People
Biden team pledges help for 'damaged' federal workforce
Pam Coleman, the director for performance management at the Office of Management and Budget, said that, "each week we seem to uncover more damage" done to the federal workforce under the Trump administration.
Cybersecurity
Mandatory breach reporting bill on deck, lawmakers say
Congress could be poised to require companies to report hacks in the wake of the massive breach linked to vulnerabilities on SolarWinds' IT management software.
Acquisition
DOL looks to roll back Trump's exemption for religious orgs in contracting
The agency plans going to reverse the rule through notice and comment rulemaking, a process that could take months.
Digital Government
Billions went to fraudulent unemployment claims in 2020, IG memo reports
Fraudulent unemployment benefit claims since March could end up costing tens of billions of dollars, the memo says.
People
Shaping post-Trump workforce policy
Democrats in Congress are considering legislation on multiple workforce fronts, including the issue of limiting the president's authority to remake the civil service via executive order.
People
Tanden's bid to lead OMB in doubt as Senate committees postpone votes
Democratic defections could hand President Biden his first rejection of a cabinet pick.
People
Kiran Ahuja tapped to lead OPM
The former Office of Personnel Management chief of staff is slated to return to lead the federal government's human resources agency.
People
AFGE looks to maximize two years of Democratic control on Capitol Hill
Although workplace safety is top of mind, the American Federation of Government Employees wants Congress to pursue action beyond the reversal of Trump workforce policies.
People
Lawmakers press OPM, CDC for vaccine allocations for federal employees
A group of Capital region Democrats want the Office of Personnel Management and the Centers for Disease Control to make the inoculation of federal employees a federal process.
People
Could Schedule F ever come back?
As it stands, future presidents could re-create Schedule F with more exemptions from the civil service, a power that the courts and the Congress have the power to change.
People
House COVID package includes 600 hours paid leave for feds
A provision from the House Oversight and Reform Committee would give feds 600 hours – or 15 weeks – of emergency paid leave to recover from COVID-19 or manage dependents whose care has been upended by the health crisis.
Digital Government
Wyden bill looks to overhaul unemployment benefit tech
The $500 million bill would pay for the Department of Labor to help develop new benefits technology capabilities to share with states and to establish a digital services team to develop and maintain the tech.
Modernization
Tech and tweets: Tanden talks policy and social media on Capitol Hill
President Biden's nominee for OMB director came under fire during her hearing for mean tweets aimed at Republican lawmakers. "I regret the language," she said.
People
FLRA defends Trump-era rule on revoking union fees
The Federal Labor Relations Authority is defending a 2020 rule in a union lawsuit – a rule opposed by the official now temporarily in charge of the agency.
Cybersecurity
House Dems look to expand TSA screeners' workplace protections
The bill would move all TSA employees into Title 5 of the U.S. Code, with pay conforming to the general schedule and collective bargaining rights.
Cybersecurity
Sen. Peters takes over HSGAC
The Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee will be faced with oversight responsibilities over the SolarWinds hack, the federal government's response to the pandemic and with legislation to implement the Biden administration's priorities for the federal workforce.
Digital Government
Labor nominee says that unemployment tech needs to be updated
Lawmakers are looking to President Biden's Labor Secretary nominee Marty Walsh for help on modernizing unemployment insurance delivery, worker safety and stimulating growth in STEM jobs.
Acquisition
Labor secretary nominee comes with a long record on union issues, contracting oversight
During his time as mayor, Marty Walsh pursued actions to increase the amount of minority-, women- and veteran-owned contractors in Boston.
People
Biden clears out Trump's FSIP appointees
Federal employee groups and unions had requested that Biden remove the panel's members.
People