of the Delta variant of COVID-19 as part of the reason behind the new vaccination policy.

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OPM takes back control of CHCO Council

The move reestablishes Office of Personnel Management's central role in leading governmentwide human resources policy.

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Labor Department seeks funding for staffing surges

During testimony on the hill this week, Labor Secretary Marty Walsh also gave lawmakers insight into the department’s work to combat unemployment insurance fraud.

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OPM grapples with questions about travel reimbursements for remote workers

Officials at the Office of Personnel Management are mulling the potential impacts of an increasingly dispersed federal workforce. One is the question of who foots the bill for remote workers occasionally required to come back to the office.

People

Michael Brown withdraws nomination for DOD's top acquisition role

The Defense Innovation Unit's director has requested his name be withdrawn from consideration to be the undersecretary of defense for acquisition and sustainment, citing delays caused by an ongoing Office of the Inspector General investigation.

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Vote delayed on Biden's SBA nominee amid GOP-led filibuster attempts

Republicans have condemned Dilawar Syed, nominated to serve as deputy administrator for the Small Business Administration, over his involvement with a Muslim advocacy group that has been critical of Israel.

People

Biden ousts Social Security Administration Leadership

After a recent Supreme Court ruling suggested SSA's top leaders could be replaced before their terms expired, the White House moved late on July 9 to do just that.