People

Watchdog report finds OPM didn't always alert employees of COVID cases

The Inspector General at the Office of Personnel Management found that the agency wasn't requiring mask-wearing and failed to notify employees of COVID cases during the height of the pandemic.

People

OPM extends deadline on implementing Trump-era hiring policy

The Biden administration extended the deadline for federal agencies to implement portions of a Trump-era executive order aimed putting less reliance on educational attainment in federal hiring.

People

Impeachment witnesses talk public service

Four former government officials who played key roles in the first impeachment of former president Donald Trump discussed their experiences during a Public Service Recognition Week event.

Cybersecurity

DHS kicks off workforce sprint with push to hire 200 cyber pros

DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas characterized the new effort to hire cybersecurity personnel as the largest of its kind in the agency's history.

People

House Dems, unions pitch plan to reclassify TSA screeners

So far, Republicans haven't signed on to a plan to alter the agency's unique personnel situation. Some experts caution that there are untended consequences from a move to put TSA officers under Title 5.

People

OMB job satisfaction scores plummeted in 2020

Almost 40% of OMB survey participants choose strongly disagree when presented with the statement, "my organization's senior leaders maintain high standards for honesty and integrity."

People

OPM details pandemic emergency paid leave program

This special leave will be available through the end of the fiscal year or until the $570 million fund is exhausted, OPM documents say.

People

Boosting student loan debt forgiveness could pay off for cyber recruiting

Almost all Defense Department personnel who have sought student loan debt forgiveness have been denied -- a trend that, if unchanged, could make it even harder to recruit and retain tech talent.

People

Biden taps D.C. employment lawyer to lead MSPB

The Merit Systems Protection Board has been without Senate-confirmed leadership since March 2019 and without a quorum to decide appeals since January 2017.

People

Biden selects former Army acquisition exec for DOD's top tech job

The White House announced it would nominate Heidi Shyu, former assistant secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics and Technology, to be DOD's undersecretary for research and engineering.

Acquisition

Biden orders $15 minimum wage for federal contractors

The new minimum wage is set to take effect in early 2022. Agencies will have to include the $15 wage floor in any new contract solicitations starting on January 30, 2022 and have this minimum wage in new contracts by March 30, 2022.

People

Federal employee job satisfaction climbed during pandemic

The survey documents the rapid change to teleworking postures in government under the COVID-19 pandemic.

People

Union touts productivity gains from telework

Feds overwhelmingly want to keep the ability to telework additional days each week, according to the results of a survey released by the National Treasury Employees Union.

People

OPM nominee plans focus on telework, IT, retirement

Kiran Ahuja, a veteran of the Office of Personnel Management, told lawmakers that she thinks that the lack of consistent leadership in the top position at OPM has taken a toll on the ability of the agency to complete longer term IT modernization projects.

People

Pentagon readies new policy to boost cyber workforce amid recruitment challenges

The Defense Department is developing a new policy series aimed at improving the cyber workforce, but it has substantial work to do to recruit the talent needed in the future.

Digital Government

Lawmakers mull changes to federal climate data sharing

Multiple federal science agencies produce data on climate risks, but some experts say that the current information-sharing structure is fragmented and often confusing.

People

AFGE presses Congress to oppose pay and hiring flexibilities for NSF

The measure, which would expand the hiring authorities of the director of the National Science Foundation, "bears a striking resemblance" to Schedule F, said AFGE national president Everett Kelley.

People

'Psychological safety' and organizational performance

Steve Kelman stresses the benefits of creating space for questions and push-back.

Cybersecurity

White House stands down groups tackling SolarWinds, Microsoft Exchange

The move comes days after the administration sanctioned Russia for its alleged role in the cyberattacks

People

OPM digs into the post-pandemic puzzle of remote work and locality pay

An Office of Personnel Management official said on Thursday that the office is looking into pay administration rules in terms of remote work as part of broader efforts to provide guidance for the long-term future of a more dispersed federal workforce.