Officer Removed On Results Of Psychological Assessment Entitled On Appeal To Challenge Assessment’s Basis
Where an agency relies, directly or indirectly, on the results of a psychological assessment in justifying an employee’s removal, the agency must provide the employee with a meaningful opportunity to review and challenge the evidence underlying the assessment, the Federal Circuit recently held.
GAO Reports Highlight Racial Inequalities in America
In light of recent civilian deaths and issues of police brutality, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) has created a landing spot which provides a broad look at GAO’s work on racial inequality over the years. GAO has identified racial inequalities and provided recommendations for addressing them in government and in the United States generally in many reports since the 1970s. The new landing spot provides easy access to all of these reports in various categories.
House Introduces Funding Bill Without Senate Support
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced a new stopgap government funding bill this week without first securing support from her Republican counterparts in the Senate or the White House. This bill would extend current levels of spending for agencies past the September 30 end of the fiscal year through December 11.
Expanded ‘G2U Initiative’ Strives to Bring More University Students into Public Service
The Volker Alliance Government-to-University Initiative is continuing to grow and expand opportunities for universities to collaborate more closely with the federal government.
Ruth Bader Ginsburg: In Memoriam | TIME
Justice Ginsburg led an inspiring life. She was a crusader for women’s rights and a champion of civil rights. Watch this tribute to her major accomplishments.
Shifting Federal Employees Away from Low-Value Work
Recent updates to the President’s Management Agenda (PMA) Cross Agency Priority (CAP) Goals have focused on shifting federal employees away from low-value work toward high-value work.
Survey on Improving Data Management in Government by Chief Data Officers
Improving data management and inventory is a priority for federal agencies. Congress passed the bipartisan Foundations for Evidence-Based Policymaking Act (Evidence Act) in 2018, setting clear expectations for federal agencies on data governance. The Evidence Act formalized the role of the Chief Data Officer (CDO) in agencies and standardized CDOs responsibilities.
Senate Holds Hearing on OPM Director Nominee
The U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs (HSGAC) held a nominations hearing on September 9, 2020 for several individuals, including the nomination of John Gibbs to serve as Director of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM). The vote on his appointment is expected to be held on September 16, 2020.
Best Android and iOS Apps to Keep Your Data Private and Secure
Did you know your smartphone can track almost everywhere you go and every website you visit? Learn how to protect yourself from unwanted attacks or breaches of privacy.
HHS, WAEPA Executives Discuss the Future of Customer Experience in the Healthcare and Insurance Industries
Last week’s FEDtalk podcast brought together Sanjay Koyani, Executive Director for Innovation at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and Shane Canfield, CEO of Worldwide Assurance for Employees of Public Agencies (WAEPA), to discuss evolving trends in customer experience within the healthcare and insurance industries with FEDtalk hosts Jason Briefel and James Heelan of Shaw Bransford & Roth.
Payroll Tax Deferral Program Leaves Federal Employees Seeking Answers
The White House recently announced an executive order that authorizes employers to defer the Social Security payroll tax from September 1, 2020 through the end of the year for employees who make less than $3,999 per biweekly pay period, known as a payroll tax deferral. This new order has left many agencies and employees with various questions like whether employees can opt-in or out of the program and what happens to federal employees who leave their agencies before or during the window of repayment.
Trump Administration to Stop Taxpayer Funding for Critical Race Theory Training
A September 4, 2020 memo (M-20-34) from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Russell Vought asserts that critical race theory (CRT) trainings for federal employees are un-American and go against the founding principles of the United States. The memo directs agencies to cancel contracts and cease funding for these trainings.
Congress, White House Reach Informal Agreement to Prevent Government Shutdown
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Secretary of the Treasury Steven Mnuchin have reportedly agreed to a stopgap, government-wide funding bill for federal agencies. This informal consensus would avoid a government shutdown in October and extend funding at fiscal year 2020 levels for federal agencies until at least the November 3, 2020 election.
Leadership Through The COVID-19 Crisis
Leadership in the time of COVID-19 can be challenging. Learn how to overcome these challenges and put your best foot forward even during difficult times.
D.C. Circuit Panel: Congress Must Pass Law to Authorize House Subpoena Enforcement
On August 31, 2020, in a 2-1 decision after a remand from the en banc court, a panel of the United States Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit held that the Committee on the Judiciary of the United States House of Representatives (“Judiciary Committee”) had no valid cause of action to enforce its subpoena for executive branch records related to former White House Counsel Donald F. McGahn, II, where the Executive Branch blocked McGahn’s testimony and asserted “absolute testimonial immunity.”
Looking Back & Looking Forward
The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic constitutes one of the greatest challenges this country has faced since the attacks of September 11th. This week marks the 19th anniversary of 9/11, and FEDS Protection continues to salute those federal employees who have continued to serve our country through crises past and present.
OPM Launches Annual Charity Fundraiser
The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) is launching their annual charity fundraiser, the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC), which will run from September 21, 2020 to January 15, 2021. CFC is the largest annual workplace charity campaign, involving over 200 domestic and international charity campaigns that raise millions of dollars every year. The program gives federal employees the opportunity to give back to their communities.
Agencies Focus on Reskilling During Pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic is changing the way the federal workforce operates and evaluates employee skills. Much of the federal workforce has shifted to virtual work during the pandemic, and this change has had an effect on the way employees work in the federal realm.