Management
Hurricanes and Wildfires Are Colliding with the COVID-19 Pandemic – and Compounding the Risks
Disaster preparation and evacuation procedures weren't made for social distancing. The pandemic means response decisions are now fraught with contradictions.
Management
Millions of Homeowners Who Need Flood Insurance Don’t Know It — Thanks to FEMA
It is FEMA’s job to warn homeowners about major flood risks, but its approach is notoriously limited. In Cook County alone, researchers found about six times as many properties in danger as FEMA estimated. Look up your address with a new tool.
Defense
Can the President Really Order the Military to Occupy U.S. Cities and States?
President Trump has warned that he will send the military into states to curb protests. Is Trump’s warning bluster? Or does the president have the authority to send the military into American cities?
Management
Is This the Worst Year in Modern American History?
Comparing 2020 to 1968 offers some disquieting lessons for the present.
Management
FEMA Is Deploying Employees Ill-Prepared for Disaster Response, Report Finds
The agency is also dealing with severe shortfalls in its on-call and reservist workforce.
Management
Viewpoint: Treat It and Beat It
The federal government has a unique role to play in enabling rapid progress toward drugs to improve COVID-19 recovery and survival rates.
Oversight
Who Has Emergency Authority Over Elections? Nobody’s Quite Sure.
The tug of war over whether and how to hold Tuesday’s Wisconsin primary exposes a national problem: State and local officials with the most experience running elections lack the power to revamp or postpone voting during a crisis.
Workforce
America’s Other Heroes: The U.S. Public Health Service
On a recent visit to San Antonio, I encountered a new example of selfless service.
Management
Former FEMA Chief: Don’t Expect FEMA to ‘Fix’ the Coronavirus Response
Agency faces challenges allocating resources and getting supplies out the door, and could be short-staffed to handle other disasters that arise.
Management
Internal Emails Show How Chaos at the CDC Slowed the Early Response to Coronavirus
The CDC fumbled its communication with public health officials and underestimated the threat of the coronavirus even as it gained a foothold in the United States, according to hundreds of pages of documents ProPublica obtained.
Oversight
The Coronavirus Testing Paradox
Administering coronavirus tests requires time and supplies that are already running out. But aggressive testing has proven to be the best way to track and isolate the disease, stopping its spread. The best path forward depends on where you are.
Oversight
Voting by Mail Would Reduce Coronavirus Transmission but It Has Other Risks
As COVID-19 spreads, many are proposing to hold the November election by mail. Without careful preparation, though, the transition could run into logistical problems and provide opportunities for voter fraud.
Management
Viewpoint: The Airport Chaos Is the Product of Negligence
The Trump administration asked the wrong question.
Management
The Federalism Divide Is Shading Government’s Response to COVID-19
We can’t afford a government where the odds of an effective attack on the novel coronavirus depend on where citizens live.
Workforce
GovExec Daily: How the Coronavirus Scare is Changing How Feds Work
Nextgov's Heather Kuldell and GovExec's Eric Katz join the podcast to talk about agencies' plans for the workforce as the COVID-19 epidemic grows.
Management
As More Feds Contract Coronavirus, Agencies Scramble to Keep Employees Safe
Federal offices also looking to ensure a continuity of operations as outbreak spreads.
Oversight
America’s Coronavirus Testing Still Isn’t Moving Fast Enough
Without adequate testing, people with coronavirus symptoms are left to agonize over the right course of action on their own.
Management
We Can Still Avoid the Worst-Case Scenario for Coronavirus
The spread of Coronavirus may be inevitable, but the choices we make now will determine how bad the outbreak will get.
Management
House Democrats Probe Faulty Test Kits’ Role in Delaying Coronavirus Response
The House Oversight Committee cited ProPublica’s reporting in requesting documents from the Trump administration.
Management