Management

The Senate has too many appointees to confirm, and it's hurting agencies

There are too many layers of political officials requiring congressional approval, report finds.

Management

Is it time to get rid of OPM?

COMMENTARY | One former House human resources official says it is.

Management

As USPS institutes network reforms, mail delivery hits a 3-year low

The agency mostly blames isolated incidents, but acknowledges some changes have led to an "unacceptable level of service."

Management

Are the Build America rules slowing infrastructure progress?

State DOTs, transit agencies and the construction industry want the White House to make it easier to comply with rules designed to include American-made products in infrastructure projects.

Tech

IRS opens up Direct File to the public

Interested taxpayers will have to watch the IRS website to see when the tool is open for new users.

Pay & Benefits

Getting ready for tax season

Some tax tips to consider as you plan for life after your federal career.

Oversight

Federal prison employees falsified logs in case where inmate committed suicide, IG says

The Justice Department inspector general last week urged the Bureau of Prisons to adopt stricter rules governing special housing unit rounds logs after lax policies potentially impaired the ability to prosecute the employees.

Tech

Biden to sign executive order boosting cybersecurity of ports, maritime vessels

The order empowers the Coast Guard to shore up cyber protections for maritime systems and harden current cyber incident reporting rules.

Tech

USDA seeks fellows for its new digital service team

The tour-of-duty positions will “act as firefighters” to address pressing challenges across the Department of Agriculture, according to the agency’s CIO.

Tech

NSA cyber director to step down after 34 years of service

His departure comes amid heightened security fears in 2024 and debate over whether to renew a controversial spying power.

Tech

Lawmakers urge VA to tread carefully with AI

The Department of Veteran Affairs’ 2023 inventory of AI use cases listed 100 instances where VA is working to use emerging technologies, with at least 40 of those examples in an operational phase.

Management

OPM announces survey to analyze AI in government jobs

The move marks the second step in a years-long process to prep federal agencies for working with artificial intelligence.

Workforce

Anti-vaccine feds still fighting for damages over Biden's federal employee mandate

After the Supreme Court's dismissal, a group of 8,500 federal employees is trying a new approach to score a win against the administration.

Management

Federal permitting hampers climate goals and natural disaster mitigation, counties say

Officials, who are calling for reforms, say environmental regulations shouldn’t lead to yearslong waits to build transmission lines or impede their ability to respond to natural disasters.

Oversight

Understaffing and mismanagement contributed to hundreds of deaths in federal prisons

Deaths have increased as agency staff fail to identify suicidal risks and allow contraband into facilities, IG finds.

Management

Amid budget squeeze, FLRA panel regs encourage electronic documents filing

Less physical paper taken in by the board that settles bargaining-table disputes between unions and agencies will help streamline workloads as its parent agency reduces its office footprint due to budget woes.

Workforce

Navy leaders want more code-loving sailors at sea

One wants to take ad hoc data science efforts and fold them into a formal training cycle.

Management

The new FAFSA was supposed to be easier to use. Technical glitches have made it anything but

Marginalized students may have the most to lose as the Education Department’s rollout of the new college financial aid application has hit several bumps.