Oversight
With so many billions in buying, procurement needs a better dashboard
COMMENTARY | Procurement executives need a holistic view of their organizations' performance, argues one observer.
Workforce
House Republicans want answers on agency spending on Biden’s federal climate corps
The lawmakers launched the probe in part to understand how the administration will recruit 20,000 individuals into government and other roles.
Workforce
Senate bill would codify remote work, increase telework reporting
The Telework Reform Act also would authorize noncompetitive hiring of military and law enforcement spouses into remote work positions.
Management
State’s cyber overhaul bets big on zero trust to tackle emerging threats
The State Department started at the “bottom of the barrel” when the White House’s 2021 cybersecurity executive order was released, according to the agency’s chief information security officer.
Oversight
How more than $600M in COVID relief funds awarded last year went unreported
The problem is even bigger this year, according to the Government Accountability Office. The lack of reporting makes it difficult to track fraud, waste and abuse.
Management
Democrats urge the White House to bind agencies to the AI Bill of Rights
“The federal government’s commitment to the AI Bill of Rights would show that fundamental rights will not take a back seat in the AI era,” the lawmakers argue.
Management
Will an attack on federal employees swing the election? Probably no
COMMENTARY | A closer look at what a recent series of focus groups revealed.
Workforce
IRS says 33% staff increase over two years will help address growing unpaid tax total
The tax agency will need to hire as many as 52,000 employees by 2025 to reach its staffing goals.
Pay & Benefits
Survivor Benefit confusion: part one
Choosing a survivor benefit should be a very simple decision, but often it can be complicated.
Pay & Benefits
COLA adjustments will slim for federal retirees in 2024
The annual announcement that some retired federal workers will receive a 3.2% increase in their annuity payments, while others will get only a 2.2% boost, has revived calls to standardize annual adjustments across retirement systems.
Management
Continuous vetting identifies risks earlier, and is getting ready to roll out across government
COMMENTARY | If there is an issue that could be flagged, federal employees should report it now, and get help, an expert says.
Defense
The Army doesn’t know where a lot of its excess arms and gear are
As allies' needs soar, officials are racing to get a clearer picture of what's available.
Tech
The money's out the door in nationwide unemployment insurance modernization push
A Labor Department official said efforts to help states modernize their UI systems are trending in the right direction, but funding may be insufficient.
Management
Biden calls on agencies to spur more competition with their regs
The president wants an "all-of-government approach" to expanding choice for consumers and workers.
News
Scalise nominated by U.S. House GOP as speaker in closed-door meeting
The nominee picked in the conference meeting only needed to get the backing of a majority of the 221 House Republicans, but Scalise will need about 217 on the floor before he can hold the gavel.
Pay & Benefits
Bureau of Prisons employees welcome their raise, unions embrace the shutdown pause, and OPM urges an early start on Open Season
Pay and benefits updates you may have missed.
Pay & Benefits
President’s Pay Agent OKs another tweak to locality pay areas
The counties of Clallam and Jefferson in Washington state could be included in the Seattle-Tacoma locality pay area as early as 2025.
Management
Underfunding presents operations and cybersecurity challenges for FLRA in fiscal 2024, OIG says
The independent agency tasked with overseeing labor issues within the federal government is currently operating at the same budget level it was 20 years ago, while its unfair labor practice case load has risen 62% in the last four years.
Management
USPS looks to raise rates for fifth time under DeJoy
The higher rates are helping to offset accelerated declines in mail usage.
Tech