Route Fifty
After Floods, Some Cities Take On More Restrictive Zoning and Building Regulations
Cities that have experienced flooding in recent years are trying new strategies to ensure that existing and new developments are prepared for the floods to come.
Nextgov
Commerce Secretary Proposes ‘Case-by-Case’ Enforcement Of Telecom Ban
A proposed rule out for public comment would give the secretary discretion over how implement a May executive order.
Management
Agencies Need to Plan for Vacancies in Rural Areas
In many regions with aging workforces, increasing salaries won’t be enough to fill federal job vacancies.
Nextgov
The Pentagon's AI Center Needs a Cloud Integrator
Selected vendors would help the Joint AI Center deploy its main development platform in the cloud.
Management
How to Tell if Your Digital Addiction Is Ruining Your Life
While there are negative impacts, many of the risks of too much screen time are overblown. A scholar who has studied the topic for years offers some tips for finding the right balance.
Route Fifty
In a Booming State, Lawmakers Face a Looming Transportation Cut
“My focus is going to be about doing the best job of spreading the pain,” said one Washington state lawmaker, describing what lies ahead in an upcoming legislative session.
Tech
The $11 Million Dollar Medicare Tool That Gives Seniors the Wrong Insurance Information
The Trump administration redesigned the online Medicare Cost Finder for seniors to compare complex health insurance options. But consumer advocates have identified instances when the tool has malfunctioned and given inaccurate plan and price data.
Management
Trump Administration Urges Supreme Court to Maintain Strict Burden in Age Discrimination Cases
The case, involving a VA pharmacist who claims the department discriminated against her based on age and gender, has implications for the entire federal workforce.
Oversight
Census Fails Key Recruiting and Hiring Tests as It Gears Up for 2020 Count
Despite warnings of delays and cost overruns, agency says it's confident operations will not be interrupted.
Defense
Viewpoint: How Trump Turned the Military Against Itself
The president’s repeated interference in a Navy SEAL’s case shows that he cares about only one kind of military discipline—obedience to Trump.
Route Fifty
Local Governments Offer Tips on Deep Frying a Thanksgiving Turkey Without Burning the House Down
Every year, people run into problems frying turkeys. Fire departments and other local officials have suggestions on how to prevent serious mishaps.
Route Fifty
Planting a Family of Trees, One Seedling at a Time
A 600-year-old tree fell in New Jersey. Officials will preserve its legacy by sending its seedlings all over the state.
Nextgov
Auditors Uncover Tens of Thousands of Critical Security Gaps At Energy Facilities
The review, which included locations operated by the National Nuclear Security Administration, revealed multiple cybersecurity weaknesses recurring year after year.
Route Fifty
Mayors Ask Trump Administration to Scrap Plan to Let Cities and States Block Refugees
A coalition of 88 mayors sent a letter to the State Department decrying President Trump’s executive order, which they said would “lead to a patchwork of conflicting policies.”
Oversight
Maloney Takes On Oversight Committee Chairmanship at a Critical Time
“It’s an incredibly difficult time to forecast the role of oversight on Capitol Hill,” says one expert.
Nextgov
After Two Years In Limbo, FEMA Cancels $250M IT Support Contract
The single-award contract was created to help the emergency management agency manage its IT. Now, that work will be spread across existing staff and contracts.
Pay & Benefits
Viewpoint: Let’s Keep a Level Playing Field for TSP Investors
Participants in the federal employee retirement savings program deserve the same investment options as other Americans.
Oversight
Viewpoint: As the Rich Get Richer, the Ambassadors Get Worse
Gordon Sondland embodies an age-old problem—one that the flood of donor money into American politics is only exacerbating.
Management
Trump EPA Eases Safety Requirements Enacted after West Explosion
Attorney General Ken Paxton applauded the new rules, saying they would make Texans safer. The Obama-era regulation was meant to improve chemical safety practices and prevent tragedies like the deadly 2013 fertilizer plant explosion in the tiny Central Texas town of West.
Route Fifty