Tech
How USPTO built a culture of trust in its automation efforts
The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office’s use of automation has helped officials quickly address identified security vulnerabilities and software bugs, an agency official said.
Pay & Benefits
New OPM proposal would ensure feds detailed to temporary promotions are paid properly
Federal HR leaders said in a filing last week that a rule capping increased pay for federal workers noncompetitively selected to perform duties of a higher-graded position at 120 days penalizes employees for their agency’s mistake.
Management
You can now easily search through every executive in federal government
A modernized 'Plum Book' will provide more updated, accurate information on top agency officials.
Pay & Benefits
TSP portfolios end 2023 on a high note
Each of the funds in the federal government’s 401(k)-style retirement savings program finished December in the black.
Management
As Congress looks to avert a shutdown, sequester cuts and furloughs loom
Lawmakers will resume negotiations in January with daunting prospects in front of them.
Workforce
Catastrophic leaks and wild reforms mark the 2023 security clearance year in review
COMMENTARY | The Discord leaks helped put a starker spotlight on the security clearance process, bringing more scrutiny at a time when demand for cleared personnel has intensified and processing times have swelled.
Workforce
5 places where the White House prioritized 2023 hiring
To meet the increasing demand for government services and operational needs, the Biden administration targeted hiring surges at several agencies in 2023.
Management
That Time Abraham Lincoln went to a war zone to escape office-seekers
The front lines of the Civil War were a vacation compared to being literally stalked in Washington.
Workforce
Here are the agencies that saw the biggest shifts in employee morale in 2023
As the federal government regained its footing on employee engagement and job satisfaction, some agencies saw big swings in workplace sentiment.
Tech
OMB releases ‘broad’ accessibility guidance for government tech
This is the first new guidance on Section 508 in a decade.
Management
How $37 billion in federal funding is being used to improve at-home caregiving
Shared first by Vice President Kamala Harris, new data on American Rescue Plan funding for home and community-based service highlights successes and underscores the need for more.
Management
What HUD’s annual homelessness count misses
Rather than relying on a single metric, communities need to develop a data infrastructure they can use to track, reduce and end homelessness.
Exclusive
Management
TSA survey reveals 93% of travelers satisfied with passenger experience
Even more travelers were confident in the Transportation Security Administration’s ability to keep air travel safe.
Pay & Benefits
Biden signs order finalizing 5.2% pay raise for feds in 2024
The measure confirms that the federal workforce will see its largest pay increase in more than 40 years.
Pay & Benefits
End of the year retirement: Now what?
As OPM readies for its influx of new retirement applications, here are some insights on the early ins and outs of the retirement process.
Management
DHS warns it’s running low on funds and borrowing personnel to manage border
As the number of migrants arriving at the border climbs, federal personnel are becoming overwhelmed.
Tech
IRS direct file participants will have to use ID.me for identity verification
The agency still isn't ready to field the government-provided Login.gov for digital access to taxpayer services.
Tech
Experts warn that OMB’s AI guidance could slow federal adoption of the emerging tech
Commentators say proposed definitions of “rights-impacting” and “safety-impacting” use cases could wind up saddling low-impact AI programs up with high-impact controls.
Oversight
Conservatives bemoan disappearance of OPM official time docs
Officials at the federal government’s HR agency said a webpage housing sporadic reports on agencies’ official time use did not survive a recent website redesign, but suggested tweaks are ongoing.
Management