Management
‘Stunning’ Executive Order Would Politicize Civil Service
President Trump signs directive that would potentially pull thousands of federal employees in "policy-making" positions out of the competitive service, making them at-will employees.
Management
Trump Administration Requests Info on Contractor Diversity Training as Officials Seek to Clarify What’s Allowed
Federal officials now say at least some unconscious bias training is all right under a recent controversial executive order.
Management
Who Decides When Vaccine Studies Are Done? Internal Documents Show Fauci Plays a Key Role.
Dr. Anthony Fauci will see data from government-funded vaccine trials before the FDA does. One caveat: Pfizer’s study, which is ahead of the others, isn’t included in his purview.
Management
House Democrats Seek to Reduce Corporate Influence in the Federal Government
A group of progressive-leaning House Democrats urged the Senate to not confirm lobbyists or C-suite officials for political appointments.
Management
The Administrative Presidency Meets Federalism: Hostile Takeovers in the Trump Era
With the Justice Department dominated by the White House, state attorneys general have taken on the role of defending federal law and executive branch discretion.
Pay & Benefits
Senate Democrats Introduce Bill to Make Payroll Tax Deferral Optional
Legislation requiring workers, including federal employees and military service members, to consent in writing to have their Social Security taxes deferred between now and the end of the year has the support of nearly 20 employee groups.
Workforce
GovExec Daily: The White House COVID-19 Outbreak
Katherine McIntire Peters joins the podcast to discuss the president's diagnosis and the workplace safety measures at the White House.
Defense
Can Dr. Conley — a Military Doctor — Say 'No' to the President?
Yes, but he’s under a lot of pressure that other physicians caring for VIP patients might not be.
Management
Trump Orders Agencies to Tackle Coronavirus-Related Mental Health Challenges
A multi-agency working group must develop a plan within 45 days.
Pay & Benefits
Lawmakers Revive Push to Make Feds’ Payroll Tax Deferral Optional
The effort to pressure the Trump administration into allowing federal employees to opt out of the controversial initiative to delay collection of Social Security taxes until next year is now bipartisan.
Defense
Pentagon Downplays National Security Concerns From Trump’s Diagnosis
...and some experts say they’re probably right.
Oversight
GovExec Daily: The Transition Work Before the Presidential Election
Courtney Bublé joins the podcast to discuss the preparations being made already for the presidential transition.
Oversight
GovExec Daily: The White House Diversity Order and Memos
Eric Katz joins the podcast to talk about the Trump administration's latest moves to curb certain types of training at agencies.
Pay & Benefits
More Feds Subject to Mandatory Payroll Tax Deferral Than Initially Thought
The National Treasury Employees Union on Friday said that the Trump administration failed to clarify that the controversial initiative applies to those making $4,000 or less after several pre-tax deductions, not their gross pay.
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.
Management
GovExec Daily: Bending or Rebuilding the Bureaucracy in the 2020 Election
Courtney Bublé, Eric Katz and Erich Wagner join the podcast to discuss their election stories on Joe Biden and Donald Trump.
Workforce
Women in President Donald Trump’s White House Earn 69 Cents for Every $1 Paid to Male Staffers
The gender pay gap is wider than the national pay gap and wider than the gap in the Obama White House.
Management
OPM Moves to Formally Shift Administrative Law Judges Out of Competitive Service
Proposed regulations implementing a 2018 executive order confirm that existing judges at federal agencies will not be subject to the change unless they transfer to another agency or leave and return to federal service, but they will no longer be eligible for a number of financial incentive programs.
Management
Gauge of U.S. Democracy Hits Its Lowest Score Yet
The latest survey results from the political science research project Bright Line Watch are in: U.S. democracy gets just 61 out of 100.
Pay & Benefits