Nextgov
Justice Department Attributes Equifax Hack to Chinese Military Officers
Officials highlight the theft of intellectual property, in addition to personal information.
Pay & Benefits
Trump Proposes 1% Pay Increase for Civilian Federal Workers in 2021
The proposal marks an improvement over last year’s initial pay freeze request, but a significant downgrade from the average 3.1% pay increase that was ultimately enacted for 2020.
Defense
A Group of Agents Rose Through the Ranks to Lead the Border Patrol. They’re Leaving It in Crisis.
How several agents from a small outpost in Arizona, including recently retired chief Carla Provost, climbed to the top of the Border Patrol, then one by one retired, leaving corruption, misconduct and a toxic culture in their wake.
Nextgov
Amazon Seeks Trump Testimony About Pentagon’s JEDI Cloud Contract
Amazon Web Services also wants to hear from Defense Secretary Mark Esper and asked for White House communications in its case against the Defense Department.
Workforce
Why People Get the ‘Sunday Scaries’
The end of a weekend has always been unpleasant, but there is something distinctly modern about the anxiety many people feel on the eve of a workweek.
Oversight
Trump’s Plan to Make Architecture Classical Again
A fringe group of traditionalists persuades the White House to take its side.
Management
Analysis: The Crime of Doing the Right Thing
The former National Security Council staffer Alexander Vindman joins the club of honorable people whom the president has targeted for telling the truth.
Management
Trump’s 2021 Budget Would Slash Civilian Agencies, Boost Defense and Veterans Affairs
The White House also reportedly will propose moving the Secret Service back to the Treasury Department.
Route Fifty
States Take the Reins in Resilience Planning
Governors say states are taking steps to assure their long-term resiliency in the face of worsening climate change—and in the absence of sweeping federal action.
Management
White House Memo Could End Unionization at the Pentagon
In a January memo, President Trump authorized Defense Secretary Mark Esper to exempt the Defense Department from the law governing collective bargaining in the federal government.
Management
VA Secretary Looked for Dirt on a House Staffer Who Reported Sexual Assault in a VA Hospital, Complaint Says
VA chief Robert Wilkie called a House policy advisor’s assault allegation “unsubstantiated” even though an independent investigation found it was not.
Route Fifty
Containing the Coronavirus
In King County, Washington, the public health department is relying on temporary staff hired for measles and hepatitis A outbreaks to help investigate a confirmed case of coronavirus.
Oversight
Analysis: Why Would a Billionaire Charge the Secret Service $650 a Night?
Six theories for why Donald Trump insists on billing taxpayers
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.
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