Workforce

Coronavirus Roundup: Census Bureau Launches Pandemic Data Hub; Federal Prison System Expands Testing 

There's a lot to keep track of. Here’s today’s list of news updates and stories you may have missed.

Defense

Army Research Shows How Do-It-Yourself Facemasks Can Be as Safe as N95s

Personal protective equipment for hospital workers is running out. This design works as well as the best in class.

Workforce

Senate Democrats Propose Creating Hundreds of Thousands of New National Service Jobs

Proposals would expand the public health workforces across federal agencies to deal with the coronavirus outbreak.

Management

The Challenge of Tracking COVID-19’s Stealthy Spread

New studies indicate just how difficult containment efforts are likely to be.

Workforce

Coronavirus Roundup: Massive Telework Expansion at EPA and USAID; Trump Seeks to Reopen National Parks

There's a lot to keep track of. Here’s today’s list of news updates and stories you may have missed.

Defense

GovExec Daily: How VA Is – and Isn't – Supporting Its Personnel During the Pandemic

Eric Katz joins the program to talk about the ways that Veterans Affairs employees feel management has backed them up while treating coronavirus patients.

Management

Agencies Remind Employees to Remain Ethical During Pandemic

Think twice before accepting a gift from a grateful citizen or using your work computer for personal activities, agencies say.

Management

Despite Coronavirus, ‘The Machinery Continues’ at Immigration Courts

Immigration judges and employees at the Executive Office of Immigration Review said the agency’s informal policy to keep offices and courts open puts deportations over workers’ safety.

Workforce

Coronavirus Roundup: GAO is Reviewing the Federal Government’s Pandemic Response

There's a lot to keep track of. Here’s today’s list of news updates and stories you may have missed.

Management

Internal Documents Show Federal Agencies Supported the WHO Before Trump Was Against It

In a battle between China and the U.S. over global leadership, American diplomats and aid officials cited U.S. funding of the World Health Organization as key and relied heavily on the agency for help. When Trump cut its funding, he upended all that.

Workforce

Office of Special Counsel to Federal Employees: We’re Here to Protect You

As the office takes steps to protect its own employees, OSC has created a coronavirus task force to handle the rise in whistleblower disclosures and charges of retaliation.

Management

The Army Corps of Engineers' Race to Convert Hotels and Convention Centers to Hospitals

The agency's first makeshift hospital was in New York’s Javits Center, and it is building or has built close to 30 similar projects around the country.

Workforce

USDA Is Relocating Its Food Inspectors From One Hot Spot to the Next As More Employees Get Sick

Now employees are required to continue working even after known coronavirus exposure as government seeks to avoid food supply disruptions.

Workforce

VA Instructs Coronavirus-Exposed Staff to Continue Working, Places Those Who Don’t in AWOL Status

"This is the absolute worst-case scenario of anything I have ever experienced in my nursing career," according to one registered nurse.

Oversight

Congress Is Investigating Whether a Ventilator Company Is Gouging the U.S. — and Why the Government Is Letting It Happen

A congressional subcommittee is questioning a federal decision to pay quadruple the price for the commercial version of a ventilator Royal Philips N.V. had developed with taxpayer funds.

Management

Trump Administration Officials Warned Against Halting Funding to WHO, Leaked Memo Shows

A draft State Department memo says the move would “cede ground” to China and hobble the global response to the coronavirus pandemic.