FCW Insider: June 25, 2021
The latest news and analysis from FCW's reporters and editors.
It was 20 years ago today...
Mark Forman reflects on what two decades have taught us about the federal CIO's role and responsibilities.
House panel trims Biden's TMF ambitions
A funding bill passed out of committee on Thursday pegs $50 million for the Technology Modernization Fund -- far less than the $500 million sought by the Biden administration.
Lawmakers spar over paid family and medical leave for feds
Democrats on the House Oversight and Reform Committee want the federal government to be a leader in providing paid family and medical leave to employees.
Coast Guard confronts harassment and retaliation in the ranks
The U.S. Coast Guard wants to build out its cyber workforce, but will have to contend with budget restraints and culture issues surrounding sexual harassment and retaliation.
Quick Hits
*** Kiran Ahuja was sworn in as the director of the Office of Personnel Management on Thursday. She's the first Senate-confirmed director at the agency since March 2020, when former director Dale Cabaniss quit. In a note sent to OPM employees on Thursday, Ahuja thanked them for their service and told them she looked forward to meeting with them to learn about the agency and its work.
"It's no secret that OPM has faced serious challenges," she wrote. "I'm excited to stand with you as we press forward into a new chapter of OPM history. I'm confident we'll come out stronger on the other side and are well-positioned for our next chapter as an agency."
*** Jody Hice (R-Ga.), ranking member of the Subcommittee on Government Operations of the House Oversight and Reform Committee, is asking inspectors general at 10 agencies for assessments of federal telework. This is in response to Biden administration guidance on returning to the office that encourages agencies to consider a more hybrid workforce post-pandemic, he says.
"Incredibly, the White House is now considering expanding work-from-home options for federal employees even before we have a clear picture of how it will impact Americans," Hice said in a statement.
*** Erie Meyer, a co-founder of the U.S. Digital Service, has joined the Federal Trade Commission as technology advisor to commissioner Rohit Chopra.