Digital Government
Nine Major Takeaways From the Omnibus and Coronavirus Relief Packages
Funding boosts and hiring pushes are coming for many federal agencies.
Policy
Spending Agreement Would Allow 1% Pay Raise, Fails to Ban Schedule F
Provision in the fiscal 2021 omnibus appropriations bill would give feds until the end of next year to repay payroll taxes deferred by the Trump administration from September through December.
Digital Government
VA to Begin COVID-19 Vaccinations at 128 More Sites
The Veterans Affairs Secretary said the approval of a second vaccine allows the department to inoculate more health care providers and veterans.
Digital Government
OPM Proposes Prioritizing Job Performance Over Tenure in Layoffs
Officials at the Office of Personnel Management are seeking to finalize a provision of President Trump’s controversial workforce executive orders before he leaves office.
Digital Government
With Negotiations Ongoing, Lawmakers Say Yet Another Stopgap Bill ‘Highly Likely’ to Avert Shutdown
Congress is ironing out coronavirus relief funds in conjunction with a government funding package as the Friday deadline looms.
Digital Government
Inauguration a Holiday for D.C.-Area Feds, Even Those Teleworking Due to COVID-19
The quadrennial bonus day off will still apply to capital region feds in 2021 even though many are not commuting to the office.
Ideas
Racial Stereotypes Drive Students of Color Away from STEM, but Many Still Persist
But no matter what they do, they cannot shake the perception among certain white colleagues and collaborators that they don’t belong.
Ideas
Why Being Stuck at Home—and Unable to Hang Out in Cafes and Bars—Drains Our Creativity
As we bounce from place to place, each brief social encounter plants a small seed that can gel into a new idea or inspiration.
Digital Government
Federal Employees to Get a Full Day Off on Christmas Eve
President Trump issues an executive order that breaks with recent precedent by granting vacation for all of Dec. 24, rather than a half-day.
Ideas
Computer Science Jobs Pay Well and Are Growing Fast. Why Are They Out of Reach for So Many of America's Students?
If students from certain groups are being shut out of the field, it means that public education is failing in its role as the great equalizer.
Digital Government
U.S. Military Starts Vaccinating Troops, Behind Russia and China
DOD has picked 16 sites for a “controlled pilot” COVID vaccination program.
Emerging Tech
The Future of Flight Training Is a Gamer Headset That Watches You Play
Google and other companies are helping design a smarter, cheaper way to produce aviators.
Digital Government
VA Flags Potential Staffing, Resource Hurdles in Vaccine Distribution
The department will start with a small distribution of doses, but expects a series of hurdles in inoculating its entire workforce and network.
Digital Government
Biden Team Tries Recruiting Through Source Code
If you find the hidden message, you might be someone the incoming administration wants to hire.
Artificial Intelligence
AI Accountability, Tech Talent Pipeline In-Focus for Next Congress, Staffers Say
Officials recognize setbacks the pandemic is having on STEM education.
Digital Government
How Dozens of Trump’s Political Appointees Will Stay in Government After Biden Takes Over
Documents show that officials appointed by Trump who’d otherwise lose their jobs under Biden have been approved for permanent positions in federal agencies.
Modernization
Pentagon Extends Work From Home Flexibility for Civilian Employees
The Defense Department will allow civilians to telework even if children or other dependents in need of supervision are present at home.
Digital Government
Internal Documents Detail Who VA Will Vaccinate First
The Veterans Affairs Department's multi-tiered plan prioritizes delivering COVID-19 inoculations to high-risk staff and patients.
Digital Government
House Dems Want to Know If Political Appointees Are Becoming Career Civil Servants
The request gives agency heads one week to respond.
Emerging Tech