Author Archive
Courtney Bublé

Employee Policy
These three federal employees landed in hot water over Hatch Act violations
The Office of Special Counsel announced settlements over violations at three agencies: the U.S. Postal Service, Veterans Affairs Department and U.S. Defense Information Systems Agency.
- By Courtney Bublé
Employee Policy
Afghanistan watchdog blasts State and USAID for ‘sudden refusal to cooperate’
The agencies defended their handling of requests since October and said they’ve “regularly responded” to the office over the years.
- By Courtney Bublé
Employee Policy
Top GSA buildings official discusses future of federal offices
“Right now, what I think the opportunity is is to have fewer buildings and better buildings,” the Public Buildings Service commissioner told lawmakers.
- By Courtney Bublé
Employee Policy
Three options for FBI’s long-awaited new HQ still on the table
The General Services Administration briefed lawmakers on this last week.
- By Courtney Bublé
Employee Policy
DHS is making ‘significant reforms’ to the employee discipline process
The effort comes in the wake of an outside oversight group's allegations of wrongdoing in the inspector general office which the IG contests.
- By Courtney Bublé
Employee Policy
A noose was Found at a federal facility in Tennessee
“A noose blatantly violates our policies and work rules and will not be tolerated,” said a spokesperson for the contractor that operates the facility.
- By Courtney Bublé
Employee Policy
Coronavirus roundup: The federal government's next steps on vaccines, and more ...
There’s a lot to keep track of. Here’s a list of this week’s news updates and stories you may have missed.
- By Courtney Bublé
Pay
Federal prisons: Losing staff, and BOP director aims to fix that by October
Steps to boost hiring will include a $1,000 recruitment incentive.
- By Courtney Bublé
Retirement
Coronavirus roundup: SG warns of health workforce burnout—and other COVID news
There’s a lot to keep track of: The Surgeon General is concerned about increased resignations and burnout among health workers, as well as other recent news updates and stories you may have missed.
- By Courtney Bublé
Appeals court delivers ‘Major Blow’ to SEC
The majority opinion deemed the Security and Exchange Commission's in-house adjudications unconstitutional.
- By Courtney Bublé
Biden ATF nominee: ‘Politics can play no role in law enforcement’
Steve Dettelbach testified before a Senate committee, just one day after the mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas.
- By Courtney Bublé
Employee Policy
The Justice Department is ramping up its anti-hate crime efforts
New personnel, guidance and grants were announced on Friday, with the participation of feds across multiple agencies—amid stepped-up response in the shadow of the May 14 mass shooting, with 10 dead, in Buffalo.
- By Courtney Bublé
Coronavirus roundup: More free COVID tests ...
There’s a lot to keep track of: Over the last week, the WH authorized more free COVID tests, the HHS secretary tested positive for COVID, and we summarize several other coronavirus news pieces you may have missed.
- By Courtney Bublé
Employee Policy
DHS IG: No mishandling of sexual harassment or domestic violence reports
The Project On Government Oversight—the government watchdog group that brought the claims against the IG—is pushing back this week on Joseph Cuffari’s letter to lawmakers.
- By Courtney Bublé
The U.S. Embassy in Kyiv has resumed operations
It’s been three months since Russia started the war in Ukraine.
- By Courtney Bublé
WH repeats call for confirmed ATF Director after Buffalo tragedy
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives has lacked a permanent director since 2015.
- By Courtney Bublé
Employee Policy
Lessons from DHS's early COVID-19 vaccine campaign
Issues early on hampered DHS meeting its vaccination goals, but then vaccinations became widely available.
- By Courtney Bublé
Mango: COVID vaccine development was a success, but communication could've been better
Paul Mango, an official with the Trump administration, was involved in virtually all aspects of Operation Warp Speed, a public-private partnership.
- By Courtney Bublé
Pay
Incidents at federal prison spark broader concerns about BPS staffing levels
Lawmakers would like to see staffing and pay issues addressed.
- By Courtney Bublé
Watchdog: Trump DHS manipulated report on Russian election interference
A 2020 report to state and local governments was delayed and altered, a new IG audit concludes.
- By Patrick Tucker and Courtney Bublé