People

No merger, but a long to-do list for OPM from the House

House Appropriators want the Office of Personnel Management to improve on its core duties including retirement processing without support from a planned merger with the General Services Administration.

Cybersecurity

Lawmakers promotes cyber education, accountability in defense bill

House defense panels think DOD's cyber recruiting efforts -- and cyber tools -- are too spread out to be effective.

People

Oversight Dems press FLRA chief on union, FEVS scores

Democrats on the Government Operations subcommittee of the Committee on Oversight and Reform hammered FLRA Chairwoman Colleen Duffy Kiko for her decision to stop recognizing the Union of Authorities Employees last December.

People

Funding bill looks to block USDA relocations

The House appropriations bill funding the Department of Agriculture nixes plans to move two offices outside of the National Capitol Region.

Cybersecurity

Thrift Savings Plan sees uptick in 2FA

TSP users are adopting two-factor authentication, with few opt-outs, officials said.

Acquisition

Union cries foul over planned transfer of IT workers at DOD

A leading federal employee union has filed an unfair labor practice charge against the Department of Defense over the planned transfer of tech workers between defense agencies.

People

New ID policy looks to leverage government credentials

An updated credentialing policy from the White House aims to make PIV cards interoperable across agencies and tap federal identifiers like Social Security numbers to secure digital transactions.

People

Defense Digital hunts tech talent with new recruiting contract

The $7 million DDS pilot, which extends to April 2020, will target candidates with backgrounds in computer science, product management, and user experience design.

Cybersecurity

DISA awards $75 million sole-source deal for background check IT

Perspecta, the vendor hired to prototype a new background check system for the Department of Defense, is getting a follow-on to its initial sole-source agreement.

People

TSA turnover alarms lawmakers

Security screeners at the Transportation Security Administration post some of the lowest satisfaction scores and have the highest attrition rates of any government employees.

Digital Government

HUD seeks vendor to help set up central data office

The housing agency plans to work with the Centers of Excellence program at the General Services Administration to manage its troves of data.

Modernization

GSA sets cloud hub, plans major acquisition conference

A new centralized cloud resource is part of larger push by the agency to make finding services and supplies easier for federal customers.

Modernization

What if Congress doesn't want to move OPM?

If Congress doesn't go along with a plan to reorganize the Office of Personnel Management, the agency still plans to push ahead administratively through outsourcing and other strategies.

Cybersecurity

Weichert: Budget shortfall, legacy IT woes drive planned OPM merger

The Trump administration plans this week to propose legislation to merge the Office of Personnel Management into the General Services Administration.

Cybersecurity

Cyber workforce order doesn't solve the retention problem

The new cyber workforce executive order looks to make it easier for employees to take on cybersecurity roles within government, but agency IT officials point out the measure has its limitations.

Cybersecurity

Shanahan: 'We get out-recruited' for cyber talent

Congress wants DOD to onboard more cyber warriors, but they're hard to keep around.

People

Senators drill in on OPM-GSA reorg at confirmation hearing

Senators questioned President Donald Trump's pick to lead the Office of Personnel Management about workforce issues including a planned reorg that would divide OPM's functions between the White House and the General Services Administration.

Cybersecurity

Navy mulls punishment for cyber neglect

The Navy is looking at punitive measures for careless users to get them to take basic cyber hygiene seriously.

Acquisition

Contractors tally shutdown costs

Federal contractors told a House panel that last winter's partial government shutdown is still taking a toll.

People

DOD shifts employee training to OPM's USA Learning

The Department of Defense is moving the management of its training courses to the Office of Personnel Management and the government's centralized learning and development program.