Nextgov

Mash Up Library of Congress Data, Maybe Win $5,000

The Library of Congress launched a new data competition searching for new ways to use legislative data sets from Congress.gov.

Management

Don’t Wait to Be Asked: Lead

A roadmap for increasing your influence at work.

Route Fifty

U.S. Senate Approves Tax-Related Amendment State and Local Groups Oppose

“This is a disappointment,” a lead National Governors Association staffer said of the measure, which could have implications for the state and local tax deduction.

Management

Postal Service Asks Employees to Volunteer to Relocate to Puerto Rico

The agency will not provide any travel or lodging reimbursements.

Pay & Benefits

Report: White House Officials Backed 2019 Pay Freeze, $300 Billion in Cuts to Employee Compensation

Memo leaked to liberal news site also proposes eliminating FERS defined benefit program and retiree health benefits for new hires.

Nextgov

GAO Denies Northrop Grumman Protest in $1 Billion DHS Cybersecurity Contract Fight

Northrop Grumman has been wrangling with contract winner Raytheon over the DOMino contract since 2015.

Route Fifty

Medicaid Enrollment Growth Is Slowing, But State Spending Is on the Rise

A new Kaiser Family Foundation survey of state Medicaid directors takes a close look at the fiscal outlook for the program.

Pay & Benefits

5 Things You Should Do to Prepare for Health Benefits Open Season

For many federal employees and retirees, this is a time of frustration and confusion.

Pay & Benefits

Senate Approves Budget Plan, Setting Up Fight Over Fed Benefit Cuts

The House version of the resolution includes $32 billion in cuts, likely to employee retirement and health insurance programs.

Management

Small Agency’s Employees Say They Felt Pressured to Report Improved Job Satisfaction

But leader of Chemical Safety Board says big uptick in Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey scores was the result of management improvement initiatives.

Nextgov

Mattis Opposes Splitting Defense CIO Duties

The defense secretary’s letter also objects to a requirement that the Defense Department notify other nations before responding to cyber threats.

Management

House Oversight Leaders Press Tardy Agencies to Reveal Their Travel Costs

Committee chairman threatens Agriculture and Justice with subpoenas.

Nextgov

Could the Senate’s Plan to Speed Up Bid Protests Backfire?

A shorter timeframe to review contracting disputes could put significant stress on the Government Accountability Office.

Management

Do People Like Government ‘Nudges’? Study Says: Yes

Government initiatives to prod people to make better decisions got a lot of attention after Richard Thaler won a Nobel in economics for his working on nudging.

Management

Managers Are Missing Out On The Most Important Part Of Personality Tests

What's most valuable isn't the test itself.

Management

Take 5: How Power Dynamics Shape Our Behavior

Power—or the lack of it—impacts everything from snack choices to economic growth.

Oversight

Play of the Day: 'The Apprentice' For Border Walls

The wall prototypes are showcased near the border and they look like reality show contestants.

Nextgov

Sharing Election Threat Info with States Won’t be One-Size-Fits-All, DHS Says

Cyber threat information sharing strategies will vary state by state based on state preferences, a DHS official says.