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Daily Archives: December 16, 2021

Fed Figures: The Federal Workforce and the Trump Administration

Partnership for Public Service: “This analysis sheds light on our nation’s federal civilian workforce during the Trump administration. What changes occurred throughout the administration’s four years? Did past trends continue or change under President Donald Trump? The Partnership for Public Service analyzed federal workforce data to answer these and other questions. Because of its sheer size, it is rare to see substantial shifts government-wide in the size of the workforce or its makeup in just a few years. The Trump administration was no exception. Despite a global pandemic and other disruptive forces, the career workforce remained stable and resilient. However, a few noteworthy changes among specific portions of the workforce emerged during Trump’s time in office–changes that may be of interest to the Biden administration as it seeks to support and strengthen the federal civil service…”

How to Know When Your iPhone Could Be Recording You

Lifehacker: “You’ve probably had the (legitimate) fear that your smartphone is listening or watching you. Your iPhone certainly isn’t without privacy risks, and you should absolutely audit your settings and all of your app permissions, but one helpful feature that Apple has built in is a visual warning when your device is queued up to… Continue Reading

You may soon be able to renew your passport online, instead of sending in documents

NPR: “Renewing your passport isn’t an experience most people would consider streamlined — especially during the pandemic. Getting it processed can take anywhere from eight to 11 weeks, according to the State Department. But a new executive order from President Biden hopes to cut down on the amount of time people spend accessing all kinds… Continue Reading

Is a mask mandate in the US the same as a law?

Quartz: “California’s latest mask mandate went into effect this week, requiring face coverings in all public indoor settings through Jan. 15, 2022. In counties where local health authorities had already issued mask mandates, the new statewide rule won’t change daily life. And in San Francisco, where vaccination rates are high and community transmission remains relatively… Continue Reading

FDA Allows Women to Get Abortion Pill by Mail

USAToday: “The Food and Drug Administration said Thursday that it would permanently remove a key restriction on medication used to terminate pregnancies, allowing so-called “abortion pills” to be available by mail and prescribed through telehealth medical consultations.  The FDA had temporarily allowed the medication to be available in such methods after a federal judge ordered it due to the… Continue Reading