Route Fifty
Would Judges Sentence Fewer People to Prison if Local Governments Had to Pay for Their Prison Stays?
In a case where counties had to bear the cost of incarceration, local prosecutors and judges dismissed more cases. For one researcher, this raised a key question: If local governments had to pay for prison sentences, would incarceration rates decrease?
Management
Donald Trump Pardons Former Border Patrol Agent Gary Brugman, Who Was Convicted of Violating a Man’s Civil Rights
Brugman’s case drew national attention among conservative figures who hailed him for working to secure the U.S. border.
Management
Federal Workforce Attrition Under the Trump Administration
Unusually high attrition among senior civil servants undermines the effectiveness of the federal workforce, a new analysis shows.
Nextgov
The Tech Policies the Trump Administration Leaves Behind
Nextgov looks back at the Trump administration's major IT policy moves that will have lasting effects on federal technology for the foreseeable future.
Management
Report: Pandemic Likely to Dominate Federal Contracting in Fiscal 2021
Bloomberg Government predicted spending to be high on vaccines, telework and digital services.
Management
Trump Signs Omnibus Spending and COVID Relief Deal, Averting a Shutdown
The president will send a “redlined version” back to Congress.
Management
The Government Promised to Return Ancestral Hawaiian Land, Then Never Finished the Job
Native Hawaiians are still waiting for state and federal officials to fulfill the promises of land legislation that was signed into law 25 years ago. “Justice delayed is justice denied,” said one former governor.
Management
The Trump Administration Keeps Awarding Border Wall Contracts but Doesn’t Own the Land to Build On
The government’s strategy of awarding contracts before acquiring titles to land in Texas has led to millions of dollars in costs for delays. Things could get even more complicated if President-elect Joe Biden stops border wall construction.
Nextgov
Defense, Intelligence Agencies Made Major Moves in Cloud in 2020
After bid protests and litigation, some of the largest cloud contracts the government has attempted can get underway.
Management
IRS is Ready to Distribute Stimulus Checks if Trump Approves Bill
President Trump threw lawmakers for a loop after he blasted a pandemic relief spending package as insufficient. The outcome is uncertain.
Workforce
Can Employers Require Workers to Take the COVID-19 Vaccine? 6 Questions Answered
The federal agency in charge of enforcing discrimination laws in the workplace said "yes," but there are some important exceptions and limitations.
Workforce
GovExec Daily: Pay and Benefits Provisions in the Budget Deal
Erich Wagner joins the podcast to discuss how the federal workforce made out in the appropriations plan.
Management
Trump Vetoes Defense Policy Bill Over Base Names, Unrelated Internet Law
The House has already scheduled a vote after Christmas to override the president’s long-threatened rejection of the annual Defense authorization act, which also includes an expansion of federal employee leave benefits.
Pay & Benefits
No New Locality Pay Areas in 2022
The president’s pay agent declined to authorize a number of recommended changes to existing locality pay areas, overruling a federal advisory board.
Nextgov
The Hack Roundup: CISA Guidance Warns Affected Systems May Need to Be Rebuilt
Here are the news and updates you may have missed.
Management
Architecture Groups Call on Biden to Revoke ‘Classical Buildings’ Executive Order
This is one of the many lame duck executive orders President Trump has issued recently.
Workforce
CDC Panel Designates USPS Workers as Next in Line for COVID-19 Vaccine
Postal employees are part of a group "critical to the functioning of society," per panel's recommendation.
Route Fifty
A State Becomes the First to Suspend Facial Recognition Technology in Schools
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said there are “serious and legitimate privacy concerns” with the technology—but only prohibited its use until 2022.
Management