Defense
House Speaker: Budget Fights Have ‘Pushed Our Military Past the Breaking Point’
Paul Ryan highlighted defense hawks’ concerns about readiness and funding as Congress tries to avert a shutdown.
Oversight
Play of the Day: Some Smelly Shutdown Deal Metaphors
Nancy Pelosi compared it to the product of a productive dog walk and Jimmy Kimmel joked about something that comes out of a horse.
Management
How A Chief Customer Experience Officer Could Transform Government
Improving the public’s experience with government just makes sense.
Management
House Narrowly Passes Stopgap Spending Bill, But Shutdown Threat Remains
Continuing resolution to keep agencies open through Feb. 16 will face a tougher vote in the Senate.
Route Fifty
State CIOs Want Federal Agencies to Get Out of Their Way
NASCIO’s advocacy priorities cite duplicative and conflicting security regulations and audits as a waste of time and money.
Route Fifty
Business Groups Back 25-Cent Gas Tax Increase to Fund Infrastructure
But there appears to be a limited appetite for such a proposal among Republicans in Congress.
Defense
New, Temporary Federal Agency Will Push for National Service
Commission will start national “conversation” to consider need to reinstate the draft.
Route Fifty
Is 2018 the Year Congress Finally Passes 'Dig Once' Broadband Legislation?
Advocates worry the allure of Trump’s elusive infrastructure package is stalling improved Internet access, particularly in rural America.
Nextgov
Kaspersky Seeks Immediate Halt to Federal Government Ban
The procedural move is unlikely to prevail, a former cybercrime prosecutor says.
Management
Democrats Want to Spend $500M on a New, Non-Trump Backed DHS Hiring Surge
Senators take a different approach from the White House in calling for border security.
Pay & Benefits
Tax Planning in a Time of Change
The impact of tax reform on federal employees and retirees.
Defense
America Quietly Starts Nation-Building in Parts of Syria
The U.S. has escalated its presence in the country, and has signaled no timetable for when it will end.
Oversight
Intelligence Community Contractors Gain Whistleblower Protections
Advocacy groups have mixed reaction given reauthorization of surveillance authority.
Pay & Benefits
VA Begins Using Expedited Hiring Authority to Fill Array of Critical Positions
Department is also offering large cash bonuses to recruit doctors and nurses.
Management
What Happened at the Defense Department During the 2013 Shutdown
Contractors and civilian employees will see furloughs.
Tech
When Will Astronauts Launch From U.S. Soil Again?
NASA is hopeful SpaceX and Boeing will soon free the country from dependency on Russia, but delays abound.
Defense
Trump Administration Criticized for Misleading Math in Its 'Foreign Terrorists' Report
Trump's list of terrorists also includes run-of-the-mill thieves.
Oversight
Play of the Day: The Negotiations to Avert a Shutdown Are Like a Hostage Movie
This time, however, no one has a particular set of skills.
Management
If You Want Engaged Employees, You Need Engaged Leaders
Lessons from three federal agencies.
Nextgov