Nextgov

DOD's Commercial Virtual Remote Environment Officially Sunsets

The environment for collaboration that supported telework during the pandemic expired.

Management

GovExec Daily: Is the Administration Sidelining Senior Execs at CFPB?

Eric Katz joins the show to discuss his story about the shakeup at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

Employee Policy

New COVID protections for some feds

COVID has killed many feds, and sickened untold thousands more, and the disease continues to endanger the workforce into the future. But a new OSHA Emergency Temporary Standard aims to reduce the threat, specifically to healthcare workers.

Oversight

GOP Lawmakers Question Ethics Waivers for Former Union Officials at OMB, OPM

House Republicans asked why Democrats have not objected to the use of ethics waivers by the Biden administration, although experts took no issue with the appointees in question.

Management

Ethics Experts Say Administration’s Hiring of Top Biden Advisor’s Kids Raises Questions

A White House official said the Ricchettis have relevant qualifications for their jobs and their levels of experience are similar to those of their predecessors.

Management

Agencies to Boost Hiring, Tighten Internal Screening to Root Out Domestic Terrorism

Biden administration launches new strategy to tackle domestic extremism, including by looking in house.

Route Fifty

What Over 400 Local Leaders Want to See in an Infrastructure Deal

A new survey of mayors and other local elected officials reveals nearly universal support for certain types of investments. Others, including some Biden administration priorities, aren't as popular.

Management

GAO Says Biden’s Freeze on Border Wall Construction Didn’t Violate Budget Law

The watchdog said the “programmatic delays” were not comparable to an earlier GAO finding that the Trump administration violated the Impoundment Control Act in withholding funds for Ukraine.

Nextgov

White House Calls for Agencies and Tech Companies to Share Info to Combat Domestic Terrorism

A new strategy asks social media and communications companies to enforce their own policies to protect users from those who foment violence.

Defense

After Trump ‘Chaos,’ National Security Council Seeks a Return to ‘Regular Order’

The Biden White House is reinvigorating an interagency process some argue had largely halted under the Trump administration.

Workforce

Middle-Aged Americans Are Stressed and Struggle with Physical and Mental Health – Other Nations Do Better

Adults in Germany, South Korea and Mexico reported improvements in health, well-being and memory.

Workforce

GovExec Daily: How Human Capital Officials See White House Budgets

Dr. Reginald Wells joins the podcast to discuss his experience with budget blueprints as Deputy Commissioner of the Social Security Administration’s Office of Human Resources.

Employee Policy

HR org: Fed agencies keep up the telework, post-pandemic

Even as the country is moving past the worst of the COVID emergency, the federal government has decided to maintain high levels of telework. A new report offers insights on the move.

Employee Policy

DHS remaking federal hiring, to confront cybersecurity gap

After an alarming number of recent data breaches striking our shores, DHS is changing policy to speed the hiring of cybersecurity professionals.

Nextgov

FDA Tells NIST Securing ‘Critical Software’ Extends Beyond Devices

Two federal agencies were among those who submitted comments to the National Institute of Standards and Technology for shaping deliverables under a recent executive order.

Management

White House Outlines ‘Made in America’ Executive Order Implementation

Agencies must designate a senior official to spearhead efforts to support domestic manufacturing.

Management

Biden Employs Aggressive Strategy to Sideline Top Career Officials at Consumer Protection Bureau

Current and former employees say the administration is flouting civil service protections—and its own promises.

Nextgov

Pentagon Releases Cloud Strategy for Operations Outside U.S.

The strategy emphasizes the need to deploy software quickly and securely to the tactical edge.

Nextgov

Key Senator Wants Biden to Raise SolarWinds in International Negotiations

Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Mark Warner said espionage campaigns like the SolarWinds hack merit discussion with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Workforce

Coronavirus Roundup: Another Possible Vaccine in the U.S.; AAPI Liaison Finding Her Footing

There's a lot to keep track of. Here’s today’s list of news updates and stories you may have missed.