Nextgov
House Passes Bill to Codify—and Improve—GSA's Cloud Security Program
The FedRAMP Authorization Act includes $100 million in additional funding and a requirement to automate the process and force agencies to reuse ATOs.
Management
More Than 100 Lawmakers Urge HHS to Resume Bargaining with Union
The department has not responded in nearly five months to calls to continue talks with its labor union, despite an arbitrator's finding that it had engaged in bad faith bargaining.
Defense
Defense Secretary Reminds Employees to Remain Apolitical and Ethical
The statement was released right after Esper attended President Trump’s remarks following the president’s acquittal on impeachment charges.
Route Fifty
Ban or Regulate Kratom? State Lawmakers Weigh Approaches to Herbal Supplement
The American Kratom Association is lobbying lawmakers to adopt regulations that set ground rules for the supplement, which the FDA advises people not to consume, instead of joining six states that ban it as a controlled substance.
Management
USPS Revenue Continued to Slide During the Holiday Season
Postal Service keeps slashing work hours to reduce costs as controllable losses grow.
Management
The Founding Generation Showed Their Patriotism With Their Money
History suggests the value of a broader understanding of patriotism, one that goes beyond saluting-the-flag loyalty and battlefield bravery.
Nextgov
CBP Is Upgrading to a New Facial Recognition Algorithm in March
The agency also signed an agreement with NIST to test the algorithm and its operational environment for accuracy and potential biases.
Workforce
The Dark Shadow in the Injunction to ‘Do What You Love’
How managers hijacked the hierarchy of needs for their business practices.
Management
Viewpoint: What Trump’s Picks for the Presidential Medal of Freedom Say About Him
Researchers have analyzed data from the last 50 years of medals to learn what presidents consider important and what legacy they hope to leave behind.
Route Fifty
State Proposal to Mandate Pay for Worker Shift Changes Draws Fire
The California Chamber of Commerce this week branded the bill a “job killer.” But prior research suggests scheduling uncertainty is hard on service sector employees.
Nextgov
Veterans Affairs Launches Its First 5G-Enabled Hospital
Secretary Robert Wilkie said it was the first in the nation and one of the first in the world.
Pay & Benefits
House Republicans Unveil Plan to Boost Merit Pay and Slash Pensions
Proposals would help rein in a "swamp monster" of a runaway bureaucracy, lawmakers say.
Route Fifty
How Fines and Fees Reform Became a Priority for Cities Across the Country
Dozens of cities are changing how they collect fines and fees. How did this movement grow?
Route Fifty
Seeking to Deter Would-Be Social Media Stars, Legislator Wants to Crack Down on Ice Cream Licking
A bill in Arizona would make it illegal for people to lick ice cream and return it to the store shelf, a response to a video that went viral last summer.
Oversight
Interior Whistleblower Reinstated and Promoted as Part of Settlement Agreement
The Office of Special Counsel found that department officials retaliated against an employee after he reported insufficient environmental studies of Alaskan drilling sites.
Pay & Benefits
Continuing Your Insurance Into Retirement
Answers to common questions about managing the multiple benefits available to you.
Workforce
OPM Issues Guidance for Federal Employees Looking to Work for the Census
Helping with the count gives civil servants a chance to earn extra money and be part of history.
Defense
What Do You Call the Troops of the U.S. Space Force?
The Pentagon wants your input — and space cadets and spacemen are not under consideration.
Defense
17 Sailors and Six Marines Died in Avoidable Accidents. Congress Asks: Are the Problems Fixed?
After ProPublica wrote about inadequate training and faulty equipment, lawmakers grilled Navy and Marine leaders about the accidents and whether America is ready for war.
Workforce