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
OPM Finalizes Rule Easing Rehiring of Ex-Feds
Under new rules, federal agencies will be able to rehire former federal workers at a higher pay grade than when they left government.
Cybersecurity
IRS' Use of Special Hiring Authorities Could Be Leading to Skills Gaps, IG Says
The agency has been using emergency authorities to meet staffing goals, but may be compromising on the quality of new hires as a result, according to an inspector general report.
Ideas
Enhancing the Mental Wellbeing of Federal Workers
Employee mental health is an important barometer of the health of agencies, with implications for retention and productivity.
Ideas
Workers Who Feel Powerless Get Paranoid and Aggressive
The powerful are less likely to feel paranoia, the study found.
Cybersecurity
Why Government Needs More than Money to Fix Cybersecurity Issues
A bigger budget has its numerous benefits but it doesn’t magically scale teams or thwart threats.
Digital Government
Contracting Community Welcomes Biden’s Budget Proposal
Groups see opportunities with the administration's cybersecurity, climate change and workforce innovation priorities.
Digital Government
Biden Budget Aims to Add 50K New Federal Employees
Several agencies are looking to add thousands of new employees.
Digital Government
Agencies Must Finalize Return-to-Office Plans by July 19
The Safer Federal Workforce Task Force outlined what the plans must include.
Digital Government
Report: Requirement for Federal Contractors to Pay $15 Minimum Wage Will Have ‘Minor’ Impact on Government Spending
Agencies still should be proactive in planning for implementation, consultancy says.
Cybersecurity
House Panel Passes Bill to Explore Bringing State and Local Cybersecurity Workers into CISA
The Homeland Security Committee cleared several bills to address cybersecurity following the attack on Colonial Pipeline.
Digital Government
Democratic Lawmakers Urge Biden to Act on Gender-Neutral Federal IDs
The administration promised to allow nonbinary and intersex people to get passports that reflect their gender identities. Rep. Ro Khanna told The 19th an executive order is a “good first step.”
Digital Government
Vaccinated Individuals No Longer Need Masks in Federal Buildings
The Office of Management and Budget informed agencies following a change in public health guidance.
Artificial Intelligence
Senate Bills Aim to Grow Federal Tech-Ready Workforce—and the Government’s Transparency About its AI Use
Lawmakers moved to operationalize suggestions made by a Congressionally-mandated AI commission.
Digital Government
DOD Lifts Mask Mandate for Fully Vaccinated Personnel
Fully vaccinated DOD personnel are no longer required to wear a mask at Defense Department facilities.
Digital Government
FAA Knows It Needs More Tech Experts, Just Not How Many
The Federal Aviation Administration needs IT experts, as well as specialists in emerging technologies like drones and 3-D printing, but doesn’t have hard, quantitative data on those workforce gaps.
Digital Government
Will COVID Vaccines Be Required for Federal Contractors, and How Would a Mandate Be Enforced?
Increased vaccination rates and more people returning to the workplace raise these questions.
Cybersecurity
Army’s Cybersecurity ‘Greatly Concerns’ Wormuth After Pipeline Attack
Biden’s Army Secretary nominee told the Senate she’d fight deep troop cuts and support long-range fires and new measures against sexual crimes and extremism, if confirmed.
Digital Government
Senate Panel Advances Measures to Reskill Feds, Ban Their TikTok Use
OPM would oversee an agency-led effort to get federal workers into new jobs.
Digital Government