Pres. Nominates Katherine Archuleta to OPM – Plus the DorobekINSIDER’s 7 Stories

On GovLoop Insights’ DorobekINSIDER:

• Swift, certain, consistent and proportionate – that is the motto of the new probation program making waves in Hawaii. The program – called H.O.P.E. – has reduced recidivism by 51% and has been recognized by Harvard University’s Ash Center as one of the ‘Top 25 Innovations in Government.” We find out how they did it.

The SEVEN stories that impact your life

1. President Obama nominated former campaign staffer and Labor Department official Katherine Archuleta to head the Office of Personnel Management, the White House has announced. Archuleta has vast experience in federal government, most recently serving as chief of staff to Labor Secretary Hilda Solis reports Government Executive. She previously served in the Clinton administration as chief of staff to Transportation Secretary Federico Peña, and as senior policy advisory when Peña became Energy secretary.
2. Tens of thousands of current and former Homeland Security Department employees are at risk of identity theft. Federal News Radio reports, officials discovered a security flaw in a contractor’s system for processing background investigations. Employees at headquarters, Customs and Border Protection, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement were affected the most. Officials say so far there’s no evidence any data was actually taken.
3. The Government Accountability Office finds VA takes one-third longer than expected to process new applications and benefits under the Post 9-11 GI Bill. GAO acknowledges the department is trying to speed up its processes, but it criticizes the VA for failing to tell veterans about delays in benefits. T
4. Lawmakers are urging the Postal Service to slow-down its cost-cutting measures. 47 House members have signed a letter to Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe asking him to keep all mail processing facilities open until next spring to give Congress more time to pass overhaul legislation. They argue that any cuts the Postal Service makes now to its network would limit their ability to take action. The Postal Service wants to shutter dozens of mail processing facilities this year.
5. Acting IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel has launched an internal review of the agency. Werfel says the agency will work with its inspector general, the Justice Department and Congress to hold the responsible parties accountable for unfairly scrutinizing conservative groups that applied for tax-exempt status. Federal News Radio reports, the Justice Department has launched a criminal investigation.
6. The military’s sexual assault prevention workers will stay on the job even as other civilian employees of the Defense Department take up to 11 days of furloughs. The Pentagon says it is exempting from furloughs those who work in its Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Program. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel ordered that all sexual assault prevention and response workers be re-trained and re-certified following a report showing a dramatic increase in sexual assaults in the military, reports Federal News Radio.
7. And on GovLoop: Here is a staggering stat: 130 millions Americans own a smartphone, including roughly 1 out of 2 adults. That’s a technology that wasn’t even around 5 years ago. So how can government leverage this technology to connect, engage and empower government employees and the general public? Tune in to find out with the DorobekINISDER Live panel on June 26th at noon EDT. Register for the free online webinar now.

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