People

Now hiring for next set of Presidential Innovation Fellows

Originally a brainchild of the Obama-Biden tech office, the Presidential Innovation Fellows program is now looking for its eighth cohort of in-house federal tech innovators. How has it changed, and what lessons might the program offer for recruiting top tech talent into the government?

People

New OPM survey heralds rethink of federal job design

The new Federal Workforce Competency Initiative looks to update definitions of skills and abilities needed to are core competencies for different jobs.

People

SecDef plans new screening, training to weed out extremism

The Defense Department has ordered several personnel policy changes to address extremism in the military, ranging from updating intake questionnaires for recruits to training to prepare service members for potential targeting by extremist groups.

Digital Government

Biden's $1.5 trillion 2022 budget plan tilts spending toward civilian agencies

The administration is adding money to multiple tech modernization programs and removing the Overseas Contingency Account from the Defense Department request and folding in warfighting funds into the base budget.

Cybersecurity

ODNI plans recruitment ad campaign

Intelligence agencies are seeking STEM employees and a more diverse workforce.

Cybersecurity

Top cyber slots still unfilled amid multiple crises

Chris Krebs, the former CISA director, has been vocal in recent months about the need for his old job to be filled in short order while the administration confronts multiple cybersecurity problems within the federal government.

People

EPA eliminates Trump workforce orders from labor contract

The Environmental Protection Agency rolled back the clock on portions of its collective bargaining agreement on official time, union office space, grievance procedures and more.

People

Connolly, Hice urge White House to fill MSPB slots

Appeals have been stalled at the Merit Systems Protection Board for more than four years, and leaders on the Government Operations subcommittee in the House want the White House to get moving on board nominations.

People

DOD should update emergency response plans to accommodate telework, IG says

Each component should also update its plan "to include revised assumptions regarding telework for personnel and the resources required to support the teleworking workforce," the IG wrote in an April 1 report.

People

SSA under pressure to reopen Trump-era union contract

The Social Security Administration is under fire from unions and congressional Democrats unhappy with the agency's pace in implementing the Biden administration's changes to labor-management relations, and many are seeking the ouster of the Trump-appointed agency heads.

Digital Government

Federal buildings, vehicles set to go green in Biden's $2T infrastructure package

Updates to federal facilities and an emphasis on electric vehicles are just part of the Biden administration's $2 trillion jobs and infrastructure plan announced on Wednesday.

Cybersecurity

Mayorkas announces cyber 'sprints' on ransomware, ICS, workforce

The Homeland Security secretary announced a series of focused efforts to address issues around ransomware, critical infrastructure and the agency's workforce that will all be launched in the coming weeks.

People

Unions, agencies encouraging feds to get vaccinated

Early results from federal workforce campaigns suggest that vaccine uptake could present challenges once availability for all age groups is no longer an obstacle.

People

Cultivating small talk when there's no office

Federal managers should look for ways to create the virtual water cooler environment.

People

Dismantling the 'old boys' club' at State

Several witnesses scrutinized the State Department's placement and promotion practices when it comes to minority foreign service officers.

People

Lawmakers seek clarity on hazy White House pot policy

The White House has fired at least five staffers after their disclosure of previous marijuana use and some lawmakers urging the White House to clarify its policies and take into account a growing nationwide movement supporting legal pot.

People

Air Force seeks 'ubiquitous connectivity' from telework to bases

Lauren Knausenberger, the Air Force's CIO, said since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the service had increased focus on telework and improving base connectivity.

People

OPM official: No going back to pre-COVID status quo

The Office of Personnel Management wants to use upcoming guidance on telework to offer a new vision for federal work, an agency official said Wednesday.

People

What's at stake with Biden's Pentagon vacancies?

The Biden administration has several Defense Department vacancies to fill in the Office of the Secretary of Defense and military departments. But what does that mean for personnel and the 2022 budget?

Cybersecurity

Senators press for federal agency accountability over SolarWinds

Three top cybersecurity officials struggled to answer questions from lawmakers about who is to blame for the government's failure to stop the breach of nine federal agencies.