Oversight
The Reports Most Lawmakers Don’t Want You to See
Open-government groups demand transparency, but Congress has other ideas.
Nextgov
New VA CIO Gets to Work
LaVerne Council, a former IT executive at Dell and pharmaceutical giant Johnson & Johnson, took the oath of office Monday.
Management
Change It Up This Week
Routines are important, but not when they get in the way of creativity.
Nextgov
OPM Hiring IT Staff to Work on Cyber Upgrades
The agency that suffered three big data breaches needs $170,000 project managers to move forward with a computer upgrade.
Route Fifty
It’s Hard to Look Away From These Government-Produced Rap Videos
These PSAs instantly grab your attention, regardless of the production quality.
Tech
White House CIO’s Former Software Firm Settles False Claims Act Suit
VMware and Carahsoft agree to pay $75 million for overcharging agencies.
Management
Justice Updates FOIA Guidance to Confirm Requesters Still Care
Goal is to preserve agency resources while maintaining communication.
Pay & Benefits
Retirement Backlog Drops, But It’s Still Higher Than Expected
There are nearly 3,000 more claims in the queue than the agency hoped to have at the end of June.
Tech
Timeline: Government Data Breaches
Since April 2013, six hacks targeted OPM and its contractors.
News
Happy Belated Independence from Government Day
A curious reinterpretation of the Declaration of Independence from a would-be GOP presidential contender.
Route Fifty
Transportation Trumps 'No Taxes' in Many States
“No new taxes?” Many governors broke that pledge to pay for critical transportation needs.
Oversight
The Must-Pass Highway Bill Dominates Jammed July
Congress has a packed three-week schedule before the next recess starts—and road funding expires.
Management
Asking for Forgiveness, Not Permission
Rewarding good judgment creates a happier, more agile workforce.
Route Fifty
Dallas Mayor Tells City Council to Stop Shouting; Boston’s VIP Parking Placards
Also: Bats vs. Iowa wind turbines and North Carolina GOP vs. Greensboro
Pay & Benefits
The Navy is Tripling Its Paid Maternity Leave
The service is going to grant the most generous maternity leave policy of any of the armed forces.
Management
Clinton: China Hacks Into 'Everything That Doesn’t Move'
The former secretary of state has some decidedly undiplomatic words for Beijing.
Nextgov
Hackers Spy on Federal Investigator, Get Into Harvard Illegally and Email Themselves School Secrets
Just another week in ThreatWatch, our regularly updated index of noteworthy data breaches.
Route Fifty
Why We’re Having the Wrong Conversation About Open Data
Publishing government data can be great for citizens and innovative companies. But government operations can also benefit from open data’s revolutionary power.
Nextgov
Pentagon Contractors Rank Below Retailers and Banks When it Comes to Cybersecurity
Pentagon suppliers score below hacked retailers and banks on cyber defense, according to industry-developed metrics.
Route Fifty