Digital Government

More funding needed for Biden’s CX order, says industry group

The Alliance for Digital Innovation said that “current funding levels will not be enough to provide an on-going, modern, and customer-centric digital experience,” called for in the customer experience executive order, and urged the administration to replenish the Technology Modernization Fund and the Federal Citizen Services Fund to support improved CX.

People

NDAA requires DOD to report on prospects for a ‘cyber academy’

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) says these reports could inform potential legislation to establish an academy to educate cyber workers for government modeled after military service academies.

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.

Cybersecurity

DHS gets nearly 2,000 applications for new cyber cadre

The goal is for DHS to onboard the first 150 feds into the system next year.

Digital Government

White House elevates CX with executive order

A Biden administration executive order looks to use tech to simplify and reduce friction in citizen interactions with government programs and services.

People

What’s next for security clearance reform?

Expect new milestones from the DOD’s governmentwide vetting IT and new policies on vetting criteria in 2022.

People

Top House Republican pushes back on government telework

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) isn’t the only Republican lawmaker asking questions about the productivity of teleworking federal employees.

People

Vaccination rates tick up slightly among federal employees

The number of vaccinated feds has increased, although there are still thousands of pending exception and extension requests to the mandate.

People

NDAA requires new job data, software job series

The House-passed compromise NDAA also has other workforce provisions, including a change to the probationary period for civilian feds at DOD and paid parental bereavement leave for federal employees.

Acquisition

Federal court blocks contractor vaccination mandate

A nationwide injunction from a federal court blocks the Biden administration from enforcing its vaccination mandate for the federal contract workforce.

People

Ahuja tees up 2022 plans for OPM

The Office of Personnel Management has a long list of priorities as it rebuilds itself and rolls out policies to implement the Biden-Harris agenda.

People

USDA finalizes more expansive telework, remote work policies

The new policy reverses telework restrictions put in place during the Trump administration before the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.

People

New OPM ‘playbook’ supports government hiring surge

Agencies need to staff up to implement the bipartisan infrastructure law, OPM says.

People

Connolly presses for legislation on telework, internships and OPM

A new bill on federal internships would require interns be paid and create a central online source of information on federal internships, among other measures.

People

White House asks agencies to delay consequences for vaccine mandate violations

Agencies have the power to decide how to discipline unvaccinated feds, but the White House is encouraging them to go beyond education, counseling and letters of reprimand until after the holidays.

People

Connolly introduces bill to 'rebuild' OPM

One goal of the bill is to ensure that future OPM directors are nonpartisan.

People

White House rolls out DEIA strategy

On Tuesday, the Biden administration issued agencies a roadmap to guide their efforts to develop strategic plans for diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility (DEIA), as required under a as required under a June executive order.

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.

People

White House says 90% of feds are vaccinated

The deadline for the administration’s mandate for feds to get vaccinated is here, but agencies still have to process exemption requests and go through the discipline process for anyone not in compliance.

People

What agency tech leaders think about a U.S. Digital Service Academy

Agency tech leaders sounded off to the Government Accountability Office about the prospect of launching a digital service training school modeled on the military service academies to bring more tech talent into government.