Digital Government
Legacy tech hindered delivery of unemployment benefits during the pandemic, IG finds
States with modernized systems were able to stand up new programs faster than states that relied on legacy technology, according to a new report from the Labor Department's internal watchdog.
People
White House seeks reopening plans from agencies
Guidance sent to agencies on Tuesday makes clear that agencies can't start phasing feds back into the workplace until they've satisfied collective bargaining requirements.
Acquisition
Biden's first budget ups cyber and tech spending; gives feds a 2.7% pay raise
The Biden administration released its $6 trillion fiscal year 2022 budget proposal on Friday, including $1.5 trillion in discretionary spending across federal agencies.
Cybersecurity
Tech can help, but clearance reciprocity is a policy issue
The backlog of security clearance investigations has continued to drop from a 2018 high of 725,000 to 200,000, but agencies continue to struggle with reciprocity issues.
People
Lawmakers push State Department to act on harassment, discrimination
The State Department's first ever Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer has said that harassment cases go unreported because of an understanding that they wouldn't be addressed.
Digital Government
NARA seeks DOD's help in addressing records request backlog
Many records housed in a St. Louis facility are critical to veterans' benefits applications but can't be accessed remotely.
People
CDC mask guidelines and the federal workforce
The White House-led Safer Federal Workforce Task Force is incorporating recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention updates on COVID protocols into their guidance for agencies looking to accommodate vaccinated workers.
People
OPM tells agencies they may set up labor-management relation forums
A Trump executive order rolling back requirements for labor-management relations forums is under review, according to new guidance from the Office of Personnel Management.
People
GOP rep wants feds back in the office
Rep. Jody Hice, the top Republican on the House Subcommittee on Government Operations, says that recent CDC guidance on masks, vaccination and social distancing means that it's time for the federal government to move away from the emergency pandemic footing.
People
Few agencies sought Schedule F conversions
In the waning days of the Trump administration, only a relative handful out of hundreds of eligible agencies and department responded to an executive order that looked to reclassify vast swathes of the federal civil service as at-will employees.
Cybersecurity
Watchdog: 'Uncertainty' may undermine CBP's enforcement of social media policy
The Office of Inspector General at the Department of Homeland Security found divisions among senior Customs and Border Protection officials about the agency's social media posting policies.
People
Watchdog report finds OPM didn't always alert employees of COVID cases
The Inspector General at the Office of Personnel Management found that the agency wasn't requiring mask-wearing and failed to notify employees of COVID cases during the height of the pandemic.
Modernization
VA expecting claims backlog to peak this summer
Recent additions to the backlog of veterans affected by Agent Orange are going to add to an expected spike in the backlog of pending benefits claims at the Veterans Benefits Administration, but agency officials are still aiming to get the levels closer to pre-pandemic numbers by the end of fiscal year 2022.
Modernization
Funding is only part of the answer for UI modernization
State workforce agencies have funding for unemployment modernization and administration thanks to pandemic relief legislation but there are policy impediments, experts said.
People
OPM extends deadline on implementing Trump-era hiring policy
The Biden administration extended the deadline for federal agencies to implement portions of a Trump-era executive order aimed putting less reliance on educational attainment in federal hiring.
People
Impeachment witnesses talk public service
Four former government officials who played key roles in the first impeachment of former president Donald Trump discussed their experiences during a Public Service Recognition Week event.
People
House Dems, unions pitch plan to reclassify TSA screeners
So far, Republicans haven't signed on to a plan to alter the agency's unique personnel situation. Some experts caution that there are untended consequences from a move to put TSA officers under Title 5.
Digital Government
Lawmakers look to strengthen whistleblower protections
The bill would extend whistleblower protections to non-career employees in the Senior Executive Service, Public Health Service employees, and the commissioned officer corps at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Acquisition
This year's Sammies includes a special COVID response category
Partnership for Public Service announced the 29 finalists for its annual Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medals.
People