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

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• 86% of federal staff say the commute is a significant issue for office environment reentry. In an unique Federal Information Community study, traveling to and from get the job done was the most frequent problem for feds returning to the office environment. Many also reported they’re fearful about business office basic safety actions and work-lifestyle equilibrium. With extra adaptability, no commute and constrained interruptions quite a few say distant operate is *additional* successful than likely into the office. Numerous study respondents also say they want to optimize telework every time doable. (Federal Information Network)

• A federal watchdog states the Nationwide Protection Agency still left itself susceptible to contractor fraud all through the height of the pandemic. The NSA Inspector Basic audited the spy agency’s managing of contractor reimbursements below the CARES Act. The IG observed insufficient documentation in numerous circumstances, top it to dilemma $16.4 million in expenses. That represented 40% of the CARES Act invoices sampled by the IG. The NSA documented a full of $917 million in CARES Act invoices.

• A previous journey clerk with the Office of Veterans Affairs pleads responsible to stealing nearly $500,000 from the agency. Prosecutors charged Bruce Minimal of Philadelphia with theft authorities money, just after they say he produced fraudulent journey reimbursement promises in the names of at minimum 3 other VA personnel. Prosecutors say he then diverted the cash into financial institution accounts he managed. This transpired involving December 2015 and September 2019. The VA inspector general’s business done this investigation.

• The Transportation Stability Administration is grappling with a absence of range among the its senior ranks. TSA expects to deliver on a main diversity equity and inclusion officer in just the following month. The particular person will be a member of the senior govt services and report right to TSA Administrator David Pekoske. While far more than 50 % of TSA’s workforce are individuals of colour, 53 out of the agency’s 66 federal security directors are white. The new DEI officer is anticipated to choose a tricky appear at that disparity and spearhead tips from TSA’s Inclusion Motion Committee. (Federal News Network)

• A federal AI endeavor drive outlines ‘equitable future’ for study and progress methods. The activity force guiding the National AI Investigate Resource (NAIRR) issues an interim report outlining how the AI data-and-investigate hub can put federal AI assets in the hands of extra U.S. researchers. A final report is anticipated this November. Lynne Parker, the deputy U.S. chief technological know-how officer and director of OSTP’s Countrywide AI Initiative Business office, states the interim report marks the “first phase towards a extra equitable future for AI R&D in The us, it’s a potential in which innovation can flourish, and the promise of AI can be understood in a way that positive aspects all People.” (Federal Information Network)

• Starting tomorrow, the Thrift Financial savings Prepare will make 5,000 mutual funds out there to members. But some lawmakers are involved about the implications of increasing investment decision alternatives. Republican senators call on the Federal Retirement Thrift Financial investment Board — the agency that manages TSP — to either terminate or postpone the mutual fund window. The senators inquire the board to make certain no resources commit in “dangerous, noncompliant or opaque Chinese securities.” The board suggests no TSP participant is necessary to devote in any of the mutual funds.

• There is a new internet site that brings jointly all technologies policies and rules in just one spot. The aim of the site is to enable market and federal employees develop into much more proficient on these subjects and know where by to glimpse for responses. The portal breaks down the legislation and policies by matter like cybersecurity or information, and by specific name of the mandate. It also provides fast data about the plan or regulation like name, who it applies to and a link to the formal supply doc. This web site was formulated by a federal IT government on his personal time and isn’t affiliated with any a person company.

• The Vitality Department’s Oak Ridge National Lab is residence to the world’s quickest supercomputer. The lab’s Computing Facility can attain exascale computing on their Frontier Process, meaning they can conduct a quintillion calculations for every 2nd, which is one billion, billion. Congressman Frank Lucas (R-Okla.) praised the accomplishment contacting exascale the next era of computing ability and that it’s significant that the U.S. leads the way in this place. The U.S. is home to a number of other supercomputers in the top 10, like one more at the Oak Ridge Lab, one at Lawrence Livermore Nationwide Lab and just one at the Lawrence Berkeley Countrywide Lab.

• 4 important themes emerge about GSA’s commercial platform initiative. The subsequent steps for the Basic Expert services Administration’s professional system initiative have not nonetheless arrive into focus, but a handful of trends came to gentle. GSA introduced a ask for for information before this calendar year seeking feedback on what other techniques could be tested. The RFI arrived soon after Congress mandated GSA take into consideration other ways to make it simpler for agencies to buy items and providers from commercial platforms. A single of the conclusions highlighted industry’s ability to supply various functioning types that meet targets like well timed solution delivery with true-time order monitoring and immediate response shopper support.

• The Centers for Sickness Regulate and Avoidance claims 87% of people who drank water contaminated by the Pink Hill Bulk Gasoline Storage Facility in Hawaii seasoned new or worsening signs and symptoms. The self-reporting study demonstrate people struggling from head aches, stomach concerns, respiration issues and pores and skin troubles. Pink Hill leaked jet gasoline into Hawaii’s drinking drinking water late past fall.

• Right after a calendar year of history suicides, the Defense Department is seeking for methods to beef up its psychological health means. The Pentagon’s top wellness official states the armed forces is starting off a new method that will match mental health and fitness staffing with demand. The Protection Section wishes to add psychological wellbeing counselors, therapists and other pros to its ranks in the coming a long time. DoD needs to drastically improve its telehealth visits and lower the approvals for people on TRICARE to get psychological health and fitness expert services. People are ready a minor fewer than two months for mental well being evaluations, however some waits can be for a longer period than a thirty day period.