Management

IRS Advised to Improve Verification of Agency Retiree Income

GAO finds mistakes in benefit statements not promptly reported.

Nextgov

Watchdog: IRS Declined to Patch Known Weakness Ahead of Tax Day Crash

An inspector general report says the agency opted not to go with an untested patch based on a contractor’s recommendation.

Management

Lawmakers Urge Education to Rescind Unilaterally-Imposed Union Contract

Three Democratic senators asked Secretary Betsy DeVos to comply with a preliminary FLRA finding that the department’s actions last spring constituted an unfair labor practice.

Route Fifty

‘Pink Wave’ May Give More Women a Seat at the Table in State Legislatures

“Not only are women motivated to run, they are running,” according to Lindsay Crete, deputy campaign communications director for state and local races at EMILY’s List.

Management

Why It Matters If Rod Rosenstein Resigns or Trump Fires Him

Trump has already faced one lawsuit for allegedly violating the federal vacancies law.

Management

What Rosenstein’s Exit Would Mean for Mueller's Russia Investigation

The deputy attorney general is reportedly on his way out at the Justice Department, though the exact circumstances are unclear.

Management

FEMA Chief Agrees to Reimburse Agency for Personal Travel Costs

Long and Homeland Security Sec. Nielsen announce review of rules, but he’ll stay in job.

Defense

Trump Signals an Openness to Talks with Iran

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley appeared on Sunday morning’s news shows and took a hardline on Iran, but said the president would react favorably if Iran expressed interest in meeting.

Management

The Problem With Harvard Business School Case Studies

Even the man who popularized the case method felt it was too indifferent to societal ills, to labor, and to the ideals of economic equality.

Oversight

Play of the Day: The President Wants Another Wall… in Africa

President Donald Trump suggests a wall in the Sahara to help the migration crisis in Europe.

Management

After a Slow Start, Trump’s Civil Service Reformers Connect With Experts

Good-government groups, some still skeptical, say they’re being consulted.

Route Fifty

Will California Make It Harder for Police to Use Deadly Force?

A change in standards could be copied by other states, but has not yet gained enough traction in the state legislature.

Route Fifty

Lawsuit Will Test State Plan to Shift Retiree Drug Coverage to Medicare

Maryland enacted changes to save billions of dollars on health care coverage for retired public employees. But a rollback of prescription drug benefits has led to a court challenge.

Management

Unions Accuse Administration of Circumventing Court Order Through Bargaining

Employee groups say that despite a court ruling overturning Trump's workforce executive orders, the administration continues to push the provisions.

Management

Immigration Judges’ Union Leader Warns of 'Dark New Era'

Justice Department plan for case quotas and deadlines kicks in Oct. 1.

Pay & Benefits

Contract Expires for 200K Postal Workers, Negotiations Extended a Month

APWU says it will not agree to any more pay freezes or new tiers of lower-paid employees.

Nextgov

Survey: Cyber Pros Leave Government For More Than Just Money

Other factors like leadership and mission play a factor too, according to a new survey.

Tech

Senators Are Asking Whether Artificial Intelligence Could Violate U.S. Civil Rights Laws

Senators are pressuring government agencies to study bias in artificial intelligence.

Nextgov

DHS Needs to Define Network Disruptions Before It Can Fight Them

Agencies have different definition of what an outage is and that matters.

Insights

Closing the Gap Between Financial Decisions and Critical Actions

Many state and local government agencies are still working through the digital transformation. Modernizing financial management tools and adhering to budgetary constraints is a constant balancing act, and agency leaders are behind the reins of a quickly evolving landscape. What are the key lessons that state and local leaders have learned?