Route Fifty
Teachers Unions Urge End of Active-Shooter Drills that Can Traumatize Students
In a new report, two teachers unions and a gun-control group recommend that schools stop using active-shooter drills—or at least revise them—amid fears the exercises are terrifying and damaging to students.
Nextgov
Labor Department Joins GSA’s AI Center of Excellence to Automate Procurement Tools
Labor becomes the sixth agency to join the Centers of Excellence program and the first of 2020.
Pay & Benefits
Keys to the TSP
Managing your Thrift Savings Plan account requires education and preparation.
Pay & Benefits
OPM, Lawmakers Propose Fixes to New Paid Parental Leave Law
The effort to ensure all federal employees have access to up to 12 weeks of paid time off following the birth, adoption or foster placement of a child now has bipartisan support.
Defense
War on Autopilot? It Will Be Harder Than the Pentagon Thinks
Despite defense contractors’ glittering demonstrations, difficult realities are challenging the military’s race to network everything.
Defense
Pentagon Nominee Who Questioned Ukraine Aid Holdup Denies Report About Her Ouster
A story from the New York Post ignited speculation that Elaine McCusker’s nomination could be withdrawn. It’s not clear that’s the case. Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class James Lee
Oversight
John Kelly Finally Lets Loose on Trump
The former chief of staff explained, in the clearest terms yet, his misgivings about Trump’s behavior regarding North Korea, immigration, and Ukraine.
Management
The Gig Economy and BLS Surveys
Government does not understand this growing segment of the labor force, and that affects federal pay.
Nextgov
New Bipartisan Bill Would Codify GSA’s Centers of Excellence Program
The “light touch” legislation was introduced by Reps. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., and Mark Meadows, R-N.C.
Defense
Warship Accidents Left Sailors Traumatized. The Navy Struggled to Treat Them.
Recent wars have forced the U.S. military to acknowledge and treat the psychological wounds caused by trauma. But some sailors who survived 2017’s deadly crashes say the Navy’s efforts to help them sometimes fell short.
Management
Trump’s Budget Seeks to Increase Funding for the Internal Revenue Service
Staff would grow by a net 1,700 positions from 2020 levels, if $400 million in “cap adjustments” to exceed spending levels in the 2019 budget agreement is included.
Management
Interference in Roger Stone Case Could Have Widespread Impact on Justice Department Workforce
Morale will likely plummet and more employees could leave, former prosecutors say.
Route Fifty
State Lawmaker Pushes Measure to Declare CNN and Washington Post ‘Fake News’
The Tennessee representative delayed discussion on the resolution this week.
Route Fifty
How States Are Battling Other States’ Travel Bans
Texas is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to declare California’s ban on state-funded travel to the Lone Star state unconstitutional.
Nextgov
Federal Contracts to Require Secure Timing and Navigation Under Executive Order
Key stakeholder says the president’s edict is insufficient and likely to cause confusion over the role of various departments.
Pay & Benefits
Budget Proposes Cutting and Simplifying Federal Employee Leave, and More
A weekly roundup of pay and benefits news.
Route Fifty
Do Older Taxpayers Balk at Supporting Schools?
COMMENTARY | In certain places, opponents to new school taxes are finding success by courting older voters.
Oversight
Committee Votes for Subpoena Authority Over Interior's Employee Relocations, Other Documents
"We’re not here as potted plants to be watered when the administration decides it’s time," panel chairman says.
Nextgov
Defense Digital Service is Taking Over a Drone and Counter-Drone Development Team
Building and scaling a suite of new drone capabilities is one of the Defense Department’s top priorities, officials said.
Nextgov