Defense
DOD's CIO says it's time to rethink the Pentagon's technology playbook
Kirsten Davies said her office is shifting away from its traditional role as a backend policy shop to become a forward-leaning strategic unit.
Updated
Workforce
Some disabled veterans say losing telework accommodations is making it harder for them to keep working at the VA
Employees with disabilities at several agencies have alleged that they’re being forced to return to the office, even though the Trump administration’s directive ending telework flexibility for the civil service exempted those with qualifying reasonable accommodations.
Updated
Management
Unions sue to block USDA reorganization, arguing it’s a RIF in disguise
A court filing says that impacted employees must report to their new assigned locations across the country by this fall.
Tech
House Homeland committee seeks briefing on DHS network hack
Cyber intruders accessed the unclassified network being used to help support World Cup games around the U.S., a senator said last week.
Workforce
Trump wants to scrap a key framework for federal employee discipline
Officials said the Douglas factors, 12 criteria federal agencies have used for 45 years to devise and justify discipline for misconduct, are too restrictive and “mechanistic.” Practitioners disagree.
Breaking News
Tech
Greg Barbaccia to leave federal CIO role at end of August
“Greg has done an excellent job as Federal CIO and Chief AI Officer,” an OMB spokesperson told Nextgov/FCW. “He will certainly be missed when his time here comes to an end.”
Workforce
OPM proposes ‘decentralized’ FEVS with fewer questions and less transparency
Agencies would be expected to conduct their own workforce surveys each year, with little rules on how much, or how little, they divulge to the public about it.
Tech
Trump says Pulte can declassify ‘whatever’ he wants, sparking fears of exposing intelligence secrets
“If he doesn’t care about blowing up cyber exploits, putting foreign relationships at risk, or getting people killed, he could declassify a lot,” one former official said.
Exclusive
Tech
Hackers breached DHS information-sharing network, people familiar say
The Homeland Security Information Network is used by government, international and private sector partners to share sensitive but unclassified information.
Tech
CIA will take ‘smart risks’ and ‘course correct’ as it adopts AI, director says
“We simply can’t afford to wait for a risk-free approach to emerging tech. It doesn’t exist. We have to move fast. We have to be aggressive,” CIA Director John Ratcliffe said.
Workforce
OPM finalizes ‘Nixonian’ rule centralizing and enabling some federal firings
Under final regulations published this week, the federal government’s dedicated HR agency can remove federal employees from across government over suitability and conduct issues—blocking most avenues for appeal.
Workforce
Union accuses Treasury and HHS of neglecting telework requests from employees with disabilities
The lawsuit highlights federal employees who have been waiting for more than a year to hear back about their reasonable accommodation requests as well as individuals whose need to telework ended before the agency responded.
Pay & Benefits
Some TSP funds faltered in June
Following two straight months of gains, the federal government’s 401(k)-style retirement savings program posted a more muted performance last month.
Management
Inside the competing federal efforts behind America’s 250th anniversary plans
Federal and White House-led initiatives are rolling out overlapping programming for the semiquincentennial, including National Mall events, court open houses and nationwide commissions that will shape how the 250th anniversary is marked.
Management
Slaughter and the expansion of presidential power
COMMENTARY | The Supreme Court’s latest ruling has dismantled a century of independence for federal regulators, and the ripples of this decision may just be the start of a much broader reshaping of the executive branch.
Tech
America at 250: What the Census reveals about our journey
COMMENTARY | As the United States approaches its 250th birthday, the Census Bureau offers a vivid way to trace the country’s growth, movement and change from the earliest days of the republic.
Workforce
IRS agrees to stop stealing workers’ pro-union decorations
The National Treasury Employees Union sued the agency earlier this month after multiple instances in which management confiscated and disposed of flyers and other decorations from employees’ workstations and communal bulletin boards.
Workforce
Judge halts Trump administration effort to exert political control over union elections
U.S. District Judge Denise Caspar said the Federal Labor Relations Authority’s move earlier this year to usurp jurisdiction over some cases from career employees was arbitrary and capricious under the Administrative Procedure Act.
Workforce
Despite criticism of Trump’s SES reforms, senior executives group backs recent updates to training program
Officials from the Office of Personnel Management said that the changes to the training and development program are necessary to promote standardization across agencies.
Tech