Route Fifty
The Imperfect Art of Tracking Local Government Financial Stress
California is the latest state to launch a program to shed light on the financial conditions in localities. Systems like this can have benefits, but also limitations.
Management
Social Security’s Justification for Ending Telework Pilot Doesn’t Add Up
The agency has delayed the end until Nov. 23, but management denied the American Federation of Government Employees’ demand to bargain over implementation.
Oversight
IG Warns of 'Ruinous' Relationship With EPA Over Failures to Cooperate
EPA chief of staff told investigators "Do not contact me further" unless they agreed to provide advance notice of the information sought, counter to investigative practice.
Nextgov
DISA Previews Big Tech Opportunities for 2020
The Pentagon’s IT shop released a list of next year’s contracting opportunities, including 12 worth more than $100 million.
Nextgov
Agriculture Funds More than $1 Billion in Projects to Boost Rural Infrastructure
The broadband and electric investments aim to benefit more than 1.5 million businesses and residents.
Route Fifty
What Role Can Manufactured Homes Play in Affordable Housing?
Members of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs expressed support for a bill that would encourage state and local governments to consider manufactured homes as part of affordable housing strategies.
Management
The Agencies that Saw the Biggest Gains—and Losses—in Employee Happiness in 2019
Smaller agencies saw the widest swings in employee morale this year, as measured by the annual Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey.
Management
Top Senators Make Bipartisan Plea for Trump to Fill Homeland Security Vacancies
Lawmakers say a lack of leadership is making it harder for the department to fulfill its mission.
Pay & Benefits
10 Numbers That Tell the Story of Retirement Processing
They range from 30 to 1 trillion.
Oversight
Agencies Are Relying More on Alternatives to Contractor Suspension and Debarment
Annual report shows that exclusions from doing business with the government have decreased in recent years, yet are still up from 2009.
Route Fifty
How Residents' Financial Health Can Affect City Budgets
Missed utility bills and services for the homeless can cost cities millions of dollars per year, experts said Thursday at the Urban Institute. One solution: Figure out how to help people improve their financial health.
Workforce
Viewpoint: Stop Denigrating the Civilian National Security Workforce and Fix It
To understaff and undermanage the military's civilian counterparts does our uniformed force an enormous disservice and undermines U.S. security.
Nextgov
Can CBP Stand Up an Electronic Health Records System in 90 Days?
Lawmakers eager to see Customs and Border Protection digitize its health care system are pushing a bill that would give the agency three months to go from paper to electronic records.
Management
Employee Engagement 'Stable' Across Federal Government
The Office of Personnel Management’s annual Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey saw a modest uptick in participation in its second year of a census model, but engagement scores did not improve.
Defense
The Air Force’s ‘Doomsday Plane’ Is in the Shop
The E-4B, a plane that would quarterback a nuclear war, has lost its secondary mission as the secretary of Defense's main long-haul ride.
Management
Addressing the Crisis in American Governance
The National Academy of Public Administration launched its Grand Challenges initiative to tackle the most critical problems facing the nation.
Route Fifty
Local Elected Officials Lambast Book Publishers for Limiting Library Access to E-Books
Librarians have been boycotting one publishing company over restrictive new policies. Now more than 70 mayors and county executives are urging publishers to grant libraries better access to e-books.
Route Fifty
Democrats Launch Inquiry Into Opportunity Zones Program
They’re focused on whether political interference by Trump administration officials played a role in the selection of a Nevada zone. Meanwhile, a senator has put forward a bill that would impose new transparency requirements.
Nextgov
House Committee to Hold Hearing on the Online Exploitation of Veterans
A veteran, a scientist and representatives from Facebook and Twitter are all set to testify.
Workforce