Oversight
'EPA Responded in the Only Way We Could,' Says Official at Center of Flint Crisis
Hedman tells fiery House hearing agency did no wrong, explains her resignation.
Nextgov
Texas Congressman to Feds: Don’t Mess with Civil Liberties
“We can protect civil liberties, defend infrastructure and chase bad guys all at the same time,” the legislator said. “We can chase bad guys without eroding our civil liberties.”
Nextgov
Federal Cyber Workforce Needs Cultural Anthropologists, Economists and Marketers
To effectively block cyberthreats, the government needs talent from a diverse set of academic and cultural backgrounds, not just “people behind screens.”
Route Fifty
State and Local Daily Digest: Texas Gets OK to Join BLM Lawsuit; West Virginia Insect Swarm
Also in our news roundup: Working to fix medical response in Memphis; low morale for New York City cops; and a Minnesota Vikings street-naming controversy.
Pay & Benefits
Lawmaker Sees Bipartisan Future for Pro-Fed Legislation, Including Big Pay Raise
Opponents "denigrating federal service" are "damaging the American dream," he says.
Defense
Pentagon Churns Through 9 Personnel Chiefs in 7 Years, Hurting Reform
Even before Brad Carson got beat up on Capitol Hill, he was ensnared in a Catch-22.
Pay & Benefits
Feds Encouraged to Telework During Nuclear Security Summit in Late March
OPM urges agencies to let their employees take advantage of flexible work options to avoid traffic congestion in Washington, D.C.
Management
The One Change That’s Upending the Federal Contracting World
GSA pioneers an objective method of picking winners.
Pay & Benefits
Most VA Senior Executives Pick Job Security Over Better Pay
On Tuesday, the Senior Executives Association plans to release full survey results before Senate hearing on VA proposal to ease hiring and firing of top career corps.
Management
The Stakes Are High in the Ohio and Florida Primaries
A Trump loss in either state would be heartening for the establishment hoping to beat him.
Oversight
Play of the Day: Some of Those Chicago Protest Signs Truly Insulted Trump
Trump may say some inflammatory things, but accusing him of putting ketchup on his hot dogs is way more serious.
Management
Senator Marks Sunshine Week, Blasting GOP Supreme Court Tactics
Leahy tells FOIA specialists that senators aren’t “elected to vote maybe.”
Management
How the Next Administration Can Make Government More Effective
Disciplined and replicable models of innovation will improve outcomes.
Route Fifty
Justice Department Offers Guidance on When Court Fines and Fees Might Violate Constitution
But one reform advocate notes: “Unless the DOJ actually sues some of these places, I don’t think we’re going to see a significant change in the practices on the ground.”
Route Fifty
State and Local Daily Digest: Uber and Lyft Drivers Owe Chicago $15 Million; Richmond Budget Woes
Also in our news roundup: Florida sea-level rise report; arsenic contamination in Texas; and all electronic prescriptions in New York state.
Nextgov
House Committee Now Probing Jeh Johnson’s Personal Email Use at DHS
Committee Chairman Rep. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, says the practice calls into question the agency’s cybersecurity responsibilities.
Defense
The Obama Administration's Drone-Strike Dissembling
Debunking John Brennan’s claim that “the president requires near-certainty of no collateral damage” to allow a drone killing to go forward.
Management
Google Says The Key to Good Teamwork is Being Nice
The search giant now describes psychological safety as the most important factor to building a successful team.
Management