Nextgov

Annual Government Spending Approaches Historic Territory

Driven heavily by the Defense Department, contract spending across government will exceed $600 billion in fiscal 2020.

Management

The Lack of Meaningful Human Capital Metrics Is Hurting Agencies

There’s no effective dashboard documenting the government’s efforts to solve its considerable workforce problems.

Oversight

Acting State Department IG Will Resign Effective Friday

Amb. Stephen Akard was installed after Trump’s controversial firing of IG Steve Linick in May. 

Defense

US Missile Defenses Are About to Level Up

Laser-armed Strykers, new Eastern European batteries, and sea-based interceptors are all coming in the next two years, Pentagon officials say.

Defense

Trump: U.S. To Withdraw 4K Troops From Afghanistan By Election

“It’s already planned,” the president said in an interview with Axios.

Management

6 in 10 Likely Voters Support Voting by Mail

A new survey finds that 66% of likely voters support voting by mail for all Americans for the November election and just 22% oppose that idea.

Tech

GovExec Daily: The Upcoming Vaccine Logistics Questions

Dr. Julie Swann joins the podcast to examine how a vaccine will be distributed when it becomes available.

Management

OPM Is Reorganizing Employees to Get Around Ban on GSA Merger, Union Claims

Over the weekend, the Office of Personnel Management moved nearly two dozen employees into the agency’s HR Line of Business, which is being renamed with GSA support.

Nextgov

5 Ways the FITARA Scorecard May Evolve 

Ten scorecards later, lawmakers and experts are looking for new ways to update the metrics on which agencies are graded.

Management

White House Orders Federal Contractors to Limit Their Use of Foreign Workers

President Trump signed an executive order that requires agencies to review internally their contracting practices, but experts say there are questions on how it will be implemented. 

Route Fifty

Seven States Band Together to Purchase Rapid-Result Covid Tests

The compact, negotiated by Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, aims to increase production of the tests, which can deliver results in less than a half hour.

Management

Immigration Judges Union Survives, For Now

Federal Labor Relations Authority regional director rejects arguments by the Justice Department that immigration judges are managers and therefore their union should be decertified.

Route Fifty

Census Bureau Says It Will Stop the Count A Month Early

Because of complications caused by the pandemic this spring, the Census Bureau had planned to keep counting people until Oct. 31.

Nextgov

NTIA to Host Proof-of-Concept Summit in Software Transparency Effort

More agencies are starting to ask suppliers for a software bill of materials in building a foundation for better, faster cybersecurity.

Tech

Video: Who Controls Pandemic Data?

A White House decision to take over collection of COVID-19 data from the CDC sparked worries over political interference. A public data expert talks about the importance of transparent public data.

Management

GovExec Daily: The CDC's Role in the Pandemic Response

Courtney Bublé joined the podcast to talk about her interview with former agency chief Tom Frieden.

Nextgov

Most Agencies Are C-Students on 10th FITARA Scorecard

The latest FITARA scorecard marked a milestone since the first report in 2015—no agency received a D or an F grade. But fewer agencies improved grades this time around.