Nextgov
VA To Codify Customer Experience As Part of Core Values
The need to consider ease, effectiveness and emotion in all decisions will become part of the department’s Code of Federal Regulations.
Pay & Benefits
House Passes Bill to Permanently Codify Protections for LGBTQ Feds
Passage comes after Trump administration has rolled back some of those protections.
Nextgov
GSA Selects OPM for Third Centers of Excellence
Under the program, OPM will work with industry to modernize its IT infrastructure and improve the government’s tech workforce planning.
Management
Agencies Agree to Do More to Identify Contractors With Tax Debts
GAO tells contracting officers to keep a closer eye, and IRS and GSA agree.
Nextgov
Bill Would Stop Government From Paying Dead People
Congress wants to eliminate tens of millions of dollars wasted annually on benefits payments to the deceased.
Management
Viewpoint: Yes, Trump Can Invoke the Insurrection Act to Deport Immigrants
Congress has delegated too much power to presidents.
Oversight
Play of the Day: A New Immigration Plan From the White House
President Trump has a merit-based framework in mind.
Route Fifty
Mayors Score Win in Lawsuit Over Troubled Retirement Plan Endorsement Deal
The U.S. Conference of Mayors has been locked in a court dispute for several years over the soured arrangement.
Management
White House's OPM-GSA Merger Bill Gives an Unconfirmed Appointee Authority Over Personnel Rules
The Trump administration on Thursday sent lawmakers its proposal to reorganize the Office of Personnel Management.
Management
Consumer Bureau Chief Makes Her Mark as Rift Opens with Education Dept.
DeVos claim of privacy protections could hamper CFPB policing of student loans.
Management
Ex-EPA Chief Logged $124,000 in Improper Travel Costs, Watchdog Finds
Detailed review of Scott Pruitt’s trips makes 14 recommendations, some of which the agency rejects.
Management
OPM Official: Merger With GSA Won't Be As Disruptive as Some Might Fear
Personnel agency will retain its Senate-confirmed director and likely its office building, deputy director says.
Route Fifty
Federal Infrastructure Funding is Good, but Local Governments Want Flexibility Too
Accessing federal funds for infrastructure projects is much too difficult, county leaders say. With reauthorization of the FAST Act on the table, they want a bigger say in how money can be spent.
Defense
House Democrats Hope to Curb Diversions of Pentagon Spending to Border Wall
Armed Services members’ bill targets Defense Department construction fund transfers.
Nextgov
To Unleash a Modern Workforce, America Must Revamp Education
Federal leaders say the nation needs to pivot education towards tech-focused training in fields like robotics.
Management
Trust Isn’t Simple When It Comes To Government
Do you trust the government? New research digs deeper than previous gauges to understand what people really think.
Route Fifty
One City’s Journey to Filing Complaints About Police Online
Austin, Texas, debuted an anonymous online feedback form that eases the process for residents to describe interactions they have with police officers
Management
Trump’s VA Firing Spree Falters in Court
Rather than defend a law that the president loves, the VA will reinstate a hospital director whom it twice tried to fire.
Defense