Energy Department takes the title owning the fastest computer in the world

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• 86% of federal personnel say the commute is a major concern for office reentry. In an distinctive Federal News Network study, touring to and from get the job done was the most typical concern for feds returning to the place of work. Many also said they’re nervous about business office security measures and function-everyday living equilibrium. With extra adaptability, no commute and limited interruptions several say distant operate is *extra* successful than going into the office environment. A lot of study respondents also say they want to increase telework whenever attainable. (Federal News Network)

• A federal watchdog suggests the National Stability Agency remaining itself susceptible to contractor fraud all through the height of the pandemic. The NSA Inspector Normal audited the spy agency’s dealing with of contractor reimbursements less than the CARES Act. The IG discovered insufficient documentation in lots of circumstances, top it to problem $16.4 million in charges. That represented 40% of the CARES Act invoices sampled by the IG. The NSA described a total of $917 million in CARES Act invoices.

• A former vacation clerk with the Division of Veterans Affairs pleads guilty to thieving virtually $500,000 from the agency. Prosecutors charged Bruce Slight of Philadelphia with theft federal government money, just after they say he developed fraudulent travel reimbursement statements in the names of at least a few other VA staff. Prosecutors say he then diverted the resources into bank accounts he controlled. This occurred among December 2015 and September 2019. The VA inspector general’s business office conducted this investigation.

• The Transportation Safety Administration is grappling with a lack of range between its senior ranks. TSA expects to bring on a main variety equity and inclusion officer inside the future month. The person will be a member of the senior govt service and report directly to TSA Administrator David Pekoske. While far more than 50 percent of TSA’s workforce are individuals of colour, 53 out of the agency’s 66 federal protection directors are white. The new DEI officer is envisioned to get a really hard look at that disparity and spearhead suggestions from TSA’s Inclusion Motion Committee. (Federal News Network)

• A federal AI undertaking drive outlines ‘equitable future’ for investigation and enhancement methods. The job force guiding the Countrywide AI Investigate Source (NAIRR) concerns an interim report outlining how the AI knowledge-and-investigate hub can put federal AI means in the palms of a lot more U.S. scientists. A closing report is envisioned this November. Lynne Parker, the deputy U.S. chief engineering officer and director of OSTP’s Nationwide AI Initiative Workplace, says the interim report marks the “first step toward a a lot more equitable long term for AI R&D in The usa, it is a potential where by innovation can prosper, and the promise of AI can be realized in a way that gains all People.” (Federal News Network)

• Starting off tomorrow, the Thrift Cost savings Program will make 5,000 mutual money offered to contributors. But some lawmakers are worried about the implications of increasing expenditure possibilities. Republican senators call on the Federal Retirement Thrift Financial commitment Board — the agency that manages TSP — to either cancel or postpone the mutual fund window. The senators request the board to assure no cash commit in “dangerous, noncompliant or opaque Chinese securities.” The board says no TSP participant is demanded to invest in any of the mutual cash.

• There is a new internet site that provides alongside one another all engineering insurance policies and rules in 1 location. The objective of the web site is to help market and federal workforce come to be additional well-informed on these subject areas and know wherever to search for solutions. The portal breaks down the legislation and policies by topic like cybersecurity or knowledge, and by distinct name of the mandate. It also presents fast details about the coverage or legislation like identify, who it applies to and a website link to the formal source document. This website was developed by a federal IT government on his very own time and isn’t affiliated with any just one company.

• The Vitality Department’s Oak Ridge Countrywide Lab is residence to the world’s swiftest supercomputer. The lab’s Computing Facility can reach exascale computing on their Frontier Method, meaning they can conduct a quintillion calculations for every next, that’s one particular billion, billion. Congressman Frank Lucas (R-Okla.) praised the accomplishment calling exascale the next era of computing electricity and that it’s essential that the U.S. prospects the way in this place. The U.S. is home to numerous other supercomputers in the leading 10, which includes yet another at the Oak Ridge Lab, one particular at Lawrence Livermore Nationwide Lab and a person at the Lawrence Berkeley Countrywide Lab.

• 4 crucial themes arise about GSA’s professional platform initiative. The subsequent actions for the Common Providers Administration’s professional platform initiative have not however occur into focus, but a handful of trends came to light. GSA produced a ask for for data before this calendar year searching for suggestions on what other methods could be tested. The RFI arrived right after Congress mandated GSA think about other ways to make it less complicated for organizations to buy merchandise and companies from business platforms. A person of the conclusions highlighted industry’s means to provide different running types that fulfill targets like timely products delivery with real-time purchase monitoring and swift response buyer provider.

• The Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention claims 87% of folks who drank water contaminated by the Pink Hill Bulk Gas Storage Facility in Hawaii experienced new or worsening signs. The self-reporting survey show people suffering from complications, belly difficulties, respiration difficulties and skin complications. Pink Hill leaked jet gas into Hawaii’s ingesting water late past tumble.

• Following a yr of document suicides, the Protection Section is seeking for strategies to beef up its psychological well being means. The Pentagon’s major wellbeing formal suggests the military is setting up a new plan that will match psychological wellness staffing with demand. The Protection Section needs to increase psychological health and fitness counselors, therapists and other professionals to its ranks in the coming decades. DoD wishes to considerably raise its telehealth visits and lower the approvals for persons on TRICARE to get psychological overall health providers. Individuals are waiting a tiny less than two weeks for psychological wellness evaluations, however some waits can be longer than a month.