Defense
NSA Officials Lobby Senators as Patriot Act Nears Deadline
The White House is supporting an NSA reform bill, but Mitch McConnell wants to keep the spying program unchanged.
Oversight
Play of the Day: Barack Obama Completes His Travels to All the States
The president's visit to South Dakota was not long, but it happened.
Management
In One of the Happiest Places on the Earth, More People Work Part-time
Over half of all Dutch workers work less than 36 hours per week.
Route Fifty
Counties Urge Congressional Action on Transportation Funding Fix
Infrastructure woes pile up for county governments: “Our engineer looks at us and he’s like: ‘I don’t know what we’re going to do.’”
Employee Policy
Carter announces service chief nominees
Defense Secretary Ash Carter on Wednesday announced the president's choices for two new military service chiefs.
Benefits
Alaskan USPS employee sentenced in disability fraud
A U.S. Postal Service employee working in Anchorage, Alaska, was sentenced last week to two-and-a-half years in prison for faking disabilities and collecting federal disability payments.
Employee Policy
Group says air marshals endangered by contaminated firing ranges
The Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association (FLEOA) has issued a cease and desist order to the Transportation Security Administration in an effort to compel the agency to end firearms training at lead-contaminated firing ranges.
Pay & Benefits
House Passes Bill Exempting Some Feds From Retirement Tax Penalty
Legislation would allow law enforcement officers and firefighters to access TSP savings before age 55 without 10 percent tax.
Management
The Odds of Getting Off GAO’s High-Risk List Aren’t Good
Former Defense comptroller says the “crisis in the civil service” should be added to the catalog of government’s problems.
News
A Top Spook Reunion, Of Sorts
Former CIA directors and deputies get together to criticize publication of covert operatives' names.
Management
What EPA Wants You to Know About Nail Salons
Agency Administrator Gina McCarthy wants people to pay attention to industry health risks.
Nextgov
DJ Patil to Tech Industry: Don’t Just ‘Throw Stones’ at Government
The U.S. chief data scientist says innovative outsiders have a unique opportunity to make their voices heard inside government.
Oversight
Obama Administration Backs Bill to End NSA Bulk Records-Collection
The White House says it supports the USA Freedom Act.
Defense
John Kerry Is In Russia to 'Maintain Direct Lines of Communication'
The Secretary of State went to Sochi on Tuesday to meet with Vladimir Putin for the first direct talks in two years.
Oversight
New Bill Would Give Thousands of Feds Collective Bargaining Rights
Proponents say negotiations would help government provide better services.
Management
The Mechanics of Preventing Procrastination
A new study finds that thinking about far-off events in terms of days, rather than years, makes people get started sooner.
Management
VA Psychiatrist Wins Settlement After Complaints About Openness as Lesbian
Office of Special Counsel facilitates department plan to improve manager training.
Management
The Painful Management Lessons From Five Presidencies
Forget the next big idea, and focus on what’s already been hatched.
Defense