Digital Government
Senate Democrats Introduce Bill to Make Payroll Tax Deferral Optional
Legislation requiring workers, including federal employees and military service members, to consent in writing to have their Social Security taxes deferred between now and the end of the year has the support of nearly 20 employee groups.
Digital Government
Trump Administration Has Cut the Number of Federal Personnel Deployed in COVID-19 Fight by 60%
Administration officials say they have demobilized feds as missions are completed.
Emerging Tech
Defense to Outfit and Steer Military Dogs with Augmented Reality Goggles
Sights are set on tapping new technology to help better protect soldiers and the canines they guide.
Digital Government
Lawmakers Introduce Bill to Protect All Feds’ Leave Following COVID
Although OPM’s current policy only waives the 30-day annual leave cap for essential employees who are unable to use their leave due to their duties responding to the coronavirus pandemic, Democrats in Congress want to extend the waiver to all federal workers.
Cybersecurity
DHS Exempts Expanded Insider Threat Program From Key Privacy Act Provisions
The agency will be allowed to collect large amounts of data without having to follow several provisions regarding disclosure, relevance and the sharing of that information.
Digital Government
Senators Call for Comprehensive Report on Use of Security Cameras at All VA Hospitals
Lawmakers introduced legislation to enhance transparency across the facilities.
Digital Government
House Passes Bill to Protect Federal Employees Returning to Workplaces
The Senate introduced a companion version on Wednesday.
Modernization
VA, NARA Complete Digitization Effort to Help Speed Up Disability Claims for Some Veterans
Records that fill 29,000 boxes will now be used to validate service-connected disability benefits claims for veterans exposed to toxins like Agent Orange in waters near Vietnam.
Digital Government
OPM Updates Job Qualifications Following Hiring Executive Order
The Office of Personnel Management is asking agencies for feedback on a draft list of the qualifications required for federal jobs as part of the implementation of a recent executive order emphasizing applicants’ skills and experience, rather simply education.
Ideas
Women Equal Men in Computing Skill, but Are Less Confident
Women in STEM careers remains around 24% even though women make up almost 50% of the overall workforce.
Ideas
How Nontraditional Hires Can Fill the Tech Talent Gap
Individuals with a high emotional intelligence, creativity and problem-solving skills can be well-suited to IT roles.
Ideas
Addressing Insider Threats with Event Triggers
An insider threat program that incorporates financial triggers can help identify at-risk individuals.
Cybersecurity
Government Employees May Need to Update Threat Hunting Perspectives
As Congress considers expanding threat hunting programs into the private sector, a majority of federal workers surveyed last year didn’t seem to have a clue about such efforts within their own agencies.
Modernization
Survey: Most Teleworking Federal Employees Expect to Remain Home for At Least Six More Months
Many more feds say COVID-19 is having little impact on operations than at pandemic outset.
Cybersecurity
How Good Is Your Phishing Training? NIST Launched a Tool to Figure That Out.
Researchers are looking to pool more data from outside organizations to further refine it.
Artificial Intelligence
Artificial Intelligence Commission Pushes New Programs to Recruit Tech-Savvy Talent into DOD
Adopting emerging technologies will also need a top-down push and restructured leadership, according to National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence recommendations.
Artificial Intelligence
Defense Innovation Board Adopts AI Testing, Digital Workforce Recruitment Resolutions
The board pushed the department to embrace remote work beyond the pandemic as a tool to attract more civilian talent.
Ideas
When You Can’t Add Cybersecurity Staff, Build Cyber-Resiliency Instead
But organizations should be careful that they aren’t just throwing additional, sophisticated tools at existing employees to solve the problem.
Ideas
Why Female Bosses Get Different Reactions than Men when They Criticize Employees
This has important implications for the success of women in leadership.
Digital Government