Oversight
Play of the Day: Pence Watches As Trump, Schumer and Pelosi Argue
The vice president closed his eyes like he wanted to be anywhere else.
Route Fifty
Considering Diversity in Snow-Day Decisionmaking
STATE AND LOCAL ROUNDUP | A giant middle finger sculpture rises in Vermont … Wash. Gov. Jay Inslee’s “clean energy smart deal” … and speeding up N.Y.’s sluggish subways.
Management
NASA Continues Its Reign Atop Best Places to Work in Government
Partnership for Public Service notes “sharp drop” in several factors affecting federal employee satisfaction.
Route Fifty
U.S. Senate Passes Farm Bill Without Food Stamp Work Requirements
The compromise package could be considered by the House as soon as Wednesday.
Route Fifty
FCC’s Mobile Coverage Maps Leave Industry, Lawmakers Worried for Rural America
$4.53 billion in federal funds are in limbo, while some are wondering if another $10 billion is needed to get Next Generation 9-1-1 off the ground in outlying areas.
Route Fifty
State Government Civics Survey Leaves Many People Stumped
A striking number of respondents couldn't answer questions about their elected officials, or the mechanics of state government.
Management
New Consumer Bureau Chief Will Glean Priorities From Listening Tour
Kraninger cites data security and privacy as likely areas of focus.
Nextgov
How DHS is Trying to Separate Quality Cyber Tools from Snake Oil
The department is investing in ways to do apples-to-apples comparisons of the many cyber solutions on the market.
Nextgov
Senate Bill Would Force Security Clearance Reforms
It also would require the director of National Intelligence to rethink the SF-86 form and process.
Management
'I Am Proud to Shut Down the Government,' Trump Says During Fight with Democrats
The president and Democratic leaders make no progress over funding plans during on-air negotiations.
Oversight
How the IRS Was Gutted
An eight-year campaign to slash the agency’s budget has left it understaffed, hamstrung and operating with archaic equipment. The result: billions less to fund the government. That’s good news for corporations and the wealthy.
Management
Three Agencies Failed to Notify Congress of Lapses in Curbing Improper Payments
Treasury, Labor and Agriculture singled out as GAO proposed clearer White House guidance.
Nextgov
Agencies Increase FITARA Scores
Eleven agencies increased their grade and 13 remained the same.
Management
How to Create a Culture of Fairness in Government
The Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey shows that some agencies have a lot of work to do.
Oversight
Play of the Day: Does Anyone Want To Be White House Chief Of Staff?
Finding a replacement for John Kelly is harder than it looks.
Route Fifty
N.Y. Committee's Plan Restricts Outside Income of State Lawmakers
STATE AND LOCAL ROUNDUP | Rural hospitals in Texas face strong-arm tactics … Oregon quake response playbook … and a new fire-risk estimation tool.
Route Fifty
Cities Seek to Align ‘Opportunity Zone’ Capital With Local Priorities
"There's a lot of work to do here that tax-advantaged capital will not do by itself,” says urban policy expert Bruce Katz.
Route Fifty
Before States and Localities Can Respond to Disasters, FEMA Must Coordinate Advance Contracts Better
A new federal report report on 2017 advance contracts found the agency’s coordination on disaster response remains wanting.
Management
DHS Scales Back Troubled Contract Designed to Bring on More Border Agents
Agency makes adjustment after contractor brought on 0.2 percent of anticipated hires.
Management