Route Fifty
Calif. Fire Chief’s Improper Pension Use; Memphis Mayor-Elect’s Policy Playbooks
Also: Columbus bridge infested with spiders and no new fantasy sports regulation in Texas.
Pay & Benefits
Agencies Should Pay More to Get Feds to Work in Undesirable Locations, Lawmakers Say
Administration officials agreed agencies are underutilizing incentive-based tools.
Defense
American Soldier Is Killed in a Rescue Operation in Iraq
The soldier was killed in an operation involving U.S. and Kurdish commandos on an Islamic State base in northern Iraq.
Pay & Benefits
Open Season Trick or Treat
It’s time to take a close look at your healthcare expenses for 2015 and consider ways to lower them in 2016.
Nextgov
New Federal Action Plan for Cybersecurity ‘Days Away’ From Being Released
The plan will include steps agencies should take to recruit a qualified cyber workforce and acquire emerging technology.
Pay & Benefits
Obama Vetoes Bill Affecting Troop Pay and Benefits
The legislation includes a 1.3 percent pay raise in 2016 for service members and changes to the military retirement system.
Oversight
Hillary Clinton Faces the Benghazi Committee
Both the Democratic front-runner and her GOP questioners said they were focused on finding the truth, not politics.
Management
The Next Budget Crisis Is Days Away. Is There a Better Way?
The building blocks for reform are largely in place.
Oversight
Freedom Caucus Gives Paul Ryan a Majority —but Not a Mandate
A “supermajority” of the group’s members will support him for speaker.
Management
Telework Can Increase Employee Satisfaction, but It's Also Lonely
Working from home can decrease turnover. But it has downsides.
Defense
Can Paul Ryan Save the Defense Department from Sequestration?
As the defense policy bill awaits a threatened veto, Washington wonders whether the Wisconsin Republican will become House speaker — and resolve the budget impasse.
Tech
Regulators: Bill Could Make Cars More Vulnerable to Hackers
Republicans want to boost the security and privacy of connected cars, but the FTC says the House plan would backfire.
Oversight
Play of the Day: Joe Biden Just Made Hillary Clinton Very Happy
The Democratic frontrunner is ready to go to Vegas or have a dance party.
Nextgov
CIA: Brennan AOL Files on WikiLeaks ‘Absolutely’ Not Official Agency Work
The six documents published on the website date from 2007 and 2008, and include an application for a security clearance to handle classified information.
Management
Donald Trump's Lead Among Federal Employees Grows, Poll Finds
Exclusive Government Executive survey shows Ben Carson with the biggest jump among Republican candidates.
Pay & Benefits
Last-Ditch Effort for a COLA Increase, a Spending Hike for a Popular Perk and More
A weekly roundup of pay and benefits news.
Nextgov
OMB Unveils Major Rewrite of Federal IT Policy
The new policy lays out guidance for managing IT investments, improving information security practices and streamlining the process for acquiring new technology.
Defense
The U.S. and Russia are Working Together in Syria — But Only to Prevent Air Clashes
They are still on opposite sides of the conflict.
Oversight
The Freedom Caucus Is Not Ready for Paul Ryan Just Yet
Boehner believes Ryan can get conservatives to “yes.” But there is work ahead.
Oversight