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.

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

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.