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
Lawmakers Ask FCC to Protect Consumers from Phone Hijackers
The request comes amid an uptick in SIM swap scams.
Route Fifty
Kansas City Sues Gunmaker and Others Over Alleged Firearm Trafficking
The lawsuit by the Missouri city is the first one a municipality has filed against the gun industry in over 10 years, officials say.
Nextgov
OPM CISO Seeking a Small Business to Help Monitor Agency Cybersecurity
The winning vendor will help the government’s HR department track incidents across 1,000 servers and more than 10,000 devices.
Management
Bipartisan Bill Would Ease Process for Leasing and Building New VA Medical Facilities
Senators hope new staffing and less red tape would help VA stem cost overruns and delays that have plagued development of new medical centers.
Management
Senate Confirms Trump’s Pick for Regulations Czar
Paul Ray served as the acting head of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs before receiving the nomination.
Pay & Benefits
The Two Most Hated Provisions in Government Retirement
Nobody likes policies that reduce their benefits.
Nextgov
DARPA Wants Help Developing a ‘Sea Train’ of Unmanned Warships
The Pentagon’s research arm is looking to produce technologies for a new class of long-distance unmanned surface vessels.
Defense
U.S., Iran Back Away From Conflict—For Now
The crisis appears to be cooling, at least for now, as U.S. lawmakers — and presumably the president — return their focus to the looming impeachment trial in the Senate.
Route Fifty
States, Election Officials On Guard Over Iranian Cybersecurity Threat
Amid tension between the United States and Iran, state and local government officials are taking precautions to protect themselves from cyber warfare.
Nextgov
Experts Recommend Expanding Agencies’ Authorities to Combat Online Deception
At Facebook’s first congressional testimony of the 2020s, experts said agencies’ jurisdiction should include the digital spaces.
Defense