Oversight
How a combination of covid lawsuits and media coverage keeps misinformation churning
Even as the covid-19 pandemic wanes, litigation — whether about vaccines, masks, or a range of other public health policies made during the pandemic — isn’t about to end.
Oversight
Why Trump’s prosecution for keeping secret documents is lawful, constitutional, precedented, nonpartisan and merited
A former national security staffer, now a scholar of secrecy law, says criticisms of Trump’s federal indictment for hoarding classified documents are unfounded.
Workforce
Homeland Security law enforcement officers would receive more mental health support, under a bill advancing in the House
Bipartisan legislation reported out of committee earlier this week comes in the wake of an uptick of suicides among border personnel.
Workforce
Sen. Kaine revives effort to ban Schedule F through the defense policy bill
This marks the second straight year that the Virginia Democrat has sought to attach a measure requiring congressional approval for new federal job classifications to the National Defense Authorization Act.
Tech
VA opposed to new electronic health record requirements, but open to more major acquisition review
VA officials told lawmakers Wednesday that they oppose proposed oversight standards for the department’s new electronic health record modernization program.
Pay & Benefits
OPM establishes emergency leave transfer program to help feds affected by Typhoon Mawar
The typhoon devastated U.S. territories that are home to federal employees.
Management
Ohio congressman urges new FBI headquarters in Alabama, not suburban D.C.
As years-long battle between Maryland and Virginia continues for the HQ, Rep. Jim Jordan suggests Huntsville as alternative.
Pay & Benefits
Bipartisan wildland firefighter ‘pay cliff’ fix introduced in Senate
Without congressional action by September, the federal government’s wildland firefighters will see their paychecks shrink as temporary pay increases expire.
Management
Post-pandemic, most agency headquarters are only one-quarter full
Agency officials say they are worried telework policies will change and therefore they must retain their underutilized buildings.
Pay & Benefits
There are more Social Security benefits than you might think
And each comes with its own rules and stipulations.
Workforce
Where agencies are turning to automation to augment human work
Tech policy leadership discussed ongoing federal use cases for automated systems, emphasizing responsible implementation and agency-specific training.
Tech
CDC rolls out new COVID-19 website
The reworked COVID-19 website is part of a larger push to make the public health agency’s web presence easier to navigate, with plans to relaunch CDC.gov early next year.
Tech
State Department email accounts hit in China-linked cyberattack
A China-based cybercriminal known as Storm-0558 gained access to unclassified U.S. government email accounts using forged authentication tokens, according to a report released by Microsoft.
Management
House oversight panel votes to overturn Biden contracting policies and cut funding for unauthorized programs
Democrats object to measures targeting labor- and climate-friendly executive orders.
Workforce
Biden administration to Congress: Don't give us more authority to fire people
Legal hurdles to already failed approaches would only complicate the disciplinary process, officials say.
Oversight
‘Wrongdoing’ likely in USDA maintenance of the nation’s largest agricultural research facility, OSC says
Union leaders said a recent winter flood of a building at the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center is just a symptom of systematic mismanagement of the facility.
Oversight
Want to track pandemic relief spending? Data problems make that difficult, committee says
“These challenges limit the degree of transparency into the use of pandemic relief funds,” a new report from the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee says.
Workforce
Proposed marijuana waivers acknowledge blunt recruiting truths
Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle want to remove a barrier to joining the U.S. military.
Pay & Benefits