Oversight
GOP-Led Committee Advances Nomination of Special Pandemic Recovery IG
Meanwhile, Democrats unleash a slew of proposals related to strengthening IGs and protecting their independence.
Management
Advancing Science During a Public Health Crisis: An Interview with NSF’s Top HR Officer
“This pandemic has shown everyone that the nature of work is not where you work, but really what you do,” the National Science Foundation’s Wonzie Gardner says.
Oversight
COVID-19 Cases at One Texas Immigration Detention Center Soared in a Matter of Days. Now, Town Leaders Want Answers.
Coronavirus infections continue to rise at migrant detention facilities in towns with limited resources. Some local governments want details on what’s being done to safeguard the public.
Workforce
Coronavirus Roundup: National Parks Begin to Reopen; Interior IG to Review Native American Fund Distribution
There's a lot to keep track of. Here’s today’s list of news updates and stories you may have missed.
Pay & Benefits
White House Orders TSP Board to Halt International Fund Index Change
After months of lobbying, President Trump has intervened in the independent agency’s decision to shift foreign investments to a more expansive index of international firms.
Defense
Coronavirus Hits Top US Officials
Senior officials in the White House and the Pentagon are now sidelined by the virus.
Benefits
House Dems call for retroactive paid parental leave
Letting new parents take time off would alleviate coronavirus-related concerns, members stated in a May 8 letter to leadership.
Employee Policy
Postal unions wary of choice for USPS chief
Postal workers are telegraphing their concerns about the newly appointed postmaster general, seen by many as a political choice in a time of existential threats to the U.S. Postal Service.
Management
Project Management and COVID-19 Recovery
Lessons from previous disasters offer a guide for government leaders.
Defense
Why the Military Can Use Emergency Powers to Treat Service Members with Trial COVID-19 Drugs
Army physicians are turning to drugs approved for other conditions or newly developed treatments such as the antiviral Remdesivir to treat infected personnel.
Workforce
GovExec Daily: What Can Feds Do if They Feel They Are Called Back Too Soon?
Joanna Friedman, a lawyer who specializes in federal employment law, joins the podcast to discuss how public servants can adjust as federal offices follow "opening up" measures.
Route Fifty
In a City That Was a Coronavirus Hotspot, More Public Employees Will Return to Work
Hundreds of workers in Detroit saw their pay and hours slashed in recent weeks as the city reeled from the virus outbreak.
Nextgov
U.S. Marshals Service Breach Exposed Personal Data of 387,000 Prisoners
The agency notified affected individuals this month after learning about the intrusion in December.
Management
HHS Has Yet to Use Four-Year-Old Authorities to Hire 2,000 Biomedical Researchers
The researchers could have helped CDC, FDA and NIH in coronavirus fight, watchdog says.
Nextgov
VA Exploring Options for a Grand Challenge to Prevent Suicide
The agency is looking for a contractor to help run a possible multi-phase competition, including outreach and potentially raising private-sector funds for the prizes.
Management
Federal Prisons System Opens Hospital at New Coronavirus Hotspot
The hospital will treat inmates at a correctional complex in Santa Barbara County, Calif.
Route Fifty
Out-of-State Visitors Rushed to Reopened Georgia
Health experts say the flood of visitors could prolong the pandemic and lead to a rash of new cases of coronavirus.
Route Fifty
Unemployment From the Coronavirus Varies Dramatically Between States, Analysis Finds
The percentage of each state's workforce filing for unemployment as a result of the pandemic ranges between 8% to 33%, largely depending on the industries that drive local economies.
Pay & Benefits
House Democrats Urge Leadership to Begin Paid Parental Leave for Feds Early
A group of 12 lawmakers said the new benefit for federal workers, currently slated for implementation in October, should apply retroactively to December.
Nextgov