Route Fifty
The Metro Areas Where Economic Output Rivals Whole Countries
Nearly 40 of the world's 100 largest economies in 2018 were U.S. metro areas, figures in a new report show. And it's not just mega-regions that made the list.
Pay & Benefits
Feds Will Pay 5.6% More Toward Health Care Premiums Next Year
OPM adds two nationwide options under a new type of health insurance plan.
Oversight
Grassley Deviates From Other Senate Republicans and Supports Ukraine Whistleblower
Senator says he believes the whistleblower followed the law and should be protected.
Route Fifty
A Private Prison Ban Could Be Coming in California
California has relied on private prisons to relieve overcrowding in state-run facilities—but now the state may eliminate them entirely.
Management
Immigration and Customs Enforcement Is the Federal Government's Least Popular Agency
Survey also finds a slightly higher percentage of Americans prefer a smaller government with fewer services than a big government.
Defense
The Army’s Next Attack Helicopter Could Look Like This
Bell’s new 360 Invictus is the latest entrant hoping to fill the Army’s vertical-lift gap — and it’s remote-controlled.
Tech
The Pentagon Has Officially Taken Over the Security Clearance Process
The Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency is now responsible for conducting 95% of the government’s background investigations.
Oversight
Play of the Day: The President, Australia and the Secretary of State
Congress is digging deeper as part of its investigation.
Management
‘It’s Hovering. It’s Like This Weight’: How the Clinton White House Handled Impeachment
Former staffers reflect on keeping a besieged administration from falling apart during a scandal.
Management
It’s Finally Here: GSA’s New Consolidated Schedule
Tuesday’s solicitation will begin the process of turning 24 award schedules into a single contracting vehicle for products and services.
Route Fifty
States Can Craft Own Net Neutrality Rules, Appeals Court Rules
A federal appeals court upheld much of the FCC’s rollback of net neutrality rules but found that the commission overstepped its authority when it blocked states from enacting their own internet regulations.
Management
The Trump Administration Issues Dozens of Corrections to Its Error-Riddled Immigration Rule
Just weeks before a sweeping immigration policy takes effect, the administration is correcting substantive errors, including ones uncovered by ProPublica that would have had big impacts on military families.
Tech
NASA Hands Elon Musk a Reality Check
A shared effort to deliver NASA astronauts to space recently got a little awkward.
Management
Your Pay and Work Schedule Affect Your Health
There are several factors about our jobs that can have major effects on our health, from how much we make to when we work.
Oversight
Thousands of IRS Employees Are Working Outside Jobs That Risk Conflicts of Interest
In 2016, 167 employees had potentially prohibited second jobs and 2,196 were at high-risk for conflict of interest.
Route Fifty
Invasive Insect That Sucks the Life Out of Crops Is Spreading
The spotted lanternfly is damaging Pennsylvania vineyards and threatening other farm goods and trees. Researchers are looking at a fungus and tiny wasps as options to kill it.
Nextgov
Federal CIO Council Turns Customer Experience Expectations On Itself
The relaunched CIO.gov is designed to help federal IT employees better engage with their community.
Management
Citing Need to Protect Career Employees, Pompeo Says State Won't Comply With Initial Impeachment Inquiry Requests
Congress is seeking to "intimidate, bully and treat improperly" career staff, says President Trump's top diplomat.
Nextgov
Air Force Wants Custom-Built Online Game Environment to Test Out New Capabilities
The branch will host a three-phase interactive challenge to identify possible solutions.
Route Fifty