Management
The Critical Part of Mueller’s Report That Barr Didn’t Mention
The special counsel’s most interesting findings about Trump and Russia might be in the counterintelligence portion of his report.
Oversight
Play of the Day: The Deep State Failed to Take Down Trump
Perhaps the conspiracy isn't as competent as its backers think it is.
Route Fifty
Report: State Governments Aren’t Doing Enough to Fix Recruitment Woes
The number of available state government jobs grew from 2013 to 2017, while applicants for those positions dropped.
Management
FEMA Defends Actions Following Data Release Affecting 2.3 Million Disaster Victims
The agency said there’s no indication that survivor data has been misused.
Nextgov
DHS Invests $5.9 Million into Cyber Training Tool for Energy Sector
The project will expand a strategic decision-making and communication exercise tool developed for the finance sector to the energy sector.
Management
Key Federal Agency Doesn’t Have the Staff to Oversee $35B in 2017 Hurricane Recovery Money
Slow process has led to four states and territories devastated by hurricanes receiving virtually none of the funds Congress appropriated.
Route Fifty
Americans Drove a Record Number of Miles Last Year
That's 3.2 trillion miles on the road, based on new U.S. DOT estimates.
Nextgov
GSA’s 10x Offers Seed Funding To Develop Feds’ Tech Ideas
The four-phase program is looking to test, fund and build federal employees’ ideas for using tech to improve their agencies.
Pay & Benefits
TSP Officials Confident Congress Will Act on Shutdown Relief Bill
Lawmakers are considering as many as five bills that would make it easier for federal employees to access their Thrift Savings Plan accounts during a government shutdown.
Tech
Watchdog: Fuzzy Communication Is Hindering Effort to Standardize Agency Data
Amid reorganization OMB lacks clarity on DATA Act, GAO finds.
Route Fifty
Contractors and Advocacy Groups Push Back on State Efforts to Mandate Surveillance Software
State legislation pushed by one company to require contractors to install the software would compromise data privacy and carry steep costs for companies and governments, the groups argue.
Management
HUD’s Inspection System Gets a Poor Grade in Congressional Watchdog’s Report
The Government Accountability Office’s findings mirror those of an investigation by The Southern Illinoisan and ProPublica, which documented numerous cases in which substandard housing complexes received passing — and even glowing — scores from HUD.
Management
If Performance Governs Pay, More Workers Take Antidepressants
Companies moving to a pay-for-performance process may lead to an increase the number of employees taking anxiety and depression medication, according to a new study.
Management
If Trump’s Border Wall Becomes Reality, Here’s How He Could Easily Get Private Land for It
A law is supposed to protect property owners from lowball offers by the government when it takes land through eminent domain. But a letter shows how simple it is for officials to eviscerate what is already a pretty toothless law.
Route Fifty
Not Out of the Woods Yet—State Borrows $100 Million As it Looks to Solve Forest Controversy
The story of Oregon's Elliott State Forest is one of logging, litigation, old trees, imperiled animals, and school funding.
Management
Why Some Counties Are Powerhouses For Innovation
When it comes to innovation, Santa Clara County is way ahead of the rest of the U.S. Between 2000 and 2015, more than 140,000 patents were granted there – triple the number of the next-ranked county.
Route Fifty
Moody’s: FEMA’s Decision About California Dam Is a Signal to States and Localities
The federal agency may want governments to repair and replace aging infrastructure before it fails, but making California eat some of the repair costs could lead to more deferred maintenance on other projects, the ratings company said.
Route Fifty
Florida Lawmakers Look to Make Ex-Felons Pay Fines Before They Can Vote
The legislation comes months after voters overwhelmingly approved a measure restoring the voting rights of people convicted of felonies who have completed their sentences.
Management