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NIST Launches Biometric Databases to Boost Identity Verification Research
The rollout marks the beginning of “what is intended to be an expanding collection of biometric resources.”
Pay & Benefits
In Surprise Move, Trump Gives Federal Employees Christmas Eve Off
The move splits from most recent precedent when Christmas fell on a Wednesday.
Management
Hiring Initiatives, Funding Windfalls and Other Major Takeaways for Federal Agencies in the 2020 Spending Bills
Two bills setting the line-by-line allocation of $1.4 trillion are set to become law later this week.
Route Fifty
Over 40% of Consumers in Some States Have Delinquent Household Debt, Data Indicate
Financial stress from debt has subsided somewhat since the Great Recession, but remains high in some places. New data provides insight into how it looks at the state and county level.
Nextgov
The Governmentwide Tech Guide to the 2020 Spending Deals
The 2020 appropriations package includes billions for tech upgrades at some agencies, as well as funding for governmentwide modernization projects. In some cases, that money comes with strings attached.
Management
Congress Will Not Block Mandated Union Contracts in Spending Bill
In a blow to labor groups, a provision blocking the implementation of collective bargaining agreements that have not been “mutually agreed to” by all parties does not appear in the final spending legislation.
Workforce
NASA Ranks as the Best Place to Work in Government for Eighth Year
Partnership for Public Service notes a “modest drop in employee engagement” overall across government.
Route Fifty
How California’s Consumer Privacy Act Will Become the Digital Law of the Land
Under the law, the onus is on consumers to request that companies disclose or delete their personal data. But more states and the federal government could still jump into the privacy debate.
Management
House Clears Full-Year 2020 Spending, Sending Shutdown-Averting Bills to Senate
White House says Trump would sign the $1.4 trillion measures that would boost funding for most agencies and provide a 3.1% pay raise to civilian feds.
Pay & Benefits
Defense Policy Bill With Paid Parental Leave for Feds Goes to President Trump's Desk
Senate approves the annual Defense authorization act, which provides all federal workers with up to 12 weeks of annual leave for the birth or adoption of a child.
Route Fifty
Death Penalty Used by an Increasingly Small Number of States
Seven states executed 22 inmates this year, the second lowest number of executions since 1991.
Management
Senate Committee Advances Paul Ray’s Nomination to Be Regulations Czar
Panel votes 8-4 to send the nomination to the full Senate.
Defense
The Lessons of the Afghanistan Papers
Americans need leaders who can tell them how and when they will decide to pull the plug.
Tech
China Has Increasing Sway in U.S. Science, JASON Report Says
Beijing is using better jobs at home, aggressive intelligence agencies, and a greater financial reach to influence American institutions.
Route Fifty
With Healthy Budgets, Dozens of States Give Raises to Their Workers
The number of states bumping up pay for their employees has hit a high not seen since prior to the Great Recession.
Workforce
Survey: Less Than Half of Feds Would Keep Their Jobs if Offered a Similar Position Elsewhere
Only 38% of respondents said they trust their executive leadership.
Nextgov
Commerce Partnership Opportunity Aims to Amplify Feds' Data Use
The department’s National Technical Information Service is looking for services to help agencies use data as an asset.
Oversight
Viewpoint: The FBI Needs to Be Reformed
The inspector general’s report identified real weaknesses, particularly with the policies and procedures that govern investigations of political campaigns.
Nextgov
Agencies Can Start Prepping Systems for DUNS Transition
The government will need to prepare for next year’s transition or risk the federal contracting version of Y2K.
Nextgov