Management

Forget The Insight Of A Lone Genius – Innovation Is An Evolving Process Of Trial And Error

We don't know much about the origins of most human achievements – scientific and otherwise. Like evolution, does progress occur as random insights are selected for or against?

Route Fifty

Draft Appropriations Bill Bucks Trump’s Request to Ax Rural Water, Sewer Program

“Congress is declaring they are retaining the USDA rural water funding initiative,” according to a policy analyst with the National Rural Water Association.

Nextgov

Consumers Think The Government’s Voice Should Be Female

People would use a government version of Siri or Alexa as long as it sounded human, a new survey shows.

Pay & Benefits

House Republicans Express Concern With Trump's Proposed Federal Retirement Program Cuts

Nine Republicans say they are particularly troubled with idea of applying the cuts to current employees and retirees, not just future hires.

Nextgov

Officials: Controversial Surveillance Law Helped Stop Smartphone Attack

Intelligence officials declined to reveal how many Americans have been scooped up by FISA section 702 programs.

Management

Contractors Object to Parts of OMB's Agency Reporting Reductions

Some changes to requirements could cause confusion or remove useful controls, group argues.

Nextgov

White House Office of American Innovation Lays Out Priorities

Led by Jared Kushner, the collection of White House talent has been described as a “SWAT team of internal consultants” and a liaison between federal bureaucracies and Silicon Valley innovation.

Route Fifty

Utah State Rep. Blames Wildfire on ‘Bird and Bunny Lovers, Tree-Huggers and Rock-Lickers’

Also in our State and Local Daily Digest: Federal judge rules Alabama must improve its prison mental health care; decision on Flint water contract extension; and a Bay Area migration to Sacramento.

Defense

The Military Declares War on Sprawl

The Pentagon thinks better designed, more walkable bases can help curb obesity and improve troops’ fitness.

Oversight

Play of the Day: Sketches of the White House Press Briefings

Cameras are not allowed, so artists are now relaying what the White House Press Room looks like.

Nextgov

CSRA Will Build the Next MilCloud

The Falls Church, Virginia-based IT contractor captured the IDIQ contract, valued at up to $500 million.

Management

Privatized Tax Debt Collection Again Sparks Firestorm

New program, like previous efforts, faces accusations of overly aggressive tactics.

Nextgov

DOJ Asks High Court to Clarify Email Warrants Abroad

The Justice Department says it should be able to produce warrants for emails held by U.S. companies even if they’re stored abroad; tech companies disagree.

Management

Why Is the Onus on Women to Curb Workplace Interruptions?

Some businesses are actively taking steps to solve a problem that is too often left to female employees.

Nextgov

How Bots Can Help DARPA's Confidence Problem

The Pentagon R&D unit wants to automate the process of assessing scientific studies.