Digital Government
White House elevates CX with executive order
A Biden administration executive order looks to use tech to simplify and reduce friction in citizen interactions with government programs and services.
People
What’s next for security clearance reform?
Expect new milestones from the DOD’s governmentwide vetting IT and new policies on vetting criteria in 2022.
People
Top House Republican pushes back on government telework
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) isn’t the only Republican lawmaker asking questions about the productivity of teleworking federal employees.
People
Vaccination rates tick up slightly among federal employees
The number of vaccinated feds has increased, although there are still thousands of pending exception and extension requests to the mandate.
People
NDAA requires new job data, software job series
The House-passed compromise NDAA also has other workforce provisions, including a change to the probationary period for civilian feds at DOD and paid parental bereavement leave for federal employees.
Acquisition
Federal court blocks contractor vaccination mandate
A nationwide injunction from a federal court blocks the Biden administration from enforcing its vaccination mandate for the federal contract workforce.
People
Ahuja tees up 2022 plans for OPM
The Office of Personnel Management has a long list of priorities as it rebuilds itself and rolls out policies to implement the Biden-Harris agenda.
People
USDA finalizes more expansive telework, remote work policies
The new policy reverses telework restrictions put in place during the Trump administration before the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.
People
New OPM ‘playbook’ supports government hiring surge
Agencies need to staff up to implement the bipartisan infrastructure law, OPM says.
People
Connolly presses for legislation on telework, internships and OPM
A new bill on federal internships would require interns be paid and create a central online source of information on federal internships, among other measures.
People
White House asks agencies to delay consequences for vaccine mandate violations
Agencies have the power to decide how to discipline unvaccinated feds, but the White House is encouraging them to go beyond education, counseling and letters of reprimand until after the holidays.
People
Connolly introduces bill to 'rebuild' OPM
One goal of the bill is to ensure that future OPM directors are nonpartisan.
People
White House rolls out DEIA strategy
On Tuesday, the Biden administration issued agencies a roadmap to guide their efforts to develop strategic plans for diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility (DEIA), as required under a as required under a June executive order.
Acquisition
New rule puts $15 minimum wage for federal contractors in place next year
Employees working on federal contracts will have a $15 minimum wage starting on Jan. 30, 2022, per a new rule issued by the Labor Department on Monday.
People
White House says 90% of feds are vaccinated
The deadline for the administration’s mandate for feds to get vaccinated is here, but agencies still have to process exemption requests and go through the discipline process for anyone not in compliance.
People
What agency tech leaders think about a U.S. Digital Service Academy
Agency tech leaders sounded off to the Government Accountability Office about the prospect of launching a digital service training school modeled on the military service academies to bring more tech talent into government.
People
White House releases 'vision' for management agenda
The coming president's management agenda will stress the federal workforce, customer service user experience and equity as well as a push to build capacity in financial management and improve acquisition.
People
Recruitment is top of mind for OPM's Kiran Ahuja
"If we want the best talent meeting America's needs, then we need to be smart about creating opportunities for them," Office of Personnel Management Director Kiran Ahuja said at an event hosted by FCW.
People
Vaccine mandate, holiday travel season loom for TSA workforce
The Transportation Security Administration told FCW that it doesn't expect the upcoming deadline for feds to comply with vaccination requirements to cause disruptions.
Cybersecurity