Route Fifty
Senate Passes $19 Billion Disaster Aid Bill
STATE AND LOCAL ROUNDUP | Code for America turns ten and looks for a new leader … New mayor says Chicago suburb’s bureaucracy in shambles … Louisiana braces as Midwest flood waters flow south.
Route Fifty
The Disparities In Investment Found Across One City’s Neighborhoods
A new study highlights sharp differences in capital flowing to poor and wealthy and minority and white areas in Chicago.
Management
Senate Panel Votes to Let Gitmo Prisoners Into U.S. for Medical Treatment
With an aging population, Democrats in the House, and Navy officers asking for guidance, there’s a chance it finally passes.
Management
Senators Introduce Bill to Block USDA Research Agency Moves
The measure mirrors language in the House Appropriations Committee’s fiscal 2020 funding bill for the department, and Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., has placed a hold on a key nominee.
Nextgov
OPM Offers Reskilling and Workforce Tools to Agency Heads
The Office of Personnel Management wants agencies to prepare for the workforce of the future.
Pay & Benefits
What If New Employees Were Offered a Bunch of New Benefits?
But with a catch: They’d have to give up some of the current ones.
Route Fifty
Sniff, Sit, Play: Using Dogs to Detect Invasive Species
Puddles, a 2-year-old Jack Russell mix, is helping Fish and Wildlife officials in Washington state prevent the spread of invasive species of mussels.
Oversight
Senators Renew Bipartisan Efforts to Protect Federal Retirees from Benefits Fraud
Bill approved by Senate oversight panel would make it a felony for retiree representatives to misuse FERS or CSRS funds.
Nextgov
EPA Cybersecurity Weaknesses Are Going Untracked and Unpatched
One EPA employee said their office was tracking vulnerabilities on their own to avoid oversight from other agency components.
Management
Why the Future of Work Is a Challenge for Government
The federal workforce needs to be reskilled. Expect major disruptions ahead.
Management
Could a Lack of Humility Be at the Root of What Ails America?
A growing body of research points to the importance of one personality trait – intellectual humility – and how it influences our learning, relationships and worldview
Nextgov
Democrats, Republicans Both Want to Regulate Facial Recognition
If left unchecked, lawmakers worry the tech will infringe on Americans’ privacy and civil liberties, and perpetuate racial and gender discrimination in the criminal justice system.
Management
TurboTax Uses a 'Military Discount" to Trick Troops Into Paying to File Their Taxes
Intuit, the maker of TurboTax, created and promoted a “military discount” that charges service members who are eligible to file for free.
Defense
‘Thank You for Your Interest in the Islamic State’
I corresponded with John Walker Lindh, the American jihadist who is scheduled to be freed today. He’s unrepentant.
Management
Play of the Day: The President Says He Isn't Into 'Cover-ups'
But is he using foundation? Maybe bronzer?
Route Fifty
Investigation Fails to Determine if Virginia Governor Was in Racist Photo
STATE AND LOCAL ROUNDUP | Arizona prison whistleblower asks for more transparency … Idaho cuts one-third of its administrative code … California takes action on homelessness.
Defense
U.S. Probes Suspected Chlorine Attack
Military action against Syria over the use of chlorine would represent a de facto shift in policy.
Nextgov
Defense Digital Service Awards ‘Civilian Hiring as a Service’ Contract
The Pentagon’s nerd squad is rethinking how it hires talent in fields like cybersecurity, computer science and user experience design.
Route Fifty
Ranking the Country's Parks
Washington, D.C. dethroned three-time defending champ Minneapolis in the latest version of the ParkScore index, released this week by the Trust for Public Land.
Pay & Benefits