Digital Government
Lawmakers Push NIH for Answers About Deleted Coronavirus Data
Their inquiry comes as speculation about the virus’ origins continues to swirl.
Digital Government
As Variant Spreads, Some Regions Bring Back Mask Advisories
In St. Louis and Los Angeles, officials are urging vaccinated residents to wear masks as cases of the Delta strain of Covid-19 are on the rise.
Digital Government
Agencies Ramp Up COVID-19 Deployments Again to Address Outbreaks
White House launches “surge response teams” just as agencies were starting to bring back federal personnel.
Cybersecurity
IG: SBA’s Cybersecurity ‘Not Effective,’ In Part Due to COVID
The pandemic created new cybersecurity problems for the Small Business Administration, according to the agency’s annual FISMA report.
Modernization
Survey: Nearly 80% of Feds, D.C. Employees Believe Productivity Increased With Telework
The American Federation of Government Employees survey comes as agency heads decide how to operate in the waning months of a pandemic.
Ideas
The Neuroscience Behind Why Your Brain May Need Time to Adjust to 'Un-social Distancing’
Maybe you’re not quite feeling ready to get back out there.
Ideas
What I Learned Helping Lead Oversight of $5 Trillion in Pandemic Relief
Large scale identity theft-based fraud in unemployment assistance stunned many, even those who fight fraud for a living.
Emerging Tech
‘This May Not Be The Big One’: Army Scientists Warn of Worse Potential Pandemics
The service is closing in on a “pan-coronavirus” vaccine and on synthetic antibodies that could protect a population before spread. But that may not be enough.
Ideas
Chip Shortage Threatens Modernization—and Everything Else
Initially, the chip shortage mostly affected car manufacturers.
Modernization
DOD's Commercial Virtual Remote Environment Officially Sunsets
The environment for collaboration that supported telework during the pandemic expired.
Ideas
8 Ways to Manage Body Image Anxiety After Lockdown
In a survey of 3,000 adults in the U.S., 61% experienced undesired weight changes since the start of the pandemic.
Ideas
Over Half of Adults Unvaccinated for COVID-19 Fear Needles – Here's What's Proven to Help
Research-proven adult interventions for pain, fainting, panic and fear can make vaccination more tolerable.
Digital Government
OSHA Pandemic Safety Rules Only Cover Health Care Workers
OSHA also issued new guidance on COVID-19 measures for all employers, including paid time off for vaccinations, barriers and shields, and employer-provided face coverings.
Ideas
The Psychological Benefits of Commuting to Work
Many people who have been working from home are experiencing a void they can’t quite name.
Digital Government
The Federal Government May Need to Play a Role in Vaccine Credentials, Despite Reluctance
The Biden administration has repeatedly said there will be no federal mandate, but it may be difficult to sit on the sidelines as states and businesses develop their own policies, some experts say.
Digital Government
Study: Government Contractors Expect Business to Boom in 2021
After profits declined during the pandemic, companies continue to explore ways to drum up business in a virtual world.
Cybersecurity
States Bolster Data Security Technology in Response to Covid-19, Survey Finds
Governments have faced significant technology challenges during the pandemic, with 79% saying they faced major issues adopting and expanding remote work, according to the National Association of State Technology Directors.
Modernization
Lawmakers Want IGs to Include Telework Vulnerabilities in Upcoming FISMA Audits
House Oversight Committee leaders want to know what vulnerabilities remote-access software introduced and whether agencies mitigated them.
Ideas
Overcrowded U.S. National Parks Need a Reservation System
Limiting visitors has two purposes: reducing COVID-19 risks and allowing some parks to recover from recent wildfires.
Ideas