Thursday Morning Federal Newsstand

Written by Ruben Gomez & Tom Temin Edited by Suzanne Kubota This morning’s federal news as heard on WFED: More scrutiny on the way for those of you w...

Written by Ruben Gomez & Tom Temin
Edited by Suzanne Kubota

This morning’s federal news as heard on WFED:

More scrutiny on the way for those of you who manage federal agencies. OPM plans to set up a central office to oversee the Senior Executive Service. The new arm will consolidate powers currently spread throughout OPM. The announcement comes in on the heels of outside findings the Senior Executive Service needs a serious overhaul.

A possible setback for the government’s use of interns to fill full-time positions. The Merit System’s Protection Board has ruled that a disabled veteran can challenge the Federal Career Internship Program in court. The case stems from a veteran who says he was passed up for a job because the Social Security Administration decided to hire interns instead.

If you work the Department of Agriculture, you’ll need to make Internet Explorer your browser of choice. USDA’s Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service is banning all other Web browsers, like Mozilla’s Firefox and Google’s Chrome. The policy has been in effect for some time, but NextGov reports it will now be enforced to comply with security standards in the Federal Desktop Core Configuration.

Not one but three cabinet secretaries are urging employers to plan early for the coming flu season. The federal government is wants to encourage employees with flu symptoms to stay home, reports GovExec. Employers should prepare for short staffing and let high-risk employees work from home. Making the announcement were Commerce Secretary Gary Locke, HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano.

The Obama administration wants more federal dollars and prime contracts to go to small business. This fall, government buyers will travel to 200 public events for small businesses across the country to promote the new drive. The goal: nearly one in four prime contracts going to small business, including those owned by women and minorities, according to GovExec.

Unemployment may be almost 10 percent thanks to the the recession, but government jobs are growing. The New York Times reports new data from the Rockefeller Institute of Government shows state and local governments have added 110,000 jobs since December 2007. New York Times reports, many of the new jobs have been funded by money granted to states and counties from that big federal stimulus bill.

Other Stories We’re Following

VA’s Deyton to Lead FDA Tobacco Center (WashingtonPost)

NPS names Piltzecker superintendent of National Mall

Air Force Organizes Cyberspace Units Under One Command (DefenseLink)

Navy research could speed troops’ recovery (USAToday)

Army medic-training home fending off Texas sprawl

Debate still rages over new N.J. national park (USAToday)

White House honors NASCAR champions, drivers

So, you have one hour to do disaster planning …

The Death Book for Veterans (WallStreetJournal op-ed)

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