Digital Government

States get streamlined access to Treasury’s Do Not Pay system for unemployment

The move comes as federal agencies have worked with states to combat the rise in jobless aid fraud following the pandemic.

Digital Government

Labor Department tests new identity options for accessing unemployment benefits

The Labor Department plans to cover initial costs for digital and in-person identity proofing offerings for states to use in the unemployment system.

Digital Government

Some states may be barring the door to unemployment benefits

Despite Labor Department guidelines, nine states are requiring UI applicants to verify their identity before submitting applications.

People

Labor Secretary set to leave post for NHL players union, reports say

The news comes as some House Republicans set their sights on oversight for fraud in pandemic-era benefits programs including enhanced unemployment insurance.

Policy

GAO pegs unemployment insurance fraud tally at more than $60 billion

At the same time, the congressional watchdog cautioned that governmentwide fraud estimates are potentially dicey.

Digital Government

Labor Department, USPS team up on ID proofing

A pilot project set to launch in 2023 will see the Department of Labor and the postal service teaming up to help unemployment insurance applicants verify identities on behalf of participating states.

Digital Government

Over $45 billion in unemployment paid to fraudsters during pandemic, watchdog says

The Labor Department's Office of Inspector General says that the department needs to do more to obtain state-level unemployment insurance data to help with antifraud efforts.

Acquisition

Supreme Court hearing turns to the contractor mandate

Chief Justice John Roberts invoked the federal contractor mandate – currently blocked from taking effect due to a lawsuit – at a hearing at which two separate vaccine authority cases were argued on Friday.

Digital Government

Tech woes and fraud top the list of unemployment system issues

A new report from a special Pandemic Response Accountability Committee delves into the issues surrounding UI during COVID-19.

Acquisition

New rule puts $15 minimum wage for federal contractors in place next year

Employees working on federal contracts will have a $15 minimum wage starting on Jan. 30, 2022, per a new rule issued by the Labor Department on Monday.

Modernization

The struggle to modernize state UI systems

The Labor Department and the U.S. Digital Service are taking a central role in efforts to develop modernized, modular UI technology for states.

Acquisition

Funding challenges hamper cyber EO compliance, CIOs say

A group of agency CIOs shared their biggest obstacles in meeting a series of aggressive deadlines and modernization goals of the Biden administration's sweeping cybersecurity executive order.

Acquisition

Labor Department rolls back Trump-era religious exemption for contractors

DOL announced it would undo a rule that was criticized by civil rights activists as easing the ability of some federal contractors to discriminate when making hiring decisions.

Acquisition

White House extends vaccine deadline for contractors

Federal contractors have until Jan. 4, 2022 to comply with White House vaccination requirements.

Digital Government

New Labor Dept. office will focus on UI modernization

The office will implement a strategic modernization plan for unemployment insurance set to range from developing modular tech capabilities to identity verification.

Acquisition

TMF, cyber EO drive modernization at Labor, CIO says

The unprecedented investment in IT and cybersecurity resources have provided agencies like the Department of Labor with a historic opportunity to tackle some of their loftiest modernization plans.

Modernization

Digital ID left out of infrastructure bill

A plan to get federal support and funding behind digital identity proofing as a way to combat benefits fraud wound up on the cutting-room floor as the Senate crafted its $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill.

Cybersecurity

Labor Department moves toward zero trust

Labor Department CISO Paul Blahusch detailed how his agency ramped up its implementation efforts around zero trust in recent months, from establishing an entirely new team to proposing a project for the Technology Modernization Fund.

People

Labor Department seeks funding for staffing surges

During testimony on the hill this week, Labor Secretary Marty Walsh also gave lawmakers insight into the department’s work to combat unemployment insurance fraud.