Oversight
Kellyanne Conway’s Plug for Ivanka's Fashion Line Draws Fire, Crashes Ethics Office Website
The White House counselor was “counseled” after telling the public to go out and buy the Trump brand.
Defense
Afghanistan Needs ‘Thousands’ More Troops, U.S. General Says in New Assessment
The commander of U.S. forces lays the first major war decision on President Donald Trump’s desk.
Defense
Trump's Attack on the Legitimacy of Critiquing Military Operations
The president took to Twitter to argue that publicly discussing the success or failure of a mission “only emboldens the enemy.”
Pay & Benefits
The Real-Life Consequences of the Federal Hiring Freeze
Donald Trump’s late January order to halt government hiring has produced stress, anxiety, and confusion for current employees and those wishing to join them.
Management
People Are Finding It Hard to Focus on Work Right Now
A survey finds that nearly a third of people say they have been less productive since the election.
Route Fifty
Bay Area City Heading Toward Bankruptcy?; Iowa Looks at Preempting Cities on Minimum Wage
Also in our State and Local Daily Digest: Is Edwards using tactics from Jindal’s Louisiana budget playbook; N.J. county distributes potassium-iodide pills; a blueprint for a city-county consolidation in Upstate N.Y.
Pay & Benefits
Don't Make These Common Mistakes
Three errors will cost you more than your pride after you retire.
Defense
Former NSA Contractor Indicted for Stealing Classified Files
Grand jury accepts Justice Department allegations against Harold Martin.
Management
USPS Sees Profits Tumble During Holiday Season
Forced price decrease contributed to shrinking revenue.
Oversight
Consumer Bureau Foe Maps Out a Plan for Its Destruction
Republicans now have the power to unravel what some view as a dangerous independent regulatory agency.
Nextgov
GAO: HUD's Legacy Tech Hogs 95% of IT Budget While Agency Struggles to Price Upgrades
“Significant weaknesses” plague the agency's cost-estimating practices for investments aimed to revamp IT infrastructure.
Nextgov
Why Experts Worry Algorithms Can Do More Harm Than Good
A Pew report suggests corporations and governments could misuse algorithms.
Management
Trump's 3 a.m. Phone Call
The president pondered a reasonable economics question—but who he reportedly dialed for answers raises questions of its own.
Management
Chronically Late People Share One Positive Personality Trait
Humans cannot transcend the rules of physics, no matter how invincible we feel on a day when all the traffic lights glow green.
Defense
Donald Trump and China’s President Finally Broke the Ice — By Snail Mail
In his letter to Xi, Trump wished the Chinese people a "happy Lantern Festival," though the Lunar New Year holiday period ended last week in China.
Oversight
Senate Confirms Jeff Sessions to Be Attorney General
Republicans all supported his nomination, and every Democrat except for one opposed him.
Oversight
Play of the Day: Donald Trump is Coming for Every Store in the Mall
You're next, Orange Julius. Don't be like Nordstrom and cross the president or his family.
Defense
USAID Faulted for Lax Oversight of Afghan Land Reforms
SIGAR found that $41.2 million contract lacked vital information.
Route Fifty
Can Private Investment Work for Rural Infrastructure?
During a U.S. Senate committee hearing, doubts emerge whether public-private partnerships can meet the needs of non-urban areas.
Nextgov