The Senior Executives Association announced a new task force last week to develop management assessment models for federal agencies. The task force marks the second phase of the Project on Assessing Management Quality. The first phase recently concluded with a special report on how agencies can determine if their offices are well managed.

The Department of Labor (DOL) has issued guidance for federal employees for filing claims under the Federal Employees’ Compensation Act due to the 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19). All federal employees who develop COVID-19 while in performance of their federal duties are entitled to workers’ compensation coverage.

Congresswoman Jennifer Wexton (D-VA) has introduced legislation to require the Department of Justice (DOJ) to work with the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to develop guidance and training for law enforcement to identify and combat domestic violence during the coronavirus pandemic.

The Federal Employee Education and Assistance Fund (FEEA) has expanded their Coronavirus Hardship Program to provide additional relief to families experiencing financial hardship due to the ongoing COVID-19 situation.

The National Security Agency (NSA) has provided guidance for agencies on determining which video conferencing tools should be using during telework periods. The guidance provides nine factors for consideration to determine which platform should be used. The guidance only applies to commercial applications such as Zoom, which have become increasingly popular for office communications during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) on Wednesday released guidance to agencies on implementing the Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act (EPSLA) provision of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act). The guidance includes a summary of the statutory and regulatory requirements for federal employees to access their paid leave.

The White House has rolled out its plan to begin reopening the country following the shutdown of non-essential businesses in nearly every state due to the coronavirus pandemic. To go along with guidelines for state, local, and tribal governments and the private sector for reopening the country, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), in conjunction with the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), has released guidance for agencies on actions they may take to return to normal operations while still prioritizing adherence to local advisories.

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has announced a new four-phase competition challenge, called the Chariot Challenge, aimed at using innovative technologies to provide first responders with more accurate and immediate information when responding to public emergencies. The competition includes an Augmented Reality (AR) challenge and an Internet of Things (IoT) challenge.

We want to be sure you know how to receive help and access resources through the Federal Employee Education and Assistance Fund (FEEA), the only 501c3 charity by and for federal civilian employees. We encourage you to share this information with other federal employees and contact FEEA with any questions at emergency@feea.org.

The Federal Postal Coalition issued a letter this week to lawmakers highlighting the challenges federal employees are facing as they attempt to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. The letter lists and explains several policies lawmakers can enact to meet the needs of the federal workforce.

In two notices released Tuesday, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) announced that government employees who are considered essential frontline employees could receive extra pay during the coronavirus pandemic and clarified how federal employees should work amidst local stay at home orders.

The Department of Homeland Security announced last week a specialized team dedicated to procurement related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The COVID-19 Procurement & Acquisition Innovation Response (PAIR) Team is providing support to DHS components, such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), in reviewing, vetting, and coordinating procurement inquiries.

The National Institute of Standards and Technology released an update to their Guidelines for Managing the Security of Mobile Devices in the Enterprise. This update to the mobile device guidelines is the first since 2013 and, while it was not done due to the surge in employees on telework, NIST leaders do note its particular importance during the current situation.

The coronavirus pandemic has required all hands to be on deck in the federal government. To match the president’s call for a whole of government response, federal agencies are shifting strategies and collaborating in new ways to better serve the American people.

The Senate has passed H.R. 748, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. This bill is the largest stimulus package in U.S. history and contains significant economic aid for agencies responding to the coronavirus pandemic.

On Wednesday, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) issued guidance relating to properly vetting employees during the coronavirus pandemic. Many federal, state, and local offices that take fingerprints are currently closed due to measures associated with the coronavirus, raising questions about how to properly vet new employees.

In a letter to agencies on Sunday, Acting Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Russell Vought called upon agencies to offer “maximum telework flexibilities” to all currently telework eligible employees and to utilize all existing authorities to offer telework to additional employees to the extent available due to the COVID-19 outbreak. Acting Director Vought noted that this may be a challenge for law enforcement and criminal justice-related employees.

Cyber-attackers attempted to disrupt the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services computer systems over the weekend. Attackers failed at penetrating the network due to what the department described as “extra protections” put in place to respond to the coronavirus outbreak. The Department of Defense has also reported an uptick in attempted cyber-attacks on their network.

As members of Congress become increasingly concerned about the spread of COVID-19, also called the coronavirus, agencies are stepping up guidance to employees regarding maintaining health and safety during the outbreak. Currently, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that, for the majority of people, “the immediate risk of being exposed to the virus that causes COVID-19 is thought to be low,” but emphasizes the importance of preparedness. Read on for an overview of some of the actions taken by lawmakers and some agencies to prepare for the potential spread.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) issued a final rule announcing the start of DNA collection from immigrants in federal custody beginning this spring. The rule is meant to fully enforce the DNA Fingerprinting Act of 2005, which requires the government to collect DNA samples “from individuals arrested, facing charges, or non-U.S. persons who are detained.”