Management
Women’s First NIH Grants Tend To Be $41K Less
First-time women principal investigator scientists receive considerably less funding from the National Institutes of Health than their male peers do, even at top research institutions, according to a new study.
Oversight
Taxpayer Advocate: IRS Will Need 12-18 Months to Recover From Shutdown
Retiring Olson makes valedictory plea for more funding.
Route Fifty
A Push to Rework How Buildings Are Declared Historic
The legislation, proposed in Oregon, would implement a public process for historic designation and provide tax credits for rehab work.
Pay & Benefits
Annuities, Withdrawals and More
Responses to more questions and comments from readers.
Nextgov
NOAA Celebrates Weather Satellite Removal From GAO’s High Risk List
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration successfully navigated a major challenge to one of its weather satellite systems that could have derailed U.S. weather forecasting.
Management
Defense Dominates Experiment in Streamlined Bidding for Innovation
Civilian agencies are missing an opportunity.
Nextgov
Pentagon’s Cyber Mission Force Needs Better Training Plan
A government watchdog found flaws in the Defense Department’s transition from building its Cyber Mission Force to maintaining it.
Nextgov
Background Investigations Tech Team Reassigned from DISA to Defense Security Service
By mid-summer, the National Background Investigations Service technical team will be under a new office as part of major shifts in the security clearance process.
Defense
How Many Civilians Die in Covert U.S. Drone Strikes? It Just Got Harder to Say
Trump has revoked an Obama-era reporting requirement even as the CIA has resumed lethal strikes.
Defense
NSA-Cyber Command Chief Recommends No Split Until 2020: Sources
That’s another delay for a separation planned several Defense Secretaries ago.
Management
Trump Mar-a-Lago Buddy Wrote Policy Pitch. The President Sent It to VA Chief.
A handwritten note to Trump, addressed “Dear King,” presents another instance of access and influence for Mar-a-Lago associates.
Oversight
Play of the Day: The President Met With Tim Apple. Or Maybe Tim Cook.
Donald Trump got the Apple CEO's name wrong at a Wednesday meeting.
Route Fifty
How a Library Embraced New Technology and Helped Build a Prosthetic Hand
The public library in a small Texas town used an assessment tool that helped officials eventually upgrade equipment—including buying a 3D printer. One community member used it to make a prosthesis.
Nextgov
Virtual Reality Could Make Disaster Response Training More Effective
In early tests of its augmented reality training software, a Texas-based startup made first responders perform faster and more accurately.
Route Fifty
Federal Judge Rules Against Transit Agency in Disability Access Case
The dispute centers on requirements for elevators at subway stations.
Route Fifty
Without a Federal Privacy Law, States Are Left to Figure Out How to Protect Consumer Data
Representatives of the technology industry, and some state officials, say having broad privacy laws in each state could curb innovation. But other states leaders argue intervention is necessary to protect consumers.
Management
Pay for Performance is the Only Choice
At this point, the General Schedule is an impediment to good government.
Management
VA Procurement and Security Clearance Processing Land on GAO’s High-Risk List
Hiring reform remains a key challenge and contributes to problems across government, the watchdog found.
Oversight
HHS Vigorously Defended Its Employees, But Senators Still Want Answers on Alleged Sexual Assault Against Immigrant Children
Request for investigation comes after newly released data show 4,500 allegations of sexual abuse against children in government care.
Nextgov