Management
The True Scope of the Disaster in Puerto Rico
A new survey of the island’s residents finds a much higher death toll from Hurricane Maria than previously reported—putting it on par with one of the worst natural disasters in recent American history.
Route Fifty
Council of State Governments Extends Overseas Voting Initiative
The partnership will evaluate electronic ballot systems among other technologies and policies.
Nextgov
Hackers Find 65 Bugs in the Pentagon’s Travel Management System
The Defense Department’s fifth bug bounty awards $80,000 for spotting security holes in a travel system used by millions of the agency’s employees.
Pay & Benefits
Officials Outline Plans to Loosen TSP Withdrawal Rules
Employees and retirees will be able to make multiple age-based withdrawals from their accounts and remain eligible for partial withdrawals after they leave government.
Management
Career Reinvention May Save Your Health and Life
The management practices in many environments take a significant toll, physically and emotionally.
Management
VA’s Accountability Czar Will Serve as the Department's Acting Chief
Peter O’Rourke had most recently been VA’s chief of staff.
Defense
The Air Force Is Waiting a Year for Parts That It Could 3D-Print
Its chief weapons buyer is mulling licensing arrangements to allow third-party manufacture.
Management
Could Ditching Rectangular Desks Improve Oppressive Open-Plan Offices?
"It’s nice not to have to to sit across from someone and have the ability not to stare at them all day."
Management
20 Words That Make It Harder For People To Understand You At Work
For “thought leaders” who remain “laser focused” on a few overused phrases, here’s a plea to retire jargon—in language that speaks to you.
Defense
Pentagon Still Lacks Accurate Property Inventory, Says Watchdog
DoD avoids language that might alarm communities worried about a new BRAC.
Management
National Park Service Announces New Seasonal Worker Policy, ‘Corrective Action’ for Wronged Rangers
The new rule, which barred seasonal park employees from doubling up on temporary posts at different parks outside the competitive hiring process, was unevenly implemented earlier this year.
News
No, You Shouldn't Roast Marshmallows Over a Volcano Vent
The social media team at the U.S. Geological Survey has answers to your volcanology questions.
Nextgov
White House: Federal Agencies Remain Highly Vulnerable to Data Breaches Three Years After OPM
Many agencies could not detect if a hacker stole large amounts of sensitive data, the report found.
Management
The Fine Print of Trump’s Executive Order on Firing
In addition to requiring agencies to shorten the disciplinary process, the White House plans to curb the types of personnel actions that can be appealed.
Route Fifty
Study: Hurricane Death Toll in Puerto Rico May be 70 Times Official Count
The official fatality figure after Hurricane Maria was 64. New research indicates it could exceed 5,000.
Route Fifty
Should There Be Mandatory Training Standards for School Resource Officers?
There are no national training standards for school-based officers, and in many cases no state standards, meaning crisis response can vary widely from place to place.
Management
Retired Homeland Security Exec Faulted for Costly Travel, Nepotism
IG finds that actions of longtime director of Georgia law enforcement training center contributed to poor morale.
Nextgov
DHS Has a Plan to Make You Stop Hating Airport Security
The agency is looking at ways to speed up passenger screening while improving security from "curb to gate."
Defense
What the Long, Corruption-Enabling, Mostly Failed Afghanistan-Stabilization Effort Tells Us
It’s about managing expectations: ours about the timeline, the foreign population’s about governance.
Management