Defense

Pentagon Advised to Keep Better Tabs on Defense Industry Before Reforming Payments

Impact of performance pay and contractor borrowing hasn’t been studied for 30 years.

Nextgov

OMB Adds Customer Experience, Data Policy Updates to Annual Budget Guidance

The Office of Management and Budget released an update to Circular A-11, outlining how agencies should be thinking about their fiscal 2021 budget requests.

Management

National Archives Needs Better Handle on Agency Electronic Records, Says Watchdog

Challenges come from outdated technology, uncertain inventory of agencies.

Nextgov

The Case for Using Algorithms to Validate Broadband Data

Consider it Moneyball for the FCC.

Pay & Benefits

All TSP Funds Rebound in June

After a lackluster May in which most offerings lost value, every fund in the federal government’s 401(k)-style retirement savings program grew last month.

Defense

Inside the Secret Border Patrol Facebook Group Where Agents Joke About Migrant Deaths and Post Sexist Memes

The three-year-old group, which has roughly 9,500 members, shared derogatory comments about Latina lawmakers who plan to visit a controversial Texas detention facility on Monday, calling them “scum buckets” and “hoes.”

Management

The Reasons Your Change Initiative Will Fail

Most people focus too much on the results and not enough on the relationships that will yield the results.

Defense

Countries May Begin Backfilling U.S. Troops in Syria Within Weeks, Envoy Says

In an exclusive interview, Amb. Jim Jeffrey also confirmed a breakthrough agreement that could restart the Geneva peace process.

Route Fifty

Supreme Court’s Gerrymander Decision Shifts Fight Back to States

Reformers are likely to focus on independent commissions and transparency efforts to overhaul partisan gerrymandering before maps are redrawn in 2021.

Management

Commerce Officials Silent After Supreme Court Blocks Census Question

With a printing schedule set for July 1, the bureau’s well-laid plans are up in the air.

Workforce

OPM Doesn’t Anticipate Furloughs in October

Acting Director Margaret Weichert sought to reassure employees that their jobs were safe despite a recent dust-up with lawmakers.

Defense

Top Diplomat Slams ‘Endless War’ Cries of Campaign Trail as ‘the Echo of the 1930s’

“I get terribly worried. Because this shows total ignorance of what’s going on in the world today,” Ambassador Jim Jeffrey says.

Workforce

Trump’s Latest Controversial Immigration Appointee Is Already Clashing With His Workforce

Ken Cuccinelli accuses his employees, and their union, of "choosing to deny reality" after they back lawsuit over new policy.

Oversight

Former HUD Executive Indicted in Procurement Fraud Scheme

Eghbal “Eddie” Saffarinia, former assistant inspector general for IT, allegedly steered contracts to a friend’s company and failed to disclose cash payments.

Defense

Senate Clears $750 Billion Defense Policy Bill That Reforms the Security Clearance Process

Authorization act also contains 3.1% military pay hike and streamlines acquisition processes.

Defense

Pentagon Official: We Didn’t Link Iran to al-Qaeda In Hill Briefings

“In these briefings, none of the officials mentioned al-Qa'ida or the 2001 Authorization to Use Military Force,” DASD Mick Mulroy said.

Tech

NASA Will Go Looking for Alien Life

The agency plans to launch a spacecraft to Titan, a moon of Saturn with some crucial ingredients for habitability.

Route Fifty

Pennsylvania Becomes First State to Use Automated System to Expunge Criminal Records

After passing the country’s first ‘clean slate’ bill, Pennsylvania is debuting a system that will automatically clear the records of all who are eligible.

Management

Play of the Day: Joe Biden Doesn't Want to Pass the Torch

The Democrats debated on Thursday and the former vice president was the centerpiece of the discussion.

Defense

Lawmaker: Human Problem at Pentagon Worse than Tech Problem

Rep. Jim Cooper says Congress shouldn’t accept a government topped by acting political appointees.