Oversight
IG Vacancies Persist Under Biden Administration, Despite One Recent Confirmation
The president has four other nominees waiting, as observers continue to stress the need to have permanent leaders to oversee the distribution of billions of dollars in COVID-19 relief.
Pay & Benefits
Some Dems Continue to Push for Bigger Pay Raise for Feds, and More
A weekly roundup of pay and benefits news.
Route Fifty
Supreme Court Leaves National Eviction Ban in Place
The 5-4 decision allows the moratorium to stay in effect through July 31.
Workforce
Coronavirus Roundup: FEMA Amends Funeral Assistance Policy; Third Round of Stimulus Check Data Released
There's a lot to keep track of. Here’s today’s list of news updates and stories you may have missed.
Management
Jill Biden and Doug Emhoff Visiting Texas to Encourage COVID-19 Vaccinations
Their Texas swing is part of a larger effort by senior administration officials who are fanning out across the country this week to encourage vaccinations ahead of the administration’s self-imposed goal of hitting a 70% countrywide vaccination rate by July 4.
Nextgov
OMB Offers New Guidance For Implementing First Part of Evidence Act
The office repeatedly urged agencies to focus on results, not compliance, as they craft their plans.
Management
Gen Z Could Lead a Renaissance in Public Service—If Only They Could Get In
A service-minded 21-year-old says her peers want to work in government, but the barriers to entry are too high. She has some suggestions for how to fix that.
Management
GovExec Daily: The Federal Eviction Moratorium Extension
Route Fifty's Andrea Noble joins the podcast to discuss the CDC extending the eviction ban through July 31.
Oversight
Embattled Housing Finance Agency IG Steps Down
An IG oversight body found Laura Wertheimer “engaged in conduct that undermines the integrity reasonably expected of an IG.”
Route Fifty
State, Local Government Workers Vaccinated at Higher Rate Than General Public
A new report found 70% of public sector employees were vaccinated, but also reveals some troubling disparities.
Nextgov
Watchdog: 10 Government Agencies Deployed Clearview AI Facial Recognition Tech
A Government Accountability Office report details how agencies used different versions of the biometric technology during the pandemic and protests.
Pay & Benefits
TSP Can Do More to Assess Financial Risk of Climate Change, Watchdog Finds
GAO urged the federal government’s 401(k)-style retirement savings program to conduct a more thorough review of participants’ exposure to climate change-related risks next year.
Workforce
Lawmakers Advance Bills to Boost Federal Employee Protections, Agency Oversight
Republicans say measures would allow feds to "slow roll" policies and discourage individuals from joining government.
Management
Federal Agencies Respond to Partial Condo Collapse in Florida
President Biden would support a federal probe, if one is warranted.
Oversight
Analysis: Why We’ll Likely Never Know Whether a COVID-19 Lab Leak Happened in China
If international scientific sleuths are hoping to see a lab log or find a whistleblower, that sort of information won’t be revealed. In China today, it is dangerous to say what you know if it challenges the official government narrative.
Nextgov
DARPA Wants AI That Can Learn From Others’ Experiences
The advanced research agency is putting up $1 million per project to overcome challenges associated with AI systems learning from each other.
Management
Building On Biden’s EO on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Research offers recommendations for improving transparency, access, recruitment and accountability.
Management
Why No One Is Sure If Delta Is Deadlier
The variants are spreading faster, but they don’t necessarily have incentive to kill more often.
Management
Poll: Many Americans Are Relaxing COVID-19 Precautions
A poll shows 63% of Americans plan to go to a bar or restaurant in the next few weeks. A year ago, 43% were willing to if COVID restrictions were lifted.
Management