Management

Report Calling for At-Will Federal Employment Suggests Trump Workforce Policy Isn’t Going Anywhere

Experts say the release of a controversial paper advocating at-will employment for federal workers portends future efforts to strip employees of civil service protections.

Workforce

IRS Defends Proposed Hiring Surge Amid Pushback

Top officials seeks to convince skeptical Republicans that the agency can quickly address longstanding issues with more resources and personnel.

Nextgov

NSF, Tech Companies Partner to Create Post-5G Wireless Systems

They intend to promote the development of resilient and intelligent next-gen networks.

Management

The Federal Government May Need to Play a Role in Vaccine Credentials, Despite Reluctance

The Biden administration has repeatedly said there will be no federal mandate, but it may be difficult to sit on the sidelines as states and businesses develop their own policies, some experts say.

Nextgov

VA to Wrap Health Records Review ‘In a Few Weeks,’ Secretary Says

Denis McDonough told lawmakers the agency would change the management and oversight of the multibillion-dollar modernization program.

Management

Biden Administration Leaves Final Location of Interior Bureau an Open Question

The Trump administration moved the Bureau of Land Management headquarters to Colorado, a controversial decision that led to an exodus from the agency.

Defense

US Could Close Kabul Embassy If Future Afghanistan Government Includes Taliban, Top General Says

CENTCOM's Gen. McKenzie says U.S. military will still be able to help interpreters and other Afghan helpers after departure.

Management

Preparing for Re-entry into the Physical Workplace: Lessons from NASA

What NASA knows about the effects of living in relative social isolation for an extended period of time and then adjusting to being around lots of people again.

Oversight

There Have Been Huge Gaps in FBI Hate Crime Data for Years. A New Law Aims to Fix That.

A lack of reliable hate crime data has left authorities with neither a complete understanding of such incidents nor the tools needed to address them, ProPublica reported. A bill Biden just signed will start to address that.

Management

GovExec Daily: The Deadline for Agency Plans to Bring Back Feds

Courtney Bublé joins the show to discuss the email asking agencies to submit their return plans.

Management

OPM Finalizes Rule Easing Rehiring of Ex-Feds

Under new rules, federal agencies will be able to rehire former federal workers at a higher pay grade than when they left government.

Route Fifty

Democrats’ Elections Bill in Peril with Key Senator’s Opposition

Sen. Joe Manchin said he would not support the For the People Act, which would create national voting standards, making it difficult for supporters to propel the legislation forward.

Oversight

Watchdog Warns of Possible Security Weaknesses at Some Federal Prisons

Inmate escapes put communities at risk and increase chances of smuggling contraband into facilities, said the Justice inspector general. 

Management

The Future of the Secret Service: A Conversation with Carol Leonnig

The agency needs a mission overhaul, new technology and a promotion system focused on performance, not loyalty, says the author of "Zero Fail: The Rise and Fall of the Secret Service."

Defense

Where the US Army’s Cut List and Wish List Overlap

Some programs slated for trimming in the 2022 budget proposal also appear on the service’s list of unfunded priorities.

Nextgov

VA Wants an Electronic Records System for HR, Too

The Electronic Human Resources Information Services program looks to combine 13 systems into a single digital record for employees.

Workforce

GovExec Daily: Human Capital Lessons from the COVID-19 Crisis

Deloitte’s Libby Bacon joins the podcast to discuss how public sector organizations can be more effective, post-pandemic.

Workforce

Enhancing the Mental Wellbeing of Federal Workers

Employee mental health is an important barometer of the health of agencies, with implications for retention and productivity.