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.
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.
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.
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