Route Fifty
Amid Infrastructure Crisis, Accessibility-Minded Agencies Are Needed More Than Ever
“Transportation agencies know surprisingly little about the people and places that they serve…” said MassDOT’s secretary at a Brookings Institution event in Washington, D.C.
Management
GSA Says It Needs More Information on Trump's Leased Hotel
President-elect’s announcement of new trust doesn’t address Washington’s Old Post Office.
Route Fifty
Texas Lt. Gov. Not Worried About N.C.-Style Backlash; Delaware Ex-Mayor’s Email Surprise
Also in our State and Local Daily Digest: More state legislative updates; a bad audit for a Florida state agency’s IT; L.A. County’s one-stop shop for immigration defense
Management
Trump Vows to Donate Hotel Profits to U.S. Treasury
Treasury’s Bureau of the Fiscal Service has accepted gifts since 1843.
Management
Trump Taps Obama Appointee As VA Secretary
Dr. David Shulkin is the current head of the Veterans Health Administration, the department’s largest agency.
Pay & Benefits
Obama's Track Record on Federal Pay and Benefits
The economic recession, Congress and the president’s desire to make government a model employer significantly affected employee compensation and other benefits over the past eight years.
Management
Trump’s Homeland Security Pick Does Not Think a Wall is Enough to Protect the Southern Border
Jack Kelly told senators that Trump's proposed wall is not enough to protect the U.S.-Mexico border.
Management
Barack Obama's Enduring Faith in America
In his farewell address, the president warned of threats to the nation’s tradition of democracy—none more than from inside—and rebuked Donald Trump, but sought to rally the country around shared ideals.
Oversight
Play of the Day: The Sessions Confirmation Hearings Have Begun
The Justice Department nominee's past gets scrutiny in the Senate.
News
Should DHS Move to Des Moines?
One prominent lawmaker thinks so. We have our doubts, but what about other agencies?
Route Fifty
Needle Exchanges Work, But Where’s the Funding?
Making clean syringes available to people who inject drugs can save counties millions of dollars in the long run, but funding has been slow to reach these critical programs.
Management
Trump’s DHS Pick Promises Better Morale Through ‘Bottom Up’ Approach
While distancing himself from some Trump policies, Kelly says he’ll let employees do their jobs.
Route Fifty
Chris Christie: ‘Arresting, Jailing, Stigmatizing the Victims Will Not Make It Better’
In his State of the State Address, the New Jersey governor laid out plans to address drug abuse and the ongoing opioid epidemic.
Nextgov
Senate Staffers to Assess Intel Community’s Russian Hacking Report
Congressional staffers will examine the report’s confidential sourcing to ensure it is sound.
Management
Two-Thirds of Americans Can't Name a Single Trump Cabinet Pick
Survey also finds a divide over how involved the president-elect will be in actually running the government.
Defense
The Pentagon Needs Its Own Google For All Its Data, Says Eric Schmidt
The Alphabet chairman says a giant data warehouse would give the military Google-like capability. It would also create the richest intelligence target ever conceived.
Management
Trump Nominees Can Serve in SES Roles at Agencies as They Await Confirmation
Appointees would be advisers and consultants at their agencies-to-be.
Route Fifty
Iowa Gov. Details $110 Million in Budget Cuts; Hope vs. Reality in Olympia
Also in our State and Local Daily Digest: More state legislative updates; L.A. legal settlements strain city finances; and Denver police horse euthanized after neglect.
Oversight
Studies of Monkey Drool, Frat Boys’ Party Habits Make Latest Senate 'Wastebook'
Senator accuses science agencies of spending taxpayers' money to research the obvious.
Management