Route Fifty
Trump's Border Barrier Hits a Wall
The administration would need to acquire private property to build his barricade, which will put the president at odds with many in his own party.
Defense
U.S. Hits Syrian Airbase With Scores of Cruise Missiles
A retaliation for the Assad regime's April 4 use of chemical weapons, the strike deepens the U.S. involvement in Syria's civil war.
Oversight
Play of the Day: Steve Bannon's Role in the White House
The strategist is taken off the National Security Council, but is there discord in the White House?
Nextgov
Twitter Sues DHS After It Asks for Rogue Agency Account’s User Info
Twitter has filed a lawsuit to stop DHS from demanding personal information about an anonymous user.
Management
Federal Auditor Considering Review of Trump Hiring Freeze Effectiveness
Senators say it may hurt agencies and workforce morale, and not save any money.
Management
Civil Service System Is an Outdated Relic, But Congress Should Tread Carefully
Groups caution the Trump administration against repeating mistakes of previous reform efforts.
Nextgov
IG: IRS Needs to Better Use Data to Crack Down on Tax Fraud
The agency doesn't use all the data available to proactively identify fraudulent accounts, an official testified Wednesday.
Pay & Benefits
Senators Propose Loosening TSP Withdrawal Restrictions
The retirement plan’s governing board requested the bill.
Route Fifty
Montana Awaits Chronic Wasting Disease That’s on Its Doorstep
And there’s not much that can be done to contain its spread.
Management
White House Formalizes Agency Duties to Curb Regulations
Trump’s 2-for-1 reduction plan centralizes enforcement of cost caps.
Nextgov
Giuliani Cyber Task Force Hammers Down Focus Issues
The task force plans to bring industry cybersecurity executives into the White House to brief on those issues, a McAfee executive said.
Management
Four Ways to Give Your Employees Better Feedback, From Management Veterans
For starters, forget about the "feedback sandwich."
Defense
The Trump Administration Appears to Embrace Regime Change in Syria
In an about-face, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said of Bashar al-Assad: “It would seem there would be no role for him to govern the Syrian people.”
Route Fifty
Feds Tell Judge They Have ‘Grave Concerns’ With Baltimore Police Consent Decree
Also in our State and Local Daily Digest: Rural Texas lawmakers target bullet train; agency criticized for not spending money quickly enough; Newark mayor calls ICE deputization efforts “unconstitutional and un-American.”
Pay & Benefits
Timely Tax Tips
It’s important to think through the tax implications of retiring from government.
Management
How Transparent Accounting Leads to Smarter Decisions
For companies and governments alike, massaging the numbers is a losing long-term strategy.
Management
Defense Contractors See End of Budget Decline
Pentagon awards rose by a surprising 7 percent in 2016, think tank says.
Management
Pentagon Needs to Set Clear Goals to Improve Acquisition Workforce
GAO notes improvements in how the department administers its workforce development fund, but says more needs to be done.
Nextgov
Nunes Steps Back from House Russian Investigation Amid Controversy
The House Intelligence chairman’s decision to step aside offers a fresh start, ranking Democrat says.
Management