Route Fifty
K-12 Spending Sees Gains, But Still Lags in Many States, Teachers Union Says
An analysis of 2017 data finds education funding remains below pre-recession levels in over a third of states.
Management
Leaks Are Changing How Diplomats Talk
In the era of WikiLeaks, hostile-state cyberwarfare, and leaks such as the Darroch incident, the diplomatic cable’s primacy is being threatened, changing the way foreign policy is being conducted.
Pay & Benefits
Why You Might Want to Take Social Security Early
There are reasons not to wait for larger payouts when you’re older.
Management
Everyone Dreads Shutdowns, So Why Do They Keep Happening?
The Antideficiency Act is supposed to clarify what happens when Congress fails to pass a budget. But it hasn’t worked out that way.
Tech
A Giant Leap For Humankind – Future Moon Missions Will Include Diverse Astronauts And More Partners
The new era of space exploration is characterized by an emphasis on diversity and international cooperation. But there's a lot of work to do before there's gender equality in STEM fields and at NASA.
Tech
Army Goggles Will Feature Facial Recognition Tech ‘Very Soon’
A modified gamer headset will allow soldiers to see through a drone’s eyes, aim around corners, and identify the faces of enemies in their sights.
Management
Viewpoint: The Debt Ceiling And Why We Should Kill It
The U.S. hit the debt ceiling in March and is expected to run out of ways to get around the new $22 trillion limit by September. An economist explains why the ceiling is a dysfunctional relic.
Oversight
Play of the Day: Donald Trump and William Howard Taft Have Something in Common
No, it's not just the presidency.
Pay & Benefits
New Guidance Helps Agencies Assess the Value of Work-Life Balance Programs
The federal government is looking to quantify the costs and benefits of programs such as telework.
Management
Democrats Set New Deadline for Spending Agreement, Debt Deal
"It's all about money," House speaker said of the holdup in negotiations.
Management
Unions Consider Next Steps Following Workforce Order Ruling
The injunction blocking three controversial executive orders by President Trump will remain in place for 45 days to allow unions to consider an appeal.
Management
How Agency Heads Are Shifting Power Away From Federal Employees and Toward States
Federal officials have had too much discretion to institute their personal policy preferences, administration officials say.
Route Fifty
As Temperatures Heat Up, Cities Need to Keep People Safe
A new guidebook, released by a disaster relief agency, offers strategies for cities to prepare for and learn from stretches of hot weather.
Management
Trump Wasn’t The First President To Confront The Supreme Court – And Back Down
President Trump hinted that he would defy a Supreme Court ruling recently, though he later yielded to its authority. Andrew Jackson – a Trump hero – likewise challenged the rule of law in the 1830s.
Pay & Benefits
House Backs New Benefits for Feds, OPM Offers Heat Guidance and More
A weekly roundup of pay and benefits news.
Route Fifty
Three States File Lawsuit Over Federal Rules Blocking SALT Workaround
Treasury and the IRS last month prohibited charitable contribution programs meant to provide taxpayers a way around a cap on federal deductions for state and local taxes.
Nextgov
Pentagon Will Default To Trusting Other Agencies’ Cloud Security Assessments
The department has had success reusing other agencies’ authorizations and will make reciprocity the rule rather than the exception.
Nextgov
Census Chief Assures Lawmakers IT and Cyber Risks are Under Control
But with less than a year until the 2020 count kicks off, the bureau still has little room for error, the Government Accountability Office warns.
Management
Looks Like Turkey Is Getting Booted from the F-35 Program
After months of threats, Washington appears poised to drop Ankara from the multibillion-dollar project.
Tech