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
Court Lacks Jurisdiction Over Trump’s Workforce Orders, Justice Lawyers Argue
The administration says only the Federal Labor Relations Authority can review unions’ legal challenge. But the president has failed to nominate a general counsel, rendering it unable to function.
Nextgov
CBP Officers Aren’t Deleting Data After Warrantless Device Searches, IG Says
An inspector general report found Border Patrol officers didn’t follow standard procedures during device searches, mostly because those procedures weren’t clearly laid out.
Nextgov
OMB Redefines Government's 'Crown Jewels'
A new policy memo expands the government’s guidance for protecting high-value assets to include every agency and office and broadens the definition of “value.”
Nextgov
IARPA Is Trying Keep Adversaries From Corrupting AI Tools
Could cyber adversaries be training the government’s artificial intelligence tools to fail?
Management
Analysis: Why Trump Can’t Find Anyone to Be His Chief of Staff
Sure, the job is terrible—but that’s not new. What’s different is that this president can’t use the same leverage that predecessors such as George H. W. Bush and Bill Clinton did.
Management
How To Deal With Naysaying Employees
Almost every team has one: the resident contrarian who takes issue with every plan.
Oversight
Judge Slams Justice and State Departments for Inept Handling of FOIA Requests
Ruling saying the agencies’ approach “smacks of outrageous misconduct” and “negligence” gives new life to Clinton email case.
Management
What You Need to Know Before Taking a Polygraph
Eliminate the stress from this security clearance screening test.
Oversight
Incoming Oversight Chair Blasts New Hatch Act Guidance Limiting Talk of ‘Resistance’ in the Office
Rep. Cummings calls Trump-era adjustments "radical" and perhaps "unconstitutional."
Management
Analysis: John Kelly Couldn't Fix the Trump Presidency
Under Kelly’s guidance, the White House functioned more effectively than it had during the tenure of his predecessor—yet it still remained unfathomably chaotic.
Management