People
OPM updates decade-old telework guide
The Office of Personnel Management is asking agencies to rethink their approach to work in light of lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Modernization
The struggle to modernize state UI systems
The Labor Department and the U.S. Digital Service are taking a central role in efforts to develop modernized, modular UI technology for states.
People
Union complains of 'double standard' for fed and contractor vaccine mandates
The American Federation of Government employees is asking policymakers to put federal employees and contractors on the same clock when it comes to COVID-19 vaccination requirements.
People
SSA plans to bring workers back to the office
Field office and teleservice employees at the Social Security Administration will still have some ability to telework even after the agency implements a "reentry process" for managers and staff.
Acquisition
Labor Department rolls back Trump-era religious exemption for contractors
DOL announced it would undo a rule that was criticized by civil rights activists as easing the ability of some federal contractors to discriminate when making hiring decisions.
People
OPM rule gives agencies more direct-hire authority for recent college grads
The new authority is being billed by the Office of Personnel Management as s one more tool for agencies to bring in young talent and fill critical talent gaps.
Acquisition
White House extends vaccine deadline for contractors
Federal contractors have until Jan. 4, 2022 to comply with White House vaccination requirements.
People
Training the diplomats of the future
The pandemic pushed much of the department's training online and the Foreign Service Institute is looking to adapt some of the lessons of virtual education for the future.
Acquisition
Details on discipline emerge as contractor vaccination deadline looms
Federal contracting firms will decide for themselves on how to manage employees who decline COVID-19 vaccinations but agencies can restrict unvaccinated workers from federal facilities.
Acquisition
White House: 'There's not a cliff here' when it comes to vaccine deadlines
For federal employees and contractors who don't hit vaccination deadlines, processes for remediation will kick in before more serious enforcement measure are taken, White House coronavirus coordinator Jeffrey Zients said.
Cybersecurity
IC leaders drill in on diversity issues at House hearing
Although there have been some gains in the representation of women and minorities in the IC workforce overall, the highest ranks are less diverse.
Acquisition
Thrift Savings Plan to launch mobile app next year
The move is part of a $3.3 billion contract to consolidate multiple service contracts at the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board.
People
GAO prods OPM to review pandemic hiring
A new Government Accountability Office report says that not compiling the lessons learned from special hiring authorities could "risk significantly hindering the government's ability to recruit, hire, retain and manage its current COVID-19 pandemic workforce as well as for future pandemics or emergencies."
Digital Government
IGs look to expand investigative authority
Agency watchdogs told lawmakers that they would like authority to subpoena former federal employees, contractors and other non-governmental witnesses to give testimony in IG probes.
Modernization
Lawmakers seek probe of veterans' records requests backlog
The National Personnel Records Center is facing a backlog of 550,000 requests that built up over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic.
People
FLRA faces backlogs, staffing woes
The agency has been without a general counsel for years, leaving it unable to resolve charges of unfair labor practices, but the Senate is poised to confirm new leadership.
Digital Government
A 60-year-old IRS IT system won't finish modernizing until 2030
The Internal Revenue Service's plan to modernize its key source for individual tax data has seen multiple cost and schedule changes since it started in 2009.
People
White House looks to boost federal employee union participation
The Office of Personnel Management is directed agencies to more regularly give new and longtime feds more information about their union eligibility and guidance about how to join.
Digital Government
The workforce challenge facing the IRS
Can the tax agency solve the problem of a shrinking workforce and an increasing workload?
Acquisition