Benefits
Health insurer data breach affects feds
A well-publicized data breach at health insurer Anthem, a provider of federal benefits for Blue Cross/Blue Shield, has impacted federal employee participants—some past, and some present—potentially compromising some of their personal data.
Pay
TSA workers anxious during shutdown threat
The union representing the army of Transportation Security Administration officers--TSO's--is turning up the heat against those in Congress who continue to threaten to shut down their agency, and even temporarily delay pay.
Management
Obama's 'Privacy Bill of Rights' Gets Bashed from All Sides
The proposal aims to give consumers more control over their own information, but privacy advocates say it doesn't go far enough.
Management
Three Ways to Coach the Person, Not the Problem
If you’re a leader who cares about developing your people, you have to coach them, not their problems.
Oversight
Court Once Again Renews NSA Spying Authority
Mass surveillance will continue for now, but is set to expire on June 1—unless Congress acts.
Oversight
Play of the Day: The Dress is Really Just a Symbol
Fallon and SNL compare it to Obama, Last Week Tonight ties it to net neutrality.
Nextgov
Hackers Cut In Line for Burning Man Tickets, Hack Back Against Lenovo and Scam Illinois Cops
Just another week in ThreatWatch, our regularly updated index of noteworthy data breaches.
Oversight
Another Week, Another Shutdown Deadline
With the DHS clock still ticking, Congress also will tackle EPA legislation, the Keystone veto, and Netanyahu's visit.
Employee Policy
Marijuana legal, to some degree, in DC--but not for feds...
On Feb. 26, marijuana in small quantities became legal under the laws of the nation's capital. But federal law, generally, still treats marijuana possession as a crime, and for any federal employee, breaking any federal law can be cause for sanction or dismissal.
Management
Another Two-Hour Delay for Washington-Area Agencies
Effects of sleet and freezing rain plague region.
Employee Policy
Report: Some air marshals schedule flights for recreation
Some 60 federal air marshals are under investigation for possibly abusing their authority by rearranging flights to engage in sexual trysts.
Employee Policy
DHS employees get relief from possible shutdown
On the last day of the funding deadline last week, both houses of Congress passed an appropriation for, at this time of rising terrorism worldwide, the crucially important Department of Homeland Security, but it's only for seven days.
Employee Policy
USAJobs posts high pay position
Defending the country against hackers—and electronically taking the fight to hostile powers abroad—is becoming increasingly important, and increasingly competitive in terms of who winds up with a growing swath of cyber security posts in the federal government.
Route Fifty
New York State’s New 90-Day Email Purge Policy Raises Big Questions Over Transparency
Lawmakers in Albany grill state CIO Maggie Miller, who affirms the Cuomo administration’s controversial guidelines: It’s “consistent with accepted practice.”
Management
Democrats to the Rescue: Congress Averts Shutdown for One More Week
Republicans could not muster support for the three-week bill and had to move a one-week measure instead.
Nextgov
White House Cyber Force Has a $140,000 Opening
Our cyber defenders are always on guard. Take that, China.
Oversight
FOIA Reform Draws Backing from Ex-Archives Ombudsman
Bill would codify powers of the office responsible for mediating disputes between requesters and agencies.
Oversight
Ted Cruz Wants to Reform Federal Hiring
Lawmaker better known as the architect of the 2013 shutdown looks to add a hiring preference.
Nextgov
GAO: Pentagon's IT Planning is Too Sluggish
GAO's third examination of the Defense Department's major IT programs found some projects spent an average of five years, two months and $452 million before establishing cost and schedules.
Management