Management

OPM rule removes Social Security numbers from mailed documents

The federal HR agency finalized a rule Friday that would help prevent potential identity theft by restricting the inclusion of Social Security numbers in mailed documents and establishing criteria for protecting the information. 

Management

Skills-based hiring for contractors advances in the House

The Allowing Contractors to Choose Employees for Select Skills Act would remove degree requirements from federal contract work in some instances.

Management

Maryland delegation to launch bipartisan push for funds to rebuild collapsed Baltimore bridge

A pending bill would allow the state to avoid incurring 10% of the costs of rebuilding the Francis Scott Key Bridge.

Management

Senate action on DHS chief impeachment coming this week

With the slim majority Democrats have in the Senate, it’s likely the two articles of impeachment go nowhere and Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas remains in his role.

Management

New bill would convert unused government buildings into affordable housing

Reps. Adam Schiff and Jimmy Gomez, D-Calif., cosponsored legislation that would direct the Housing and Urban Development Secretary to help refashion certain federal, state and local government properties into affordable residential rental projects.

Management

OMB overhauls federal grant guidance to simplify it for recipients

The Biden administration offered new updates to the Uniform Guidance that governs federal grant programs, aiming to slice red tape and simplify the language recipients use to apply for funding. 

Management

Senate bill looks to chop through red tape in procurement

The bipartisan legislation aims to both expand access to special acquisition authorities and give new, innovative contractors more opportunities to work with the government.

Management

Special Counsel’s office cites whistleblower protections in immigration judge gag order

The Office of the Special Counsel highlighted its recent enforcement actions of Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act provisions to curb agency efforts to chill employee speech.

Management

Nuclear regulators should weigh climate change risk to power plants, report says

A GAO report found the Nuclear Regulatory Commission needs to factor more risk from the impact of more extreme natural events in how it licenses the safety of power plants. 

Management

Indigenous Pacific wildfire survivors on Maui can finally get FEMA help

The new fiscal 2024 spending bill has re-established Compact of Free Association citizens' access to federal safety net programs after it was inadvertently removed by the 1996 Welfare Reform Act.

Management

DOD stands up a new civilian-facing cyber policy office

The nominated head of the new Pentagon office is awaiting confirmation in Congress.

Management

GAO: USPS international mail volumes fell due to higher costs, pandemic restrictions

A new report found that international mail volumes fell by roughly 64% between fiscal 2017 and 2022, driven by a mix of price increases and COVID-19 impacts, but the increases helped the postal service cover costs. 

Management

Top women officials say there’s more work to do on gender balance in government tech

Women seem to be far more common in government’s top tech leadership positions than they used to be, but “we are far from done,” one such leader warns.

Management

Rebuilding the collapsed Baltimore bridge ‘will not be quick or easy or cheap,’ Buttigieg says

Reopening the Port of Baltimore is among the Biden administration’s top priorities in the aftermath of the collapse.

Management

House Speaker to deliver Mayorkas impeachment articles to the Senate in early April

It’s unlikely the Homeland Security secretary will be removed from office, but the push for a trial is a mark of House Republicans’ escalation of their opposition to the White House’s immigration policy.

Management

Biden administration finalizes first demographics data standards update in nearly 30 years

No longer will “race” and “ethnicity” be bifurcated into separate questions in federal datasets and questionnaires such as the U.S. Census, and people of Middle Eastern or North African ancestry will have their own distinct category.

Management

The continuing irresolution to fund the federal government

COMMENTARY | Congress just keeps getting worse at passing spending bills. There are consequences.

Management

Introducing the 2024 Government Hall of Fame inductees

Mary Frances Berry and James Lee Witt join the sixth class of this distinguished group. All the inductees will be honored at a gala celebration on April 24.