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Covering the federal workforce, acquisition, IT adoption and management issues for a new era of public service.

Biden picks 6 lawyers for US prosecutor posts

The nominees, announced by the White House on Wednesday, would run the federal prosecutors’ offices in Alaska, Connecticut, Montana, New Hampshire, New Mexico and Utah.

20 hours ago

Labor authority tries again to end immigration judges union

In a ruling late last week, the Federal Labor Relations Authority determined that the country’s more than 500 immigration judges cannot belong to an employee union because they are akin to management.

21 hours ago

Management

Delay in creating new cybersecurity board prompts concern

A key part of President Joe Biden's plans to fight major ransomware attacks and digital espionage campaigns has been languishing for more than eight months.

Trump appointee blocks Biden federal worker vaccine mandate

Biden announced in September that more than 3.5 million federal workers were required to undergo vaccination, with no option to get regularly tested instead, unless they secured approved medical or religious exemptions.

6 days ago

Office of Personnel Management directs $15 minimum wage for federal workers

Of the 67,000 affected employees, 56,000 work within the Department of Defense.

6 days ago

FBI, US agencies look beyond indictments in cybercrime fight

As federal agencies look to have the most disruptive impact possible on cyber crime, FBI officials are thinking carefully about how best to time an indictment, or whether an indictment is even the best action.

8 days ago

White House kicks off webinar series highlighting Federal Sustainability Plan

The initiative comes a month after President Joe Biden issued his Federal Sustainability Plan, an executive order that outlines Biden’s plans to use federal infrastructure to tackle climate change.

9 days ago

Federal website for free virus tests is here. How does it work?

A new federal website to request free test kits officially launches Wednesday — but was available to use Tuesday — with the first shipments going out to Americans by the end of the month.

9 days ago

Agencies and workers can now donate time off to federal employees affected by 2021 tornadoes or Colorado wildfires

The U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has authorized the use of the emergency leave transfer program for federal employees in affected areas.

13 days ago

Bill would require Senate confirmation for US prison chief

The Bureau of Prisons is the Justice Department’s largest agency, but it’s the only agency whose director isn’t subject to Senate confirmation.

13 days ago

Most federal agencies still aren’t meeting cybersecurity targets

A Jan. 11 Government Accountability Office report found that as of fiscal year 2020 federal civilian agencies were inconsistent in implementing cybersecurity policies and practices.

2 weeks ago

Online survey finds hacking to be the number one concern of government IT workers

Public sector survey respondents no longer believe insiders are the greatest threat.

2 weeks ago

Biden praises Guard response to Jan. 6 attack in fiery anniversary speech

The commander-in-chief's remarks came on the one-year anniversary of the attack.

3 weeks ago

Proposed rule would create a better public record of discrimination

The proposed rule addresses a legal mandate that federal employment practices expand accountability for discrimination and retaliation response.

3 weeks ago

Capitol Police working more closely with DoD ahead of Jan. 6 anniversary

More coordination with Pentagon leaders is one of many security reforms put in place over the last year.

3 weeks ago

Congress’ doctor wants ‘maximal telework’ amid virus surge

The seven-day average rate of infection at the Capitol's testing center has grown from less than 1% to more than 13%.

3 weeks ago

US Postal Service recovers from poor holiday showing in 2020

The Postal Service and several other private shippers reported that holiday season deliveries went smoothly, for the most part.

3 weeks ago

OPM extends deadline for hiring assessment reform

Agencies will have until the end of 2022 to make sure that their job listings involve more than just a self-assessment to determine whether an applicant has the right qualifications.

4 weeks ago

Pentagon pushes maximum telework through January 2022

The health protection condition status for the Pentagon Reservation hasn't changed, but officials are tightening restrictions and safety measures for the worksite.

4 weeks ago

Most feds get New Year’s Eve off in 2021

Federal holidays that fall on weekends generally create an 'in lieu of' holiday the day before or after they occur.

4 weeks ago

Biden signs order for 2022 federal pay raise

President Joe Biden signed an executive order Wednesday detailing the federal employee pay adjustments effective in 2022.

4 weeks ago

DOJ says federal inmates on home confinement can stay out of prison

More than 35,000 inmates were released as part of the effort to ease pandemic conditions as long as they met certain criteria, including they were not likely a danger to others.

5 weeks ago

Mandate to momentum: Catalyzing customer experience in government

Leaders must adopt the people-centered mindset that the discipline of customer experience requires, focusing not just on citizens and residents but also on the government employees who do the work of serving the public.

5 weeks ago

New leadership initiative aims to add 400 paid federal interns

The Future Leaders in Public Service Internship Program comes as the federal government struggles to draw young talent to replace those soon to retire.

6 weeks ago

Feds get Christmas Eve off in 2021

Christmas falls on a Saturday this year, meaning feds will receive their paid holiday the day before.

6 weeks ago

FY22 defense bill gives feds parental bereavement leave, makes changes at the Pentagon

Feds will receive two weeks of paid leave to grieve the death of a child, under the fiscal 2022 National Defense Authorization Act.

6 weeks ago

Congress passes defense policy bill with budget boost, military justice reforms

After months of debate and weeks of angst, the Senate has sent its annual defense bill to the president.

6 weeks ago

Biden customer service order aims to streamline public service loan forgiveness

The Public Service Loan Forgiveness program, which forgives student loans after prolonged work in the public sector, could become easier to navigate.

6 weeks ago