Infrastructure Investments and Modernization Needed at Federal Installations
On Wednesday, January 29, Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and other top legislators in the House unveiled a $760 billion infrastructure package. They appealed to President Trump, who campaigned on a $1 trillion infrastructure plan, to join them in moving this funding forward. As recently as May 2019, the President was expected to propose a $2 trillion infrastructure package, but he urged Congress to first pass the United States-Mexico-Canada (USMCA) trade deal. He signed that deal into place on January 29, the same day House Democrats offered their infrastructure proposal.
8 Steps to Help Prevent the Spread of Sickness at Work
Whether you are avoiding the common cold or a global health emergency, here are some tips for keeping illness out of the office.
Conserving Ships and Cultivating Shellfish in Connecticut
Huey and I concluded our tour of New England in the state of Connecticut back in November. Due to a series of circumstances, including a mechanical breakdown (the RV’s), a bout of poor health (mine), and being spoiled by his grandmother for the holidays (Huey), we took a short break from The Federal Fifty. However, we are now on the road again visiting the Southeast and back to reporting on our adventures.
White House Looks for Input on Improving Contracting
During a White House event Monday, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) requested ideas from across the federal community on ways to improve acquisition and supply chain management. The summit focused on various initiatives to reduce costs and improve the efficiency of contract management. The “call for ideas” is meant to continue these conversations and pose additional questions on ways to improve the system.
SEC Hiring Freeze Negatively Impacted Overall Mission, GAO Finds
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has provided supplemental information to accompany a December report on personnel management at the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The information provides insight into how employees at the SEC reacted to the nearly three-year hiring freeze within the agency based on a GAO survey of executive and non-executive agency personnel.
Senator Schumer Introduced ‘Technical Fix’ for Paid Parental Leave
In December, Congress passed and the president signed into law the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for fiscal year 2020, including a provision granting federal employees 12 weeks of paid parental leave. Due to the construction of the provision, most federal employees were eligible for the new program, but at least two major agencies were not granted access. This month, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) introduced legislation entitled the “Federal Employee Parental Leave Technical Correction Act” to rectify this error.
Working in Tech and Interested in Policy? Check Out the Lincoln Policy Hackers
Lincoln Network is a nonprofit organization that works to connect the technology world and the policy world to build a better tomorrow. This year they have launched a new fellowship called Policy Hackers.
Tracking Drug Smugglers And Unauthorized Migrants With The Coast Guard In Miami
On this day in 1915, the U.S. Coast Guard was founded to fight contraband trade and aid distressed vessels at sea. Here is an inside look into how the Coast Guard tracks smugglers today.
VA Is Developing Balanced Scorecard for Modernization Initiatives
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) IT Office has announced the development of a balanced scorecard to measure the agency’s ability to manage modernization efforts. As the VA undergoes a cloud-driven transformation across their components, the scorecard will measure accomplishments and opportunity areas.
Extra! Extra!
These words used to signify breaking news that was urgent and significant. Now, up to the minute news is available around the clock and almost all news segments and stories are sensationalized. Fake news? Real news? It doesn’t matter – ratings do. News today is all about reporting on current events in a shocking, scandalous or appalling manner to increase or hold viewer or readership. And unfortunately, for today’s Feds, if there is a newsworthy event involving a federal employee or agency, it’s also a crisis, scandal or controversy.
Professional Managers Association Welcomes New Leadership Team
The Professional Managers Association (PMA) has welcomed several new additions to the organization’s national leadership team, including a new president. The board now includes a new member from Ogden, Utah and an additional member from Kansas City, Missouri. The new National President, Chad Hooper, currently serves as a Supervisory Tax Analyst for the Centralized Quality Review System (CQRS) located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Senate Passes Measure to Boost Executive Pay at VA
The Competitive Pay for Leaders in Veterans Health Care Act, S. 3084, has been passed by unanimous consent in the Senate last week. The legislation makes employees in Senior Executive Service-equivalent positions hired under a special authority created by a 2010 law eligible for a higher salary, rather than capping them at the lowest level of the Executive Schedule.
Fellows Moving Government Forward
Tune in to FEDtalk this week to hear about the fellowships bringing innovation and technology skills to government. Guests from fellowships impacting the legislative and executive branches will discuss how they bring new skills to government.
2020 Census: First Look at Toksook Bay, Alaska
Happy Census Day! Today the first enumeration took place in Toksook Bay, Alaska. Fun fact: The count begins with rural Alaskan villages in January because the frozen ground makes it easier for the federal government's door knockers to reach remote communities. The enumeration is done with pencil and paper because ink can freeze in these temperatures. Enumerators will begin with Alaska and Hawaii before continuing to “the lower 48” near March.
White House Memo Launches PEER Initiative for Injured Feds
In a memo from the White House to agency leaders on January 9, 2020, Acting Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Russell Vought introduces the Protecting Employee, Enabling Reemployment (PEER) Initiative aimed at reducing work-related injuries. The initiative includes seven areas for federal agencies to focus on from now on.
EPA OIG Encourages Better Oversight of Mobile Phones
A report released Friday from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Office of the Inspector General (OIG) revealed a need for the Office of Information Technology Operations (OITO) to improve oversight of mobile phones. A lack of oversight resulted in the agency being billed $12,000 over two years for unused mobile phone services.
Senate Passes DIGIT Act to Focus on Internet of Things
The Senate voted to pass the Developing Innovation and Growing the Internet of Things (DIGIT) Act last week to establish an interagency panel to provide recommendations and a report on the internet of things. The “internet of things” refers to the growing number of connected and interconnected devices that work in consort with each other to provide services.
Learn ASL: Office signs for coworkers in American Sign Language
Communicating with a deaf coworker may seem complicated, but these workplace ASL basics will help you communicate effectively with your hard of hearing colleague.