New Rule Expands Buy Indian Act, Advances Equity Executive Order
The Interior Department Indian Affairs Office published a final rule in the Federal Register last week to increase Tribal businesses' access to funding and procurement preferences.
OPM Bolsters Federal Employees Voting, Administration Seeks Same for Native Communities
In March 2021, President Biden issued an executive order (E.O. 14019) to expand access to voting. New Administration guidance indicates that voting is now more than just an election day event.
White House Releases Proposed Budget for FY 2023, 4.6% Pay Raise for Federal Employees
President Biden’s $5.8 trillion budget proposal for fiscal year (FY) 2023 aims to give every Cabinet department a budget increase while reducing the federal deficit that has skyrocketed in recent years.
Agencies Tasked to Develop COVID-19 Testing Programs for Unvaccinated Employees
On January 11, 2022, the Safer Federal Workforce Task Force issued new and updated guidance regarding COVID-19 testing and vaccinations.
Agencies Boost Pandemic Response with DPA
Last week, the White House announced the federal government will purchase 500 million rapid COVID-19 tests for American citizens to distribute in response to the omicron variant. To fill these needs, the White House will likely utilize Defense Production Act (DPA) of 1950 authorities.
White House Launches FEMA-Run Federal COVID-19 Prevention Sites
The Biden Administration has directed federal agencies to allocate resources to strained hospitals and to improve COVID-19 prevention coupled with a surge in federal personnel.
OPM Extends COVID-19 Hiring Authority Extension
Under an extension announced by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) last week, federal agencies will have through June 30, 2022, to use the special Schedule A hiring authority established as a pandemic response.
OMB’s Guidance Follows Federal Injunctions of the Contractor Vaccine Mandate
The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) provided guidance to agencies to ensure compliance with the court orders currently applicable to federal contractors in the United States and outlying areas. With a nationwide preliminary injunction in effect, federal contractors will not be required to comply with a vaccine mandate imposed by President Biden.
OPM Director Says Agency Rebuilding, Hundreds Hired
The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Director Kiran Ahuja stated that a congressionally mandated report on reforming the federal government's human resources (HR) has galvanized the workforce to support change.
OPM Advises Agencies that Federal Employees Entitled to Leave for Boosters
Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Director Kiran Ahuja reminded agency heads in a brief memo that they must provide federal workers with paid time off if they plan to receive the COVID-19 vaccine booster shot.
White House Announces Temporary Hold on Vaccine Mandate Disciplinary Actions
In response to noncompliance with its mandate that federal workers be vaccinated against COVID-19, the Biden administration announced Monday that suspensions and other serious penalties will be delayed until 2022.
OMB Announces 3.2 Million Federal Employees Complied with Vaccine Mandate
White House Assistant Press Secretary Kevin Munoz has since reported the “vast majority” of federal employees are fully vaccinated, though the 92 percent count includes those who have only so far received half of their two-dose regiment.
OPM Recaps Annual Leave Procedures, COVID-19 Special Rules
Federal employees may have some extra annual leave set to expire, according to the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) recent memorandum.
CHCO Council Releases DEIA Advancement Plan for the Federal Workforce
On November 23, 2021, the Chief Human Capital Officers (CHCO) Council published a report on the government-wide advancement of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) in the federal workforce. This report outlines a series of strategies designed to improve DEIA in the federal government, aligning closely with ongoing efforts to restructure the federal workforce.
OPM Outlines the Future of Remote, Telework for Federal Agencies
In a report released on November 12, 2021, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) urged agencies to ensure telework is a permanent component of workforce policies, aligning with telework expansion support from the Biden Administration.
Groups Urge White House to Extend Vaccine Mandate Deadline for Federal Employees
Several federal workforce organizations have recently advocated for extending the federal employee vaccine mandate deadline align with the federal contractor deadline. The federal contractor deadline was recently extended in January 2022.
In other vaccine mandated related news, the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) announced at least one agency has entered a Memorandum of Understanding with the management regarding vaccine mandate implementation.
President Biden Signs EO Promoting Diversity and Inclusion in Federal Agencies
Last week, President Joe Biden signed an Executive Order on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility in the Federal Workforce. The new order directs agencies on how to improve diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility among their employees.
American Rescue Plan Expands Benefits for Federal Workforce
On March 11, 2021, President Biden signed the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, a $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package that expands benefits for the federal workforce and Americans.