Pay & Benefits
The New Rules of the Social Security Game
What happens after the elimination of the traditional “file and suspend” strategy?
Management
Use Data, Not Assumptions, to Improve the Customer Experience
Agencies misunderstand their customers when datasets are not integrated or widely shared.
News
VA Does Not Stand For 'Veterans Administration'
At any given moment, a 2016 presidential contender somewhere is screwing up the name of the Veterans Affairs Department.
Route Fifty
Route Fifty’s Complete Coverage of NGA Winter Meetings, NACo Legislative Conference
The nation’s governors and county leaders recently gathered in the nation’s capital to discuss their policy priorities, mutual challenges and ideas to improve their governments. Here’s a comprehensive roundup of our dispatches from Washington, D.C.
Oversight
Senator Makes Good on Vow to Block OPM Nominee
Vitter pens new letter to the personnel agency demanding Obamacare documents; House oversight leaders support her nomination.
Nextgov
Jeh Johnson Makes ‘Hard Choices’ in Cyber Budget
In a series of budget hearings, Johnson defended the department’s $40.6 billion budget request for the upcoming fiscal year.
Nextgov
‘Reprehensible’ Homeland Security IT System 'Pissed Away' $180 Million, Says One Lawmaker
The system's failings could make it more difficult for DHS to remove poor performers, “if that ever happens at all," said Rep. Scott Perry, R-Pa.
Oversight
Will Conservatives Mount a Third-Party Challenge If Trump Is the Nominee?
Doing so would hobble the billionaire’s ability to take the White House—making it the most potent piece of leverage left to conservatives.
Oversight
Play of the Day: Donald Trump Loves Poorly Educated Voters... And Maybe Pirates
What on earth was the GOP frontrunner saying in his speech Tuesday?
Oversight
Will Obama Push a Politician for the Supreme Court?
The Roberts Court is the first without a single justice who was ever elected to any office. Brian Sandoval could change that.
Route Fifty
A New Google Fiber Model Will Take Shape in Huntsville
Instead of building a new network from scratch, a different approach will be used in the northern Alabama city.
Management
OPM Unveils Overhaul of Federal Hiring Site USAJOBS
Agency says changes over the next year will make assailed job application website more user friendly.
Nextgov
Why is the Air Force’s Cyber R&D Budget Skyrocketing?
The branch wants to nearly quadruple the current $7.7 million purse for defending networked aircraft, launch systems, satellites and data.
Route Fifty
States Strive to Eliminate Costly Construction Delays
Some states, recognizing the economic and environmental costs of delayed transportation projects, are starting to use financial incentives, heightened public scrutiny and “design-build” strategies to increase the likelihood that projects will come in on time and on budget.
Tech
NASA is Putting Your Artwork on an Asteroid
Astronomers believe there's a "high probability" that the asteroid collides with Earth in 2182, but dont worry—the art gallery will be orbiting the sun by then.
Management
When You Ask The Public, It Supports Apple Over the FBI — or Does It?
Two polls released this week show seemingly different results.
Management
What Makes People So Frustrated About Their Paychecks?
For many white-collar workers, getting a raise isn’t about the extra money but about feeling confident that they aren’t getting cheated.
Management
Clinton Email Issues Shake Up State Dept. FOIA Operations
IG prepares new report as conservative legal nonprofit scores court victory.
Management