Oversight
Senate Conservatives Concede, Won't Delay DHS Bill
Passage of a "clean" measure expected before Friday deadline, though House prospects remain uncertain.
Pay & Benefits
Lawmakers Call for Shutdown Solidarity, Offer to Refuse Pay If DHS Closes
Democrats introduce bill to withhold congressional pay if Homeland Security shuts down.
Management
Pentagon Acquisition Bosses Ho-Hum on Multiple Reviews for Passing Milestones
GAO finds weapons program managers valued input in only 10 percent of cases.
Pay & Benefits
Three (or More) Helpings of the TSP
Yes, you can take multiple partial distributions from your investments after you retire. Here’s how.
Oversight
Senators Launch Whistleblower Protection Caucus to Send Message
Grassley and Wyden cross the aisle to reinforce that those who report fraud or abuse “deserve praise, not hostility.”
Management
Even the Best Cover Letter Isn’t As Good As a Two Minute Conversation
It's harder to ignore the phone than written correspondence.
Route Fifty
Local Fire Departments Prepare for Possible Impacts From DHS Showdown in Congress
Federal grant programs could be disrupted by a shutdown and in some cases, that could impact payment of firefighter salaries.
Nextgov
What 'Cloud' Really Stands For? House Mulls Over Pentagon IT Programs
Acting Defense Department Terry Halvorsen urged lawmakers to prioritize efforts to update military IT, such the Joint Information Environment, a concept for a militarywide data sharing system.
Management
Loretta Lynch's Nomination to Succeed Eric Holder Passes Its First Test
Lynch's nomination will go to the full Senate floor after passing out of committee 12-8.
Route Fifty
How One County Government Diverts Food Waste to Generate Revenue
“[F]ood scrap collection demonstrates that simple ideas can produce big results,” says one county executive in Maryland.
Oversight
DHS Office Reminds Employees Counseling Is Available If There’s a Shutdown
Preparations also affect contractors, and IG weighs in with warning that nearly all oversight would cease.
Oversight
Play of the Day: The Real Question If Homeland Security Shuts Down
Americans don't care about a DHS shutdown, except for one thing.
Oversight
As Shutdown Nears, McConnell and Boehner Remain Far Apart
The two GOP leaders got together Wednesday, but unity remains elusive.
Management
The Five Paradoxes of Continuous Improvement
Common approaches to innovation can actually kill creativity.
Route Fifty
Will Albuquerque’s Police Problems Arrest Its Economic Aspirations?
New Mexico’s largest city wants to boost its innovation environment. But will negative headlines deter the mayor’s entrepreneurial ambitions?
Pay & Benefits
Senator Demands Disclosure of Inspectors General Salaries
Sen. Claire McCaskill warns some are making twice as much as others.
Defense
DHS Has Begun Notifying Employees of Their Furlough Status
Congress is working on a deal to avoid a DHS shutdown, but the department says it must prepare for the worst.
Pay & Benefits
Shutdown Pay and Leave, Telework Savings, Rx Tracking and More
A weekly roundup of pay and benefits news.
Route Fifty