Cybersecurity

DHS workforce sprint brings in nearly 300 cyber employees

Cybersecurity vacancies totaled about 2,000 at the start of the hiring sprint in May.

Digital Government

Lawmakers mull federal response to state and local technology gaps

One potential fix could be for the federal government to harmonize its cybersecurity and data protection rules for state and local partners across federal agencies that interact with state systems.

People

Unions seek a new contract at SSA, press Biden to fire Trump holdovers

President Joe Biden reversed much of his predecessor's workforce agenda in the first days of his administration via executive order, but unions at the Social Security Administration are unhappy with the pace of implementation of new policies.

People

House Dems press for 3.2% pay raise for feds

The House Appropriations Committee is going along with appears the 2.7% raise recommended by the president, but Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Va.) and other Democrats say that that isn't enough.

Cybersecurity

Federal job satisfaction continues to lag behind private sector

The annual 'Best Places to Work' report indicates that almost 60% of the federal workforce teleworked full-time during the peak lockdown period of the COVID-19 pandemic.

People

Task force clears the way for vaccinated feds to travel

There are no more governmentwide limits on official travel for vaccinated federal employees.

People

Sweeping executive order covers diversity, inclusion, equity and accessibility in the federal workforce

An executive order issued last Friday directs the federal government to ramp up diversity training, rethink the use salary history as a basis for pay determinations and supply gender non-conforming and non-binary and transgender feds with employee credentials that reflect their current names, pictures and pronouns.

People

Lawmakers spar over paid family and medical leave for feds

Democrats on the House Oversight and Reform Committee want the federal government to be a leader in providing paid family and medical leave to employees.

People

Biden nominates MSPB vice chair

The agency has lacked a quorum since 2017 and currently faces a backlog of over 3,000 appeals

People

Biden HR strategy features new agency 'talent teams'

New talent teams aimed at bettering hiring strategies are part of the Biden administration's multi-year strategy for the federal workforce, said OMB official on Tuesday.

People

DOD watchdog says DDS director didn't mistreat employees

A probe found that Defense Digital Service Brett Goldstein did condone the use of unapproved encrypted communications apps and also identified discussion among staffers about programming a script to rig an online competition.

Digital Government

Deferred maintenance takes a toll on federal infrastructure in Indian Country

The average age of health care facilities run by the Indian Health Service is more than 37 years. The agency's construction program has a need for an estimated $22 billion, an agency official told lawmakers.

People

Feds to get Juneteenth off as a federal holiday, starting Friday

The signing of a new law to commemorate Juneteenth as a federal holiday will give many federal employees the day off on Friday June 18.

People

Interior plans year-round federal firefighter workforce

The permanent federal firefighting force should help combat a longer fire season, the department says.

People

USDA looks to staff up with funding boost

The Department of Agriculture is considering how and when to bring feds back to the office, but more telework might be in the offing, the agriculture secretary said Tuesday at a budget hearing.

Cybersecurity

DHS poised to remake federal hiring in September to confront cybersecurity gap

The Department of Homeland Security's Cybersecurity Talent Management System has been years in the making, but officials say it will finally come online this fall.

People

Biden's OPM nominee appears headed for confirmation

A vote on the nomination of Kiran Ahuja to head the Office of Personnel Management is expected before the Senate goes into recess at the end of next week.

People

New White House guidance for feds returning to the office and the future 'hybrid' federal workforce

A new OMB memo provides instructions on how to bring feds back to government offices on a large scale and asks agencies to consider long-term planning for a drastically different workplace.

Digital Government

White House: Agencies shouldn't require vaccinations or ask for employees' vaccination status

Unvaccinated individuals will still need to abide by CDC recommendations for masking and physical distancing, the new guidance says.