Nextgov

Treasury to Experiment with Blockchain for Grants Management 

After learning from other blockchain proof of concepts, officials will see if the technology can increase transparency into payment tracking. 

Workforce

Retiring Early Can Be Bad for the Brain

A study of a retirement program in China found that people who retired early suffered significant cognitive decline that put them at risk of early onset of dementia.

Oversight

GovExec Daily: The Trump and Biden Pandemic Response Plans

Courtney Bublé and Eric Katz join the podcast to discuss how each major-party candidate is planning to address the COVID-19 crisis.

Route Fifty

Pandemic’s Uncertainties Hang Heavy Over Small City's Budget

Augusta, Maine has already resorted to layoffs and furloughs to slow spending. Looking ahead, there are still questions about what will happen with badly needed state aid and other revenues.

Management

Arbitrator Finds Trump Workforce Orders Violate Law

An independent arbitrator ruled that the president cannot reduce the scope of bargaining between an agency and a labor group “by fiat.”

Nextgov

Senate Still Divided on Comprehensive Data Privacy Legislation

Though recent bills are similar, lawmakers have yet to resolve two polarizing issues: preemption and private right to action.

Management

White House Expands Crackdown on Certain Diversity and Inclusion Training

President Trump signed an executive order that covers federal agencies, contractors, grantees and the military. 

Nextgov

Watchdog Highlights Need for Better Cyber Coordination Across Government

A pair of reports point to confusion about the State Department’s new cyber bureau and the vacuum left behind by the eliminated White House cyber coordinator position.

Management

Trump's DHS Secretary Nominee Defends Record as Senate Looks to End 17-Month Vacancy

Chad Wolf appears headed for confirmation along a party-line vote.

Route Fifty

One Officer Indicted in Breonna Taylor Case, But Not In Her Death

STATE AND LOCAL ROUNDUP | Two Louisville police officers shot and wounded ... No evidence of widespread Covid-19 outbreaks in reopened schools ... California protects Joshua trees but allows solar companies to cut them down ... Colorado will furlough thousands of state employees, including the governor.

Route Fifty

Millions Raised to Pay off Debts so Floridians with Criminal Records Can Vote

The money, partially raised by Mike Bloomberg, will go towards paying off the court fines and fees of thousands of people with criminal records, allowing them to vote in the upcoming election.

Pay & Benefits

No Payroll Tax Deferral for Postal Workers, and More

A weekly roundup of pay and benefits news.

Tech

How and When Will We Know that a COVID-19 Vaccine Is Safe and Effective?

Several vaccines are in Phase 3 trials. So when will we know whether any of these will protect against COVID-19?

Workforce

Millennials ‘Can’t Even’ Get Ahead — They’re Already Too Far Behind

Anne Helen Petersen’s new book "Can’t Even" interrogates the lies millennials were told about having it all.

Pay & Benefits

GovExec Daily: The Future of Pay and Benefits Under Trump or Biden

Erich Wagner joins the podcast to discuss how the two major-party candidates would approach the federal workforce if elected.

Route Fifty

Court Ruling Clears Way for Ranked-Choice Voting in Presidential Contest in Maine

The state would become the first to allow for the voting method in a presidential election.

Management

State Department Officials Vow Cultural Shift Toward Inclusion

Officials tasked with improving diversity told a House panel that they hope recent efforts to deploy unconscious bias training and conduct surveys of those leaving the department will help improve efforts to retain employees of color, women and members of the LGBTQ community.