Route Fifty
Figuring Out What Makes the Best-Managed Cities Tick
‘What Works Cities,’ an expanding Bloomberg Philanthropies program, aims to create maturity models for municipal governments, using data to ‘get a better picture of what good looks like.’
Nextgov
Hackers Prey on Scottrade Clients, Penetrate Bank Lobbying Giant and Steal from T-Mobile Customers
Just another week in ThreatWatch, our regularly updated index of noteworthy data breaches.
Route Fifty
There’s Another Big Problem With Alabama’s Sweeping DMV Closures
Critics say the move will prevent black residents from getting voting ID documents. But the impacts will have other consequences.
Management
The Politics of Creating A 2016 Soundtrack
It’s not easy picking a perfect presidential playlist. And it can take a lot of staffpower.
Management
How Hillary Clinton Helped Her Employees Manage Work-Life Balance
While secretary of state, she worked from home so that moms and dads could be with their kids on a snow day.
Management
Obama: I Won't Sign Another Short-Term Spending Bill
Veto threat raises the stakes for coming budget negotiations, and the possibility of a shutdown.
Pay & Benefits
The Five Agencies Where Morale is Dropping the Most
Homeland Security once again has the least happy employees.
Nextgov
House Committee Mandates New DHS Cyber Strategy
The legislation comes two weeks after a watchdog report on the lack of coordination in the Department of Homeland Security’s cybersecurity efforts.
Route Fifty
Sometimes You Don’t Need to Think Outside the Box
One subtle lesson from the Code for America summit: Effective innovation doesn’t always require a big shift in mindset or a bold transformational idea.
Oversight
House Oversight Committee Chairman May Run for House Speaker
Representative Jason Chaffetz may run for speaker after criticizing the frontrunner’s comments about the Benghazi investigation and Hillary Clinton.
Nextgov
DHS Gets Its Own Digital Services Team
A founding member of the U.S. Digital Service is leaving to stand up DHS' team, modeled after the White House version.
Management
Will New Regs Trigger Better Executive Performance?
The focus is on public policy issues, not day-to-day management.
Route Fifty
State and Local Governments on East Coast Brace for Hurricane Joaquin’s Impacts
The storm itself may stay offshore, but that doesn’t mean there won’t be problems on land.
Management
Arne Duncan, Obama’s Education Secretary Since the Beginning, Is Stepping Down
The president is expected to make the official announcement Friday afternoon.
Management
The Shutdown Was Avoided, But Agencies Can't Exactly Celebrate
Stopgap funding inhibits long-term planning.
Nextgov
Federal Agencies Need to Demand Bigger Cyber Budgets
The unvarnished truth is that the government needs to spend a lot more on shoring up its defenses.
Defense
Congress Keeps Cuts to Pentagon Travel Per Diems
The final version of the fiscal 2016 Defense authorization bill does not repeal a policy that resulted in lower per diems for long-term government travelers.
Management
Obama Vows Another Try on Gun Regulation
A president famed for his cool was visibly shaken; a politician noted for his calculation was ready for a fight he is likely to lose.
Oversight
The Senate Quietly Edits Obamacare
Bill that would overturn the Affordable Care Act’s expansion of the small-group insurance market.
Management