Route Fifty

Pandemic Growth Led This State to Slash Taxes, Issue Rebates

Tax policy experts and state officials believe Idaho’s rapid economic growth will offset the tax cuts, making them feasible under federal funding rules.  

Pay & Benefits

White House Moves to Bolster Wildland Firefighter Pay

President Biden previously expressed outrage that some federal firefighters make less than $15 per hour.

Route Fifty

This Week in Federal Funding

In the July 6 edition we look at how states have approached their American Rescue Plan Act allotments so far.

Nextgov

Pentagon Cancels JEDI Cloud Contract

The Defense Department will opt for a new multibillion-dollar, multi-vendor contract.

Defense

DoD Makes Recommendations to Close ‘Troubling Gap’ in Sexual Assault Response

Improving victim care, focusing on prevention and removing prosecution from the chain of command are some top priorities of the 300-page report.

Management

GovExec Daily: The State of Vaccine Progress

Dr. Jessica Holzer joins the podcast to discuss public health and the pandemic.

Workforce

Women in the Biden White House Earn 99 Cents for Every $1 Earned by Men

The Biden White House has the narrowest wage gap since the country started tracking it in 1995, according to salary data released Thursday.

Route Fifty

Financing Plan for Infrastructure Agreement Called into Question

Finance experts say the plan to pay for the infrastructure proposal, in part by clawing back unspent Covid relief funds, is unlikely to cover the full cost.

Pay & Benefits

Former Temporary Workers Could Make Catch-Up Pension Contributions Under New Bill

Currently, Federal Employees Retirement System employees who began their careers as temporary workers must work longer than anticipated to receive full retirement benefits.

Nextgov

VA Secretary: Changes Coming to Electronic Health Records Program

Secretary Denis McDonough just completed a months-long strategic review of the multibillion-dollar EHR modernization program.

Defense

Lawmaker Wants to Grill Officers on Critical Race Theory Before Approving Promotions

It’s the latest step Sen. Tom Cotton has proposed to stop “culture wars” within the military.

Management

The Work to Make Government a DEI Model

It won’t be easy to execute Biden’s executive order to make federal employment fair and free of bias.

Oversight

President’s Authority Over DOJ Jeopardizes Independence

How much influence should a president have over the Justice Department? The answer is central to the success of America’s democratic experiment.

Management

Coronavirus Roundup: Concerns About Delta Variant and Military and VA Vaccinations 

There's a lot to keep track of. Here’s today’s list of news updates and stories you may have missed.

Defense

‘Black Hawk Down’ Veterans to Receive 58 Silver Stars

The Army just upgraded combat medals given to 60 special operators of the 1993 Battle of Mogadishu, right as Pentagon officials decide whether to return to Somalia.

Workforce

Federal Wildland Firefighters Will Get Pay Raises

Biden announced a pay raise to at least $15 an hour this year.