Defense

Thousands of Sailors, Marines Remain Unvaccinated After Deadline

Navy lowers its official vaccination rate after discovering data discrepancies.

Management

Federal Judge Temporarily Blocks Contractor Vaccine Mandate in Three States 

“This is not a case about whether vaccines are effective. They are,” wrote the judge. 

Workforce

Coronavirus Roundup: The Federal Response to the Omicron Variant 

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

Workforce

Union Files Another Legal Challenge to the COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate for Feds

This came right before the Biden administration delayed penalties for failure to comply with the requirement. 

Workforce

Biden Administration Delays Vaccine Mandate Penalties Until 2022

OMB and OPM officials said agencies should extend the counseling portion of enforcement of President Biden’s vaccine mandate through the end of the year, citing recent progress in the federal workforce’s vaccination rate.

Defense

Defense Industry Asks White House to Allow COVID Tests to Substitute for Vax Mandate

Nation’s largest military shipbuilder says it won’t comply until mandate is written into a contract.

Workforce

What Can You Expect From Another COVID Winter?

The pandemic should be better this winter than last, but it's important to accept the virus will never go completely away. "COVID is here to stay."

Workforce

At Least One Agency To Begin Suspending Some Unvaccinated Feds Before Christmas

Internal Justice Department emails show tight timeline for suspensions and firings for those out of compliance with the president's order.

Workforce

Coronavirus Roundup: EPA’s Back-to-the-Office Plan; More Data on Vaccine Mandate

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

Management

Why You Can’t Find Cheap At-Home Covid Tests

You probably won’t be testing everyone at your Thanksgiving table for COVID because the tests are expensive and hard to find. Why? The federal government is partly to blame.

Workforce

On Deadline Day, 90% of U.S. Government Personnel Are Vaccinated Against COVID-19

Another 5% are seeking exemptions and about 175,000 employees are now facing disciplinary action.

Management

Comparing 17.5 Million Options Shows CDC Got COVID-19 Vaccine Rollout Right

A study of 17.5 million strategies shows the CDC made the right recommendations for the rollout of COVID-19 vaccines. But there is room for improvement.

Workforce

Nine in 10 NASA Employees Are Vaccinated, But More Than 1,100 Are Seeking Exemptions

Unvaccinated employees say they're at their "dream jobs," but feel strongly enough to "upend" their lives.

Pay & Benefits

OPM Director Reaffirms that Essential Feds Will Have Annual Leave Restored Due to COVID-19

Federal employees deemed essential to combatting the pandemic will again be able to carry over unused annual leave that exceeds the typical cap in January.

Workforce

Coronavirus Roundup: Trump Official Subpoenaed Over COVID-19 Procurement; FDA Greenlights More Boosters 

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

Workforce

Vaccine-or-Test Requirements Increase Work and Costs for Governments

But state and local officials embrace the requirement because it creates a safer workplace while allowing employees to continue working.

Exclusive Defense

Army to Begin Forcing Out Soldiers Who Refuse COVID Vaccine, Including Guardsmen

New policy bars unvaccinated soldiers from re-enlistment, promotions as Oklahoma governor says National Guard need not obey Biden's vax mandate.

Oversight

Congressional Republicans Attempt to Overturn OSHA Vaccine Rule 

“These resolutions each have a large number of cosponsors, suggesting that they are being used for signaling purposes despite very low odds of enactment,” said one observer.