People

Do agencies need more flexibility for reorgs?

Shared services and workforce reductions are expected to feature prominently in the White House’s plan to reorganize the federal government, but some changes could benefit from additional outside authorities.

People

What to look for in agency reorg plans

Will agency reorganization plans focus on management and program improvements, or are the efforts a front for budget cuts and workforce reductions?

People

IT, cyber figure in State Dept. 'redesign'

As the Trump administration looks to dramatically reshape the State Department's scope and size, an IT refresh and increased role in cyber policy are on the table.

Modernization

What keeps govtech leaders up at night?

A joint survey by Grant Thornton and PSC found that IT stakeholders in government fear their own employees and outdated systems the most when it comes to cybersecurity.

Digital Government

A how-to software guide for federal managers

A guide from 18F aimed at federal managers without a software engineering background prioritizes continuous, incremental improvement and user-centered design.

People

Amid reorg, agency leaders push for SES reforms

Amid reorganization and downsizing, agency leaders want to ensure there's a healthy pipeline for the senior executive service to carry out its mission.

People

Agencies steer clear of RIFs in reorg plans

Agencies think they can fulfill White House reorganization goals and trim their workforces by relying on attrition and reclassifying employees.

People

CIO Council to host governmentwide tech recruiting event

The Federal CIO Council is hosting a governmentwide hiring event to help bridge the government’s tech and cyber skills gap.

People

Senators gear up for government reorg

With agencies' draft reorganization plans due at the end of the month, senators want to focus on legislative solutions to the low-hanging fruit for improving agency efficiencies.

Cybersecurity

Federal CISOs want more education and training to help boost incident response

To get ahead of cyberthreats, agency CIOs and CISOs want to focus on reducing response times from weeks and months to minutes.

People

USDA looks to cut CIOs as part of reorg

The Department of Agriculture is looking to cut down on the number of agency CIOs in the name of efficiency and better communication across mission areas.

Cybersecurity

Hacking the human component of cyber readiness

The DOD knows information-sharing is key to being ready for the next big cyberattack. But attracting and retaining talent to facilitate it proves challenging.

People

NBIB confirms 700,000 security clearance backlog

The National Background Investigations Bureau is trying to whittle down its massive security clearance backlog, while streamlining and updating its background investigation process.

People

How to work with a bad listener

Steve Kelman shares some exceedingly practical advice for the workplace.

People

A student-run solution to govtech skill shortages

A group of Harvard students just wrapped up the first year of a fellowship program they designed to create a tech skills pipeline for government.

People

White House announces expected federal pay bump

The White House's alternative payment plan raises civilian pay by 1.9 percent and military pay by 2.1 percent, but critics complain it's not enough.

People

How much will federal pension cuts save?

President Trump's 2018 budget proposal includes billions in savings from cuts to federal employee retirement benefits. Does the math work?

People

OPM offers flex for Harvey hiring

The Office of Personnel Management reminded agencies that there are exceptions in place to fast-track hiring of critical need positions, despite the federal hiring slowdown.

Cybersecurity

Can reorg plans get agencies off the high-risk list?

As agencies continue preparations to submit their reorganization plans, many also have to reckon with their places on the Government Accountability Office's high-risk list.

People

Oversight chairs probe political activities of feds

The chairs of two congressional oversight committees want answers about agencies' policies on granting unpaid leave requests to employees for campaign activity.