Oversight
Play of the Day: Colbert Knocks Trump at the Emmys
Stephen Colbert chided the awards for not honoring the president for his reality TV work.
Route Fifty
Federal Court Blocks Trump's Crackdown on Sanctuary Cities
A judge in Illinois temporarily put the initiative on hold while legal proceedings continue.
Management
The Only Safe Email is Text-Only Email
It's impossible to be certain of safety while using Gmail, Yahoo mail and other web-based email systems. The best solution is a radical one: It's time to return to plain, text-only email."
Management
DHS Seeks Volunteers From Other Agencies to Join Hurricane Relief Surge Force
This is the first time the department has called for outside volunteers through the surge capacity program.
Pay & Benefits
Lawmakers Work Across the Aisle to Propose Compensation Boost for 15,000 Feds
Bipartisan legislation would take into account mandatory overtime hours in calculating federal firefighters’ retirement benefits.
Defense
Harvard Rescinded Chelsea Manning’s Fellowship after CIA Chief Mike Pompeo Cancelled a Visit
He says he objected to the former soldier as a convicted felon and that his criticism had nothing to do with her being a transgender woman.
Route Fifty
$144.1 Million in New Federal Grants Announced to Help Fight Opioid Crisis
Funding will help expand treatment and recovery services to pregnant and postpartum women who are struggling with substance abuse.
Oversight
Diplomats Cheer State Dept. Spending Bill That Rejects Trump Cuts
“Now is not the time for retreat,” says Foreign Service association.
Nextgov
House Foreign Affairs Leaders Push to Save State Cyber Office
A bipartisan bill would make the cyber coordinator’s office permanent and a presidential appointment.
Nextgov
Could Whale Migration Be the Key to Smarter Naval Operations?
DARPA wants to use marine life as “living sensors” in the internet of things network.
Management
The No. 1 Reason Why Your Presentation Sucks
Fear of public speaking is a sign that you’re definitely making this mistake.
Defense
At U.S. Nuclear Weapons Base, Mattis Signals Support for Triad
But the Defense chief stopped short of endorsing all types of new nuclear weapons in development.
Tech
This Is the Way Cassini Ends
As the spacecraft prepared to plunge into Saturn, the mission's longest-serving members remembered its years-long journey.
Management
No, the Government Doesn't Have a Problem With Murderers Getting Security Clearances
It has a recruitment problem, recent comments by a senior Defense official notwithstanding.
Oversight
Play of the Day: Testing Out the Wall
After an on-again, off-again DACA deal, there are questions about the border.
Route Fifty
Trump Administration Hosts Forum on State-Federal Relations
“Both Republican and Democratic governors’ staff, I think, appreciated the thought and effort that went into pulling it together,” said a National Governors Association staff member.
Management
Senate Skips Vote on Repealing Sequestration
Measure would have rolled back both defense and non-defense spending caps.
Pay & Benefits
Potential Benefits Cuts: Where Things Stand
A roundup of reaction to the Trump administration’s proposal to slash federal retirement benefits.
Nextgov
Divisive Anti-Sex Trafficking Bill Gets Senate Hearing
The Stop Enabling Sex Traffickers Act aims to stop websites that facilitate human trafficking, but many critics say the bill could also curb online free speech.
Management