Shutdowns Affect Agency Operations, Not Just Budgets
A Senate report on three partial government shutdowns of recent years says that beyond the costs, they have substantial impact …More
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Security Concerns Raised on Bring Your Own Device Policies
An audit has raised concerns about “data leakage” and other security-related issues arising from the “bring your own device” policy …More
OPM Calls for Data on Veteran Program Compliance
OPM has told agencies to report by December 1 on their compliance with the Disabled Veterans Affirmative Action Program, which …More
Rules Would Revise Agency Practices Related to Discipline
Rules proposed by OPM to carry out parts of the Trump administration’s executive orders on disciplinary policies that have not …More
OPM Discourages Using Tables of Penalties
A rules proposal from OPM would strongly discourage, although not outright prohibit, use of tables of penalties, saying they are …More
Agencies Told to Improve Job Candidate Assessments
OPM has told agencies to apply “more rigor” in assessing job candidates, including better defining in the vacancy announcement a …More
In Assessing Candidates, Rely Less on Them, More on Experts, OPM Says
A new OPM memo to agencies on hiring practices says that prior memos on the same topic “focused on making …More
OMB Updates Trusted Internet Connection Policies
OMB has updated guidance under the Trusted Internet Connection initiative to enhance network security across the government, saying its new …More
Workforce Planning Lagging among USAID Initiatives, Says GAO
USAID has completed or is making progress on nearly all of its “transformation” initiatives and is generally following key practices …More
Look Inward for Future Talent, Report Recommends
Federal agencies typically look to fill workforce needs by bringing in new employees, but “with competition for new talent steep …More
More Training Needed in Acquisition – Related Jobs, Says GAO
DoD has made improvements, but still needs to expand training on procurement-related matters for some employees whose work relates to …More
Don’t Assume Interagency Agreements Will Yield Savings, Audit Says
The Energy Department paid some $9.7 billion to other agencies on 1,585 interagency agreements for goods and services over 2012-2017 …More
House Seeks to Make Agency IT More Energy Efficient
The House has passed HR-1420, which would require agencies to coordinate with OMB and EPA on a strategy to purchase, …More
GAO Questions Agency Work-Arounds in Shutdown
GAO has said that at least two departments, Interior and Agriculture, violated law and policies by continuing to provide certain …More
Nominations Sought for ‘Sammies’ Awards
The Partnership for Public Service has opened the nomination period for its 2020 Service to America awards, or Sammies, a …More
Report Stresses Feedback, Recognition in Employee Engagement Program
A Postal Service program designed to encourage employees to engage more with customers as a way of generating more business …More
Better Control over Travel Payments Needed at DoD, GAO Says
Only about 4 percent of DoD travel payments qualify as improper and only a portion of those result in overpayments …More
R&D Priorities for 2021 Budget Cycle Set
OMB in memo M-19-25 has set research and development priorities for agency submissions for the fiscal 2021 budget cycle, covering …More
OPM Sends Reminder on Weather Emergency Policies
OPM has sent a reminder to agencies on personnel policies for weather emergency situations including hurricanes, including paid time off …More
Toolkit Developed for Building Remote Teams
A group in a Partnership for Public Service program has developed a toolkit to enhance teamwork among remotely-connected workers through …More
Award Schedule Consolidation on Track, Says GSA
GSA has said that it is on track in its effort to consolidate its current 24 multiple award schedules for …More
For Federal Vehicle Fleet, It’s Not Easy Going Green
The government has made progress in meeting requirements in law—some dating back three decades—to reduce gas consumption and greenhouse emissions …More
Privacy Act Revisions Signed into Law
President Trump has signed into law (P.L. 116-50) a recently passed bill revising a Privacy Act provision that was seen …More
Plain Language Seminar Upcoming
A one-day seminar on using plain language in government communications will be held September 5 at GSA headquarters in Washington, …More
DoD Collaborative Effort Behind Schedule, Says GAO
The DoD is nearly two years late in parts of an effort to improve collaboration among its components to address …More
Mission Support Services Aided by Customer Focus
A recent survey of agency officials showing only “modest” satisfaction with the quality of mission support they receive in areas …More
Cyber Threats Come from Inside as Well as Outside, Says OMB
Cybersecurity incidents involving federal agencies declined overall in 2018 but threats continued from both outside and inside, according to OMB’s …More
Standards for Agency AI Development Issued
Federal agencies should “commit to deeper, consistent, long-term engagement” in development of AI technology, under new standards issued by the …More
For DoD Acquisition Workforce Hiring, Exceptions Have Become the Rule
In a sign of how much agencies are turning away from traditional competitive service hiring processes to fill positions, the …More
Key Features of Performance Framework Highlighted
Recent changes to a section of OMB Circular A-11 to turn it into the Federal Performance Framework for Improving Program …More
