Workforce

The federal government is striving to be a model for employing people with disabilities, but retention is a problem

EEOC found that in fiscal 2018 people with disabilities were 27% more likely to leave federal employment than people without disabilities.

Tech

VA is updating its AI suicide risk model to reach more women

The department is looking to add military sexual trauma and intimate partner violence as risk factors for suicide in its predictive model for identifying veterans at high risk of self-harm.

Management

The federal government must make improved customer service a priority

COMMENTARY | A good government requires good customer experience—and that requires serious reform, writes one observer.

Tech

AI tools helped Treasury recover billions in fraud and improper payments

Risk screening, check fraud detection and more have helped the government recover more than $4 billion, Treasury announced.

Workforce

Feds’ employee experience and engagement continued to climb in 2024, FEVS data finds

Federal employees’ view of their agency leaders, supervisors and work experience sustained their rebound from 2022, according to OPM’s annual Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey.

News

Law enforcement officials prepare for possible post-election violence in D.C.

After the events of Jan. 6, the assassination attempts of former President Trump and the concerns of further political violence following this presidential election, federal and D.C. law enforcement are stepping up their preparations in the nation's capital.

Management

The federal government must focus on developing and supporting leaders dedicated to serving the public interest

COMMENTARY | Unlike organizations within the private sector and the military, the executive branch does not have a systematic, deliberate approach to developing and supporting federal leaders, writes one good government advocate.

Management

Secret Service needs to fix 'corrosive cultural attitudes' with its workforce to prevent a successful assassination, panel finds

The failures that led to a nearly successful assassination attempt on Trump run deeper than staffing shortfalls, the investigators found.

Tech

FBI arrests man accused of hacking SEC’s X account in January

The hijacked account posted illegitimate news about a widely-anticipated Bitcoin announcement, leading the cryptocurrency to spike some $1,000.

Pay & Benefits

10 important facts about Medicare

Some things you need to know when approaching Medicare eligibility.

Management

Legislation calls for creation of an independent office to improve the VA

Rep. Rudy Yakym’s, R-Ind., National Veterans’ Advocate Act, would transform the department’s Office of Patient Advocacy into a standalone body similar to the IRS’ Office of the National Taxpayer Advocate.

Tech

Partnership for Public Service plans AI training center for federal employees in 2025

The nonprofit’s proposed Center for Federal AI will provide federal employees with AI-centered education, career development and best practices-backed resources.

Management

5 steps for government reform

COMMENTARY | Fixing these systemic issues would maximize the impact of agencies and career civil servants already doing amazing work every day, writes one good government advocate.

Updated Workforce

Labor Dept. to require workers to spend half of work time in-person, angering union

The National Council of Field Labor Locals said Acting Labor Secretary Julie Su shirked her collective bargaining responsibilities by reducing telework while the union’s negotiability appeal is still pending before the Federal Labor Relations Authority.

Tech

The Rise of the Chief AI Officer

In the year since the White House required agencies to name a CAIO, the people holding those positions have been responsible for many efforts and innovations that draw on advances in artificial intelligence.

Workforce

Bill aims to support federal prison officers with new mental health grant programs

The legislation calls for new funding to provide mental health screenings to federal corrections officers and contractors, enabling possible referrals to health care providers.

Oversight

GAO: Agency HR offices need better communication with officials in remote posts

Federal officials in Alaska, Hawaii and the United States’ various offshore territories said they struggle to combat high attrition at federal jobs in the non-contiguous U.S., despite some agencies’ efforts.

Pay & Benefits

New bills want to provide Gold Star survivors with better benefits, make it easier for former feds to return

The Gold Star Spouse Healthcare Enhancement Act aims to provide fallen service members’ partners with lower health care costs for longer, while the Return USA Act looks to create an on-ramp for former employees to return to federal service. 

Management

Why FEMA’s disaster relief gets political − especially when hurricane season and election season collide

The balance of federal, state and local government authorities and responsibilities during a natural disaster can lead to a politicization of the response efforts, and this year is no different.