Route Fifty
How Residents Help Replenish One State's Seed Stores
Minnesota recruits "private pickers" to harvest cones and seeds for reforestation projects by paying by the bushel.
Route Fifty
Scoot Aside E-Scooters, Rental Mopeds Are Zooming In
Cities involved in the pilot say the mopeds will provide an environmentally-friendly and affordable option for commuters. Some are worried about the safety implications, though.
Nextgov
CDC Needs Better Tools To Track Sickness, Symptoms In Wake Of Nuclear Disasters
If a nuclear device detonated, the resource CDC wants would support state and local health departments’ ability to respond.
Oversight
Watchdog Group Tallies 2,310 Conflicts of Interest Associated With President Trump’s Businesses
Report highlights an unprecedented mix of presidential affairs and personal business.
Management
Attorney General Orders Reassignment of Acting Bureau of Prisons Director
Move comes in the aftermath of financier Jeffrey Epstein’s suicide at a Manhattan federal correctional facility.
Management
Budget Talks Will Break Down if White House Bypasses Congress to Cut Foreign Aid, Pelosi Warns
The Democratic leader stresses that the State Department must be allowed to continue spending money while Congress considers any rescission request, per a GAO legal analysis.
Nextgov
IG: NOAA, NASA Launched Next-Gen Satellite With Known Issues, Scrubbed Performance Metrics from Contract
The main instrument of the GOES-R next-generation satellite constellation wasn’t working before launch but officials sent it into space anyway.
Defense
Viewpoint: It Matters Whether Americans Call Afghanistan a Defeat
The public’s judgment about whether the United States won or lost the war will affect civilian-military relations for years to come.
Management
Before Trump Eyed Greenland: Here’s What Happened Last Time The U.S. Bought a Large Chunk Of The Arctic
In 1867, the U.S. bought Alaska from Tsar Alexander II for a tidy sum of $7.2 million. Trump probably wouldn't be able to get that kind of bargain for Greenland.
Defense
General’s Sexual Assault Accuser Was Deemed a ‘Toxic, Self-Centered Abuser,’ New Docs Reveal
Hundreds of previously unseen pages of two investigations paint Army Col. Kathryn Spletstoser as an abusive coworker with motive for revenge against Gen. John Hyten.
Oversight
Play of the Day: Joe Biden Gets a Key Early Endorsement
Dick Swett, a former New Hampshire Democratic representative, put his weight behind the former vice president.
Tech
A Cyberattack Could Wreak Destruction Comparable to a Nuclear Weapon
Nuclear threats are serious – but officials, the media and the public keep a close eye on them. There's less attention to the dangers of cyberattacks, which could cripple key utilities.
Route Fifty
Congestion Pricing Not Just for Big Cities, Report Says
A new report by the National League of Cities recommends small cities could use congestion pricing plans to prevent being overwhelmed by traffic as they grow.
Management
New Lawsuit Argues Impasses Panel's Recent Decisions Are Illegitimate
Union argues the Federal Service Impasses Panel must have all seven members in order to issue decisions, and that panel appointees must be confirmed by the Senate.
Route Fifty
State Rules 'Polygamy Porter' Unsuitable for Sale
North Carolina's alcohol board refused to allow the beer to be sold in the state because its label depicts polygamy, an illegal act.
Management
Another Union Sues to Block Trump Workforce Orders
Although an injunction against the executive orders could soon be lifted, a federal lawsuit brought by a union representing Veterans Affairs employees in New York could prolong the Trump administration’s efforts to curtail collective bargaining activities.
Defense
Defense Could Do More to Curb Errors in Travel Payments, Watchdog Finds
Department is not doing a good job of tracking progress on its plan to reduce mistakes, GAO said.
Nextgov
These 6 Principles Helped Navy Federal Deliver Superior Customer Experience
They drive every decision Navy Federal Credit Union makes regarding their members.
Nextgov
It’s Official: Defense Department Will Use Other Agencies’ Cloud Security Assessments
The department’s IT office issued a provisional rule to accept other agencies’ FedRAMP ATOs without the need for written approval.
Nextgov