Management
USDA to switch to ‘pass-fail’ performance management system, new awards policy this fall
Nicole Ogrysko, Federal News Network
The goal will free up time and resources for agency managers and supervisors to recognize top performance, said Stephen Censky, USDA’s deputy secretary.
IT modernization in the time of COVID-19: How government investment in critical IT systems can enhance citizen services
Gordon Bitko & David Logsdon, Federal News Network
Outdated government IT systems and processes hinder many federal and state agencies’ ability to deliver services. This fact has been well known and disturbingly unresolved, even before the COVID-19 pandemic hit.
Building Digital Government That Can Withstand Surges
Daniel Castro, Government Technology
The COVID-19 pandemic overwhelmed many state unemployment insurance websites. While some fared better than others, all governments can take advantage of things like cloud technology to prepare for the next storm.
Agency efforts to cut duplication, overlap have saved $429B, GAO says
Nicole Ogrysko, Federal News Network
At a time when government has injected trillions of dollars into the economy to address the fallout from the coronavirus crisis, GAO suggests agencies could uncover billions in additional savings by better managing existing programs and finding ways to weed out duplication, fragmentation and overlap.
DHS executes pivot to agile, but needs better reporting metrics
Mark Rockwell, FCW
DHS has successfully planned and made progress executing its shift to agile software development over the past four years, but needs to do a better job on reporting metrics, according to a recent GAO audit.

Open Data, Analytics, & Data Governance
Analytics reveal areas for mission improvement at USDA, VA
Jason Miller, Federal News Network
VA is applying deep analytics to health care data to address challenges with the coronavirus. USDA created management dashboards to improve decision making.