Security Clearance System Gets First Major Change in 50 Years
For the last year, representatives from the intelligence community, Department of Defense, Office of Personnel Management (OPM), and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) have been working to reform the security clearance process to combat massive backlogs. Over the next two weeks these groups will present the Trusted Workforce 2.0 framework to Congress and the president to address this issue.
Bipartisan Legislators Attempt To Reconnect Unions And Agencies
The NDAA summary report released by the committees includes several provisions impacting the civilian federal workforce. Most notably, the conference agreement provides 12 weeks of paid parental leave to all federal civilian employees.
National Quantum Coordination Office Opens in White House
Federal agencies will be working with the White House to pursue quantum research and development objectives through the National Quantum Coordination Office. The office was established under the National Quantum Initiative Act signed into law in December. Numerous agencies will be working with the White House to foster unified quantum efforts.
The Power of Meeting Your Members of Congress
As the 116th Congress churns into full gear, it will be bombarded with hordes of people seeking to meet with members of Congress and their office staffs. Corporations, associations, and others have already been making visits for several weeks, introducing themselves to the freshman members of Congress or solidifying previous relationships with more experienced lawmakers.
Bill Introduced To Require Air Conditioning In All U.S. Postal Service Mail Trucks
The NDAA summary report released by the committees includes several provisions impacting the civilian federal workforce. Most notably, the conference agreement provides 12 weeks of paid parental leave to all federal civilian employees.
Federal Circuit: 38 U.S.C. § 7402(f) Compels VA to Remove Title 38 Employees That Lose Medical Licenses for Cause
Recently, the Federal Circuit examined the interaction between statutory language under 38 U.S.C. § 7402(f) that compels the Department of Veterans Affairs to terminate Title 38 employees who lose their medical licensure for cause, and the due process rights available to those employees.
Trump Administration Releases Plan for Open Government
The Trump White House has released their first National Action Plan for Open Government, the fourth plan released by the U.S. This plan outlines how the U.S. will increase access to government information for “developers, academics, entrepreneurs, and everyday Americans” over the next two years. This plan differs greatly from previous plans, and while some elements of the plan are new, others are already underway.
Dell, GSA Partnership Means Tech Changes for Agencies
Last week, negotiations concluded between the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) and Dell EMC for technology to modernize agency data centers. This deal is the result of several laws passed in 2015 and 2016 which sought to strengthen IT acquisition strategies.
A Presidents’ Day Walk Through Time
Last week’s FEDtalk brought together some of Washington D.C.’s best historians on the development of early American government. American University Associate Professor of History Gautham Rao, Washington Papers Project Assistant Editor Dana Stefanelli, and President Lincoln’s Cottage Senior Executive Assistant Zach Klitzman offered their take on the legacy of George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, and the nation’s capital itself.
Diving Into Early Presidential History
Presidents’ Day is the perfect opportunity for a trip through time to celebrate some of our nation’s formative leaders. This week on FEDtalk, historians will come together to discuss how our early presidents shaped the role of the executive and how that role continues to change over time.
Emergency Legislation Introduced To Keep MSPB Leadership In Place
The NDAA summary report released by the committees includes several provisions impacting the civilian federal workforce. Most notably, the conference agreement provides 12 weeks of paid parental leave to all federal civilian employees.
Letter to DOJ Leadership Sheds Light on Gender Inequality in Agency Leadership
A network of 375 Department of Justice employees and contractors wrote a letter to DOJ leaders last week expressing concern regarding the number of women in high profile leadership positions within the agency. The letter outlines the importance of a diverse workforce and highlights the department’s failure to hire and retain women in the workforce.
Maryland House Passed Shutdown Contingency Plan
Maryland lawmakers are attempting to take precautionary steps to protect federal workers in their state in case of another government shutdown. Legislation which passed the state House of Delegates last week would provide essential government employees working without pay access to state unemployment insurance.
Government Shutdown Q&A with Shane Canfield
WAEPA (Worldwide Assurance for Employees of Public Agencies), a nonprofit Voluntary Employee Benefits Association which offers Group Term Life Insurance* exclusively to Civilian Federal Employees, made headlines in January when they announced they were waiving January’s premiums for all their members, including those for Members not impacted by the partial Government Shutdown, which went on for 35 days from December 21, 2018 to January 25, 2019, and affected approximately 22% of Federal workers.
Report on Census Test Identifies Concerns Ahead of 2020
Last week, the U.S. Department of Commerce Office of Inspector General’s Office of Audit and Evaluation released a report analyzing the 2018 end-to-end test done to prepare for the 2020 census. The report concluded that the Census Bureau must address several concerns before 2020 in order to complete a successful census.
OPEN Government Data Act Means Changes for Agency Leadership
Last month the Foundations for Evidence-Based Policymaking Act of 2017 passed Congress and was signed into law. Included in this legislation was the OPEN Government Data Act, which requires all non-sensitive government data to be made available to the public. The law established non-political Chief Data Officers (CDOs) to guide agencies in implementing this policy.
Understanding Border Security from the Front Lines
The U.S. borders have inundated news cycles in recent months. To find out what’s really going on, tune in to FEDtalk to hear a group of federal law enforcement professionals discuss what they experience at the border and what they need to do their mission.
Senate Turns Focus To Security Clearance Reform
The NDAA summary report released by the committees includes several provisions impacting the civilian federal workforce. Most notably, the conference agreement provides 12 weeks of paid parental leave to all federal civilian employees.