Management
Almost Half the Top Jobs in Trump's State Department are Still Empty
In 18 countries, the White House has yet to designate a U.S. ambassador. That includes Australia, a close ally to America that is beginning to look to China instead.
Oversight
Play of the Day: Talking About the Caravan
President Trump is naming operations and talking about who is coming to the U.S. border.
Route Fifty
No Breathalyzer for the Stoned? Maybe That’s OK.
With recreational marijuana now permitted some states, questions remain over the best way to detect high drivers.
Oversight
Grassley Wins Declassification of CIA Documents on Monitoring Whistleblowers
The intelligence agency read Hill staff correspondence, raising “serious policy concerns,” senator says.
Oversight
Agriculture Watchdog Investigating Secretary’s Plan to Move Offices Out of D.C.
Two House Democrats had asked about basis of Perdue’s authority.
Nextgov
Intel Community is Developing a More Spy-Proof Room
The intelligence community’s research arm is upgrading SCIF security to protect against threats from personal devices and sensors.
Pay & Benefits
Judge Says Government Faces ‘Uphill Battle’ to Prove OPM Hack Victims Don’t Have Standing to Sue
Unions seek to reverse lower court's dismissal of their pursuit for lifetime protections.
Nextgov
Census Bureau Isn’t Properly Managing Its Risk Management Review System
A lack of continuous assessment and oversight led to bad reporting, which in turn led to bad decision-making and a weak cybersecurity posture.
Management
The Lesson for Federal Leaders in ‘First Man’
NASA found the right man to be the first man because it understood the moon landing was as much a people problem as an engineering challenge.
Oversight
Senators Demand OPM End Agencies' Circumvention of Workforce Court Order
Several departments seem to be violating a federal judge’s ruling, 16 Democrats say.
Management
House Democrats Again Challenge White House Story on FBI Headquarters
New emails contradict spokeswoman statement that staying in D.C. saves money.
Management
The Latest Target of Trump's Immigration Attacks
In an address Thursday, the president criticized U.S. asylum policy and threatened to detain those who credibly claim the protections.
Management
Melania Trump Spent One Day In Cairo And The Hotel Bill Was Over $95,000
She's supposedly running a "lean" operation, but the first lady's recent hotel bill was higher than her husband's.
Tech
European Countries to Test AI Border Guards
A new program replaces human border guards with artificially intelligent avatars to watch for deception in travelers. It follows similar efforts that go back a decade.
Oversight
Play of the Day: The President Explains His Truthfulness
"When I can, I tell the truth," Trump told ABC.
Route Fifty
Minority Voters Could Have a ‘Cascading Effect’ on Elections in These States
But both political parties historically have been ineffective at engaging people of color.
Nextgov
Report: Management Drama Threatens to Derail VA’s Health Records Overhaul
The vendor’s software is also falling short of the department’s requirements, according to ProPublica.
Oversight
IRS May Be Unintentionally Discouraging Whistleblowers From Reporting Tax Cheats
The agency failed to update a key form affecting the calculation of whistleblower awards, GAO found.
Route Fifty
In Less Than 10 Years, America Will Have 17 ‘Superaged’ States
Currently, none are in that demographic category.
Management