Oversight
Good Government Groups Push for Nonpartisan Panel to Find FEC Commissioners
They wrote to the White House and Senate leadership on Monday urging the speedy restoration of a quorum and then a panel to help fill the remaining seats.
Tech
NASA Mission Finds Its First Exoplanet that May Be Habitable
Thanks to NASA's TESS spacecraft, scientists have discovered two amazing new worlds: A potentially habitable exoplanet and one with two suns.
Route Fifty
Lawmaker Sees State Rainy Day Fund as Lifeline For Localities Battling Big-Box Stores Over Taxes
The Indiana legislation could assist local governments dealing with “dark-store theory” property tax appeals.
Pay & Benefits
White House Tasks Agencies With Getting Injured Feds Back on the Job Faster
New initiative would also seek to reduce workplace injuries to decrease "the financial burden of injury on taxpayers."
Route Fifty
Five States Diverted 911 Fees For Other Purposes, FCC Says
Montana was removed from the list of states shamed by the federal agency after the state banned the practice of diverting these funds.
Route Fifty
A Vermont Lawmaker Calls for Cell Phone Age Limits
A new proposal, which points out all the other things young people aren't allowed to do, would restrict cell phone usage to residents over the age of 21.
Nextgov
Energy Invests Millions to Launch Strategic Quantum Research Centers
Following a 2018 mandate from President Trump, the department will help build a more comprehensive ecosystem to spark quantum advancements.
Defense
Trump, like Obama, Tests the Limits of Presidential War Powers
Both President Trump and President Obama used military force without informing Congress, or getting its approval. But the differences reveal more than the similarities.
Nextgov
GSA Reissues E-Commerce Platform Solicitation With Significant Changes
Vendors that bid on the original RFP will have until Jan. 15 to revise their proposals.
Management
More Firms Will Now Be Eligible for Government Small Business Contracts
A final rule took effect on Monday to implement a 2018 law.
Oversight
House Passes War Powers Resolution to Limit War With Iran
The measure is legally toothless, but could still have some political impact.
Nextgov
White House Plans to Tap SBA Official as Next Deputy Federal CIO
Maria Roat will join the Office of Management and Budget, according to multiple sources.
Route Fifty
Tax Incentives Fail to Spur Broad Economic Growth, Study Finds
Researchers analyzed state and local governments tax incentive spending, finding little evidence that the deals spurred job growth outside the specific industry implicated.
Management
Navy Launches a New Civilian Human Capital Strategy for First Time in a Decade
The goal is to improve hiring, retention and employees’ experiences at work.
Management
OPM Implements One of the Few Uncontested Pieces of Trump's Workforce Orders: A Database of Union Contracts
Nearly 800 collective bargaining agreements are now available.
Route Fifty
Investigating Illegal Elk Poaching
Five elk were poached from mid-November to mid-December in Michigan, the most ever illegally killed in one month.
Route Fifty
Equal Rights Amendment Clears First Step in Virginia, as Trump Administration Declares Effort Dead
A Justice Department opinion issued this week says the deadline for ratification has passed. Advocates say otherwise.
Oversight
Appeals Court Rules Trump Can Use Nearly $4 Billion in Military Funds for Border Wall
The White House called the initial decision to block on the use of military funds for the boder wall "illegitimate" and hailed the appeals court decision as a victory.
Defense
Why U.S. Officials Are Revealing More about Cyber Ops
It’s part of a “costly signaling” gambit. Will it deter America’s enemies?
Nextgov