FCW Insider: March 13

The 2020 Fed 100 gala is rescheduled for June. Growing public health concerns and prompt the decision to celebrate later. FCW editor-in-chief Troy K. Schneider explains.

Federal employee unions are frustrated by agency pandemic plans, and say feds in frontline, public-facing roles are especially vulnerable. Lia Russell reports.

The General Services Administration cancelled its April flagship acquisition training conference FAST 2020 in response to the coronavirus pandemic. The agency is exploring virtual options. Mark Rockwell has more.

The Defense Department is restricting non-essential travel abroad for service members and the civilian workforce. Lauren C. Williams has the story.

The coronavirus pandemic is forcing a conversation about how to mitigate supply chain risks associated with outsourcing and globalization. The Senate Commerce Committee explored options in a March 12 hearing. Mark explains.

Quick Hits

*** The Office of Management and Budget and the Office of Personnel Management are teaming up on a new way to offer temporary cybersecurity details to fill critical roles and give opportunities to feds who have undergone training to gain cyber skills to learn more from a real-world job experience. A new USAJOBs page lists cyber detail opportunities for fiscal year 2020.

"By serving as a government-wide bulletin board for short-term assignments, details, and training opportunities around the Federal government, Open Opportunities will help agencies tap into the valuable talent and skills we already have and are developing within government," OPM Director Dale Cabaniss said in a statement.

*** Sens. Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), and Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) introduced a Senate version of the Telework Metrics and Cost Savings Act that looks to force agencies to ramp up telework in part to support the federal workforce during the coronavirus pandemic. A House version of the bill was offered earlier this month.