Defense
'Nothing Prepares You for the Inhumanity of It:' House Democrats Visit Texas Border Patrol Facilities
At a visit this week, the freshman congresswoman Madeleine Dean of Pennsylvania met weeping women and exchanged notes with detained children.
Management
Visiting National Parks Could Change Your Thinking About Patriotism
Patriotism means pride in country, but what are we proud of? A former national park ranger suggests that visiting historic sites can remind Americans of the heritage, good and bad, that they share.
Route Fifty
Gap Grows Between Well-Off and Troubled State Public Pension Plans
The findings from The Pew Charitable Trusts come as the U.S. enters a record phase of economic expansion.
Management
Census Will Print 2020 Survey Without Citizenship Question
Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross repeated that he “strongly disagrees” with the Supreme Court ruling that stopped inclusion of the question until a lower court further examines the issue.
Defense
Brand New Marine One Helicopter To Make Debut at Trump's July 4th Parade
Other aircraft slated to fly over include the B-2 stealth bomber, F-22 Raptor and Air Force One.
Management
IG Issues Alert for 'Dangerous' Conditions at Detention Facilities That Require 'Immediate Attention'
Migrants have been denied showers, hot food and forced into standing room only conditions for long periods of time.
Nextgov
Modernization Fund Program Isn’t Recouping Overhead Costs Fast Enough
The Technology Modernization Fund is incurring millions more in overhead costs than it is recouping in administrative fees.
Pay & Benefits
Postal Service Floats Big Cuts to Employee Pay, Leave and Benefits
New postal workers would no longer earn a pension under preliminary business plan.
Management
House Appropriations Bill Would Block Impasses Panel from Imposing New Union Contracts
Federal labor groups have frequently accused agencies of engaging in bad faith “box-checking” collective bargaining negotiations, in an effort to fast track proposals to an all-Republican board.
Pay & Benefits
Trump’s White House Staff Is Smaller and Better Paid Than Obama’s
Acting Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney is the top earner at $203,000 a year.
Nextgov
Scammers Are Impersonating Government Agencies More Than Ever
The Federal Trade Commission warns that criminals’ “favorite ruse” is pretending to be from a government agency.
Management
How Behavioral Science Could Improve Federal Programs
The private sector has been using psychological insight for years to promote certain outcomes.
Oversight
Investigation of Secret Border Patrol Group Launched as New Degrading Facebook Posts Surface
A ProPublica story revealing demeaning posts directed at Latina lawmakers prompted widespread revulsion.
Route Fifty
Digital Driver’s Licenses Could Become a Real Option in Some States
Several states have run pilots for digital driver’s licenses, which would allow residents to supplement plastic ID cards with smartphone apps. But as the technology becomes more of a reality, experts are worried about the privacy implications.
News
4 Ways To Move Beyond Gridlock In Touchy Debates
"We need to listen to other viewpoints and try to understand the other side. If we cannot talk and listen to one another, then there is no hope for change."
Defense
U.S. Army Making Synthetic Biology a Priority
New thermal cloaking, insect proof uniforms are on the horizon, if the U.S. can get out in front of China.
Workforce
Presidential Hopeful Vows to Double the Number of Career Diplomats at State
Democratic candidate would create new recruiting pipelines and pay structures to boost workforce.
Route Fifty
DNA Evidence Will be Stored for 50 Years Under New State Law
The policy aims to give victims of sexual assault and prosecutors ample time to track down and convict offenders.
Management
OPM Announces New ‘Data Scientist’ Job Title
Officials hope that an "unofficial" data science marker for federal jobs could help both with recruitment of new federal workers as well as improve evidence-based policymaking and data management efforts.
Defense