Management
GovExec Daily: Booster Shots and More Vaccine News
Courtney Bublé joins the podcast to discuss the latest COVID-19 news that she has been covering.
Employee Policy
Fed sentenced for child porn
A federal employee this week was sentenced for accessing child pornography, which investigators specified he was doing in the federal workplace on government computers. The Department of Justice issued a statement on the sentencing—along with a plea that feds and the public be vigilant and consult the DOJ's Project Safe Childhood website to learn more about a "growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation."
Route Fifty
Feds Step In to Assist States With Unemployment Fixes
The Labor Department has deployed “tiger teams” to six state unemployment agencies, with experts looking for solutions to speed up payments and reduce fraud.
Oversight
Watchdog Still Reviewing Trump Administration's Handling of Some Ukraine Funds
GAO found that the Trump team broke the law by withholding $214 million in Defense funds for policy reasons, but is still looking at another $168 million in State Department funds.
Pay & Benefits
What Federal Employees Should Know About Their Pay If There Is a Shutdown at the End of This Month
Unlike previous closures, furloughed workers would be guaranteed retroactive compensation once government reopens.
Nextgov
Biden Doubles the Size of the President’s Science and Technology Council
The group includes high-profile academics and industry representatives, including from Google and Microsoft.
Management
Potential Traps for Federal Contractors with the COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate
Implementation won’t be easy and companies that do business with the government should prepare.
Workforce
Federal Employee Appeals Board Nominees Preview How They Will Reduce Case Backlog, Handle Vaccine Mandate Challenges
Confirmation of Biden’s picks for MSPB would end unprecedented era of quorum-less board.
Workforce
Coronavirus Roundup: HHS Watchdog Nominee Testifies; Union Calls For Vaccine Mandate at All Points of Entry
There's a lot to keep track of. Here’s today’s list of news updates and stories you may have missed.
Oversight
Public Health Experts ‘Flabbergasted’ That Biden Still Hasn’t Picked an FDA Chief
The Food and Drug Administration has been mired in controversies related to drug approvals and covid vaccines, all without a permanent leader.
Defense
Trump’s Red, White & Blue Air Force One Paint Job is Not Final, General Says
The concept image is “just something that’s on a paper,” according to Air Force acquisition official.
Oversight
GovExec Daily: The Shutdown Watch Begins
Eric Katz joins the podcast to discuss the continuing resolution negotiations.
Employee Policy
Union wants to expand vaccine requirement
The union representing CBP officers is publicizing its approval of the requirement that foreign nationals who arrive by air to the U.S. must show proof of COVID-19 vaccination for entry—and are pressing for the policy to be expanded to cover land and sea ports of entry, too.
Employee Policy
MSPB nominees hope to triage backlog
The Merit Systems Protection Board will also likely have to address fallout from disciplinary measures taken as the federal employee COVID-19 vaccine mandate takes effect.
Management
House Passes Shutdown and Default-Averting Package That Now Faces Uphill Battle in Senate
The measure's passage appears unlikely to do much to avoid a shutdown at the end of the month.
Route Fifty
Nearly One-Third of Infrastructure Jobs are Tough to Fill, Research Finds
Job opportunities are likely to boom if Congress approves a pending infrastructure bill, but a National League of Cities report says the current workforce may not be able to meet the demand.
Nextgov
Union Supports Revised Civilian Cyber Reserve Program
But the American Federation of Government Employees is still adamantly against the creation of a civilian National Digital Reserve Corps.
Management
Labor Department Seeks Advice on Increasing Equity in Contracting, Other Programs
The effort furthers an early executive order from President Biden.
Management
Homeland Security Investigates Border Patrol Agents for Potential Misconduct, Sends More Personnel to Texas
DHS secretary says he was "horrified" and "troubled" by actions of federal border personnel in Del Rio, Texas.
Management