People
Lawmakers seek clarity on hazy White House pot policy
The White House has fired at least five staffers after their disclosure of previous marijuana use and some lawmakers urging the White House to clarify its policies and take into account a growing nationwide movement supporting legal pot.
People
OPM official: No going back to pre-COVID status quo
The Office of Personnel Management wants to use upcoming guidance on telework to offer a new vision for federal work, an agency official said Wednesday.
Digital Government
Dems press on federal role in UI tech modernization
The Labor Department recently got $2 billion for the administrative costs of unemployment insurance delivery. Democratic Lawmakers have a plan for how the agency should use it.
Digital Government
Court ruling adds to agencies' burden of proof for firing feds
The appeals court ruling changes decades of precedent to require agencies to justify the placement of an employee on a performance improvement plan in the event that they appeal their removal.
Digital Government
18F to help Wisconsin with UI tech
Many states have buckled under the pressure of delivering benefits to surges of claimants during the pandemic using antiquated technology. 18F is set to help Wisconsin modernize its unemployment insurance technology using agile procurement.
Digital Government
Automating the Plum Book and other Sunshine Week bills
Among the current crop of "Sunshine Week" bills are measures to continually update the Plum Book of federal appointments and to require the president to establish records management controls to store electronic messages in a way that they can later be searched and retrieved.
People
Agency STEM workforces in decline, report finds
A new committee report details the dramatic decline in the STEM workforces of federal science agencies. Lawmakers talked ideas to rebuild the workforce at a hearing on Wednesday.
People
A blueprint to rebuild OPM
A congressionally mandated study from the National Academy for Public Administration asks lawmakers and the executive branch to help create the conditions for the Office of Personnel Management to fulfill its purpose as a strategic human capital advisor to federal agencies.
People
D.C. extends COVID vaccines to essential feds but worries continue for far-flung federal workforce
Some agencies have been vaccinating their employees directly, but others haven't. The National Treasury Employee Union wants IRS to secure vaccine allotments for in-person workers nationwide.
Digital Government
TMF to fund Labor Dept. data project
The Technology Modernization Fund doled out its first project of 2021 the day after getting $1 billion in the Biden administration's Rescue Plan legislation.
People
Biden signs Rescue bill, boosting TMF and adding pandemic leave for feds
The $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan Act was signed into law on Thursday. In addition to a massive influx of funding to support Americans harmed by the economic fallout of the pandemic, there is funding available for IT modernization and provision to help the federal workforce cope with COVID-19.
People
VA watchdog cautions on pandemic hires
Temporary waivers to speed hiring at VA medical facilities have helped fill workforce gaps, but the agency's Inspector General warns on security risks of putting off certain security checks.
Digital Government
Biden looks to expand time off for feds to vote
An executive order issued Sunday on voting access includes a directive to the Office of Personnel Management to support federal employees looking to vote or serve as poll workers or observers during elections.
Digital Government
TMF money, more leave in Senate's take on COVID relief
The $1.9 trillion relief package could give federal employees up to 15 weeks of pandemic-related paid leave.
People
OPM tells agencies to restart union talks to uproot Trump-era orders
The Office of Personnel Management is looking to remove vestiges of workforce executive orders from the Trump administration from federal agency contracts with employee unions, including restrictions on official time and union use of agency facilities.
People
No new OMB pick yet, White House says
In her daily briefing, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said that Shalanda Young could serve as budget director on an acting basis if confirmed as deputy director of the Office of Management and Budget.
People
OMB orders agencies to stop enforcing Trump's diversity training purge
A recent OMB memo tells agencies to remove contracting clauses related to Trump's diversity training executive order.
People
Human capital woes make high-risk operations worse, GAO says
Strategic human capital management has fallen by the wayside, and that is taking a toll on government operations.
People
With Tanden out, top House Dems push Young for budget director
The House Speaker her and top lieutenants are pressing for the nomination of Shalanda Young to lead the Office of Management and Budget.
People