People

White House releases 'vision' for management agenda

The coming president's management agenda will stress the federal workforce, customer service user experience and equity as well as a push to build capacity in financial management and improve acquisition.

People

Recruitment is top of mind for OPM's Kiran Ahuja

"If we want the best talent meeting America's needs, then we need to be smart about creating opportunities for them," Office of Personnel Management Director Kiran Ahuja said at an event hosted by FCW.

People

Vaccine mandate, holiday travel season loom for TSA workforce

The Transportation Security Administration told FCW that it doesn't expect the upcoming deadline for feds to comply with vaccination requirements to cause disruptions.

Cybersecurity

New cyber talent system, years in the making, goes into effect at DHS

Agency officials estimate that around 1,000 of its 1,500 cyber vacancies could fit into the new scheme.

People

OPM updates decade-old telework guide

The Office of Personnel Management is asking agencies to rethink their approach to work in light of lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic.

People

Union complains of 'double standard' for fed and contractor vaccine mandates

The American Federation of Government employees is asking policymakers to put federal employees and contractors on the same clock when it comes to COVID-19 vaccination requirements.

People

SSA plans to bring workers back to the office

Field office and teleservice employees at the Social Security Administration will still have some ability to telework even after the agency implements a "reentry process" for managers and staff.

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.

People

OPM rule gives agencies more direct-hire authority for recent college grads

The new authority is being billed by the Office of Personnel Management as s one more tool for agencies to bring in young talent and fill critical talent gaps.

Acquisition

White House extends vaccine deadline for contractors

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

People

Training the diplomats of the future

The pandemic pushed much of the department's training online and the Foreign Service Institute is looking to adapt some of the lessons of virtual education for the future.

Acquisition

Morale plunges at site of VA's new electronic health record

A survey conducted by the Department of Veterans Affairs found plummeting morale at the Mann-Grandstaff VA Medical Center arising from the adoption of a new electronic health record system.

Acquisition

Details on discipline emerge as contractor vaccination deadline looms

Federal contracting firms will decide for themselves on how to manage employees who decline COVID-19 vaccinations but agencies can restrict unvaccinated workers from federal facilities.

Acquisition

White House: 'There's not a cliff here' when it comes to vaccine deadlines

For federal employees and contractors who don't hit vaccination deadlines, processes for remediation will kick in before more serious enforcement measure are taken, White House coronavirus coordinator Jeffrey Zients said.

Cybersecurity

IC leaders drill in on diversity issues at House hearing

Although there have been some gains in the representation of women and minorities in the IC workforce overall, the highest ranks are less diverse.

People

DOD looks to civilian workforce to close technology gaps

The Defense Department has been increasingly looking to recruit civilians to fill its tech talent needs, but some lawmakers are concerned that the mission of uniformed troops could suffer.

Acquisition

Thrift Savings Plan to launch mobile app next year

The move is part of a $3.3 billion contract to consolidate multiple service contracts at the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board.

People

TMF hiring new technical leads

The board of the $1 billion IT modernization fund was slogging through detailed project proposals in their spare time – now TMF is looking for help.

People

Young civic tech star featured in Boston Globe

Steve Kelman revisits the work Chris Kuang is doing to bring recent grads into government tech roles.

People

GAO prods OPM to review pandemic hiring

A new Government Accountability Office report says that not compiling the lessons learned from special hiring authorities could "risk significantly hindering the government's ability to recruit, hire, retain and manage its current COVID-19 pandemic workforce as well as for future pandemics or emergencies."