Workforce
Measure to hasten firing of VA employees advances
The Biden administration has warned the new procedures are unnecessary and would only complicate the disciplinary process.
Defense
Biden selects NSA veteran as national cyber director nominee
White House officials named former National Security Agency official Harry Coker Jr. as the nominee to replace former National Cyber Director Chris Inglis amid the ongoing implementation of the new National Cyber Strategy.
Oversight
‘We should not fear a government shutdown’: Far-right House members slam spending bills
Freedom Caucus members are urging more support from Speaker McCarthy and GOP leaders.
Workforce
The Senior Executive Service is becoming less white and male, but still lags behind the rest of the federal workforce
Lack of diversity in the government's top ranks has been an issue for decades.
Pay & Benefits
Dental and vision benefits are now open to many part-time, temporary and seasonal federal employees
A rule finalized Tuesday makes nearly 200,000 additional federal employees, including postal workers, eligible to enroll in the Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program.
Tech
IRS needs better documentation for its cyber threat hunts, watchdog says
A new report noted that a lack of “established policies and procedures” could prevent the tax agency from meeting federal requirements.
Workforce
IRS announces the end of most surprise taxpayer visits
The change, effective immediately, comes due to concern for the safety of IRS employees and to make it easier for taxpayers to identify potential scammers.
Workforce
FDA Head Robert Califf Battles Misinformation — Sometimes With Fuzzy Facts
Efforts to respond to or regulate misinformation are becoming a political problem.
Workforce
Biden asks Supreme Court to salvage a president’s right to issue federal workforce mandates
The White House’s vaccine mandate is no longer in effect, but the Biden administration is worried about precedent.
Workforce
65 years of NASA – an astrophysicist reflects on the agency’s legacy
NASA’s missions have inspired generations of young people to pursue the sciences.
Oversight
This little-known federal regulator could crack down on fraudulent carbon offsets
The Commodity Futures Trading Commission is "uniquely situated" to stop carbon market manipulation.
Tech
How Ben Franklin’s paper money outwitted counterfeiters
The founding father’s innovative way of making money kept him one step ahead of counterfeiters.
Oversight
A Scientist Said Her Research Could Help With Repatriation. Instead, It Destroyed Native Remains.
Federal agencies have awarded millions of dollars to scientific studies on Native American human remains, undermining the goals of NAGPRA as tribes fight for repatriation.
Management
Federal agencies plan to spend $770M ramping up their electric vehicle usage this year
The Biden administration has ambitious goals to electrify the federal fleet, but many obstacles remain.
Workforce
Agencies would have more flexibility in the hiring process, under new OPM rules
Regulations implementing a provision of the 2019 National Defense Authorization Act would give hiring managers more information—and options—as they evaluate job applicants.
Defense
US power grid faces escalating cyber threats, infrastructure experts warn
The power grid is experiencing heightened threats from foreign adversaries and domestic extremist groups that can pose devastating consequences for the nation’s supply of electricity, experts told a House subcommittee on Tuesday.
Management
New guidance will help agencies get underserved communities more involved in the regulatory process
The Biden administration is working to ensure that people who are affected have a chance to weigh in as rules are being developed.
Oversight
Preparation for pandemics and natural disasters updated in bill passed by Senate panel
Legislation would increase accountability, transparency in how federal government helps state, local governments prepare for and respond to public health emergencies.
Management
VA’s work with outside vendors draws lawmaker scrutiny over conflicts of interest
Rep. Jen Kiggans, R-Va., said VA’s claim it “had no occasions” where it identified an actual or potential conflict of interest with its contractors was “not believable.”
Management