Oversight

Play of the Day: Discussion Topics For Trump and Putin

The conversation outline for the Helsinki meeting leaked this week.

Route Fifty

Breaking Down Opioid Deaths by Occupation

New research from the state of Massachusetts could help guide response efforts to the drug abuse epidemic.

Route Fifty

Preparing for the Inevitability of the Next Recession

Some states and localities are more ready to deal with an economic downturn than others.

Management

Trump's Postal Task Force Has Recommendations Ready for the President

Proposals that will be shared in the coming weeks make good on "reestablishing a sustainable business model for USPS," official says.

Pay & Benefits

Commuting Troubles for Many Feds, and What’s Next for a Pay Raise

A weekly roundup of pay and benefits news.

Management

Program Management Is Much More Complex Than Many Leaders Understand

There isn’t a single optimal approach. Different types of programs demand different skill sets.

Nextgov

NOAA Creates Workarounds for Malfunctioning Weather Satellite

The GOES-17 still isn’t working the way it’s meant to, but engineers believe they have a way to make it more functional than not.

Management

GSA Watchdog Raises Questions on Canceled FBI Headquarters Move

Leaked draft report suggests GSA head may have misspoken on the extent of the White House’s involvement in the decision.

Nextgov

VA Wants a New Cloud for Its Mobile Apps

The effort comes as VA reworks its entire online presence to make services more accessible and user-friendly for some 9 million veterans.

Management

As Agencies Tackle Reform, Here Are Federal Leaders’ Biggest Worries

Whatever your immediate concerns are as a leader, remember that uncertainty trickles down.

Nextgov

Get Ready for a Massive Government Spending Spree

A combination of factors will see federal agencies trying to spend as much as 40 percent of their budgets in the final two months of the fiscal year.

Defense

The Future Airman is a Hacker

Air Force recruiters will prize computer skills more highly, while the service will encourage airmen to experiment with their own solutions

Management

The Shadow Rulers of the VA

How Marvel Entertainment chairman Ike Perlmutter and two other Mar-a-Lago cronies are secretly shaping the Trump administration’s veterans policies

Oversight

Play of the Day: The White House Plan To Fight Against Wildfires

The president tweeted about the natural disasters this week.

Route Fifty

Considering Ways to Prevent America's Deadliest Type of Bike Crash

"Overtaking" crashes have led to more than 600 cyclist fatalities in recent years.

Route Fifty

Moody’s: Trump’s $12B Farmer Bailout Won’t Have the Desired Effect

Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska and North Dakota have the most to lose in a “trade war” with China.

Management

The Pentagon Could Save Billions of Dollars by Fixing Problems It Already Knows About

Open recommendations include fixing 12-year-old issues with security clearances and ensuring convicted criminals cannot purchase guns.

Management

Moving Security Clearance Processing Out of OPM Won't Fix the Backlog

Although the expected order to move all background checks to the Pentagon will prevent duplicative efforts, positive effects may be limited.

Oversight

House Democrat Demands Information on Scrubbing of Obamacare Info from Medicare Website

Rep. Cummings suggests deletions without a public comment period may be illegal.

Oversight

ICE Employee Who Repeatedly Told Coworkers to Vote Hillary Is Barred From Federal Service

Watchdog is cracking down on feds in immigration who inappropriately voiced support for Clinton in the 2016 election.