Oversight
Analysis: The President’s Hotel Donation Ruse
The Trump Organization’s response to the problem of foreign governments trying to curry favor with the president by spending money at Trump hotels is an empty gesture.
News
Seven Things Agencies Could Buy With Trump’s Donation to Treasury
The Trump Organization reportedly donated $151,000 to cover hotel profits from foreign visitors in a nod to ethics concerns.
Management
Watchdog: GSA Communications Policies Could Chill Whistleblowing
Desire for consistent message to Congress could gag those disclosing waste or fraud.
Nextgov
Senators Want Dumber Tech For Energy Grid Cybersecurity
A bill to study retro approaches to preventing and mitigating the effects of cyberattacks is advancing in the Senate.
Defense
Russia Will Challenge U.S. Military Superiority in Europe by 2025: U.S. General
Russia is advancing in key military technology areas and shows no deceleration in efforts to destabilize the West, said the commander for U.S. forces in Europe.
Defense
Pentagon Managers Defend $1 Billion Price Tag of Largest Audit Ever
Timeline for results encourages lawmakers seeking defense budget reforms.
Management
Lawmakers Prepare Spending Bill to Avoid Shutdown, But Hurdles Abound
A House panel plans to introduce an omnibus bill next week, but fights over the border wall, Planned Parenthood and a New York infrastructure project loom.
Route Fifty
For Cities, Creativity and Convergence Need to Be the Norm
According to the former mayors of Albuquerque and Philadelphia: “It’s our job to make SXSW live on all year long. Here’s why.”
Management
Political Pressure and Confusion Marked Interior’s Reassignment of Career Execs, Internal Docs Show
Political appointees criticized career workers for using "inflammatory" language on climate change.
Management
How Well Does Trump Understand NASA?
As he praised the work of SpaceX, the president seemed to undermine the efforts of his own space agency.
Management
Reading Between the Lines on Agency Mission Statements
Trump administration revisions reflect changing times.
Nextgov
Ransomware Attacks Decline But Number of Strains Doubled, Researchers Found
About half of victims who ponied up the ransom never got their data back.
Management
How the Supreme Court is Expanding the Immigrant Detention System
Last week, the justices set a grim precedent for civil rights.
Oversight
Play of the Day: The U.S. and North Korea Are Going to Talk
Trump and Kim have tentative plans to schedule a meeting.
Route Fifty
Paul Ryan Says House Infrastructure Action Will Happen in 'Stages'
The House speaker's remarks come one day after he ruled out the idea of raising the gas tax.
Nextgov
Company Calls Out ‘Old Guard’ After Pentagon Cuts Its Nearly $1 Billion Cloud Contract
REAN Cloud sounded off after finding out from press accounts that its $950 million cloud contract had been slashed.
Route Fifty
States Want More Money and Less Punishment Over Opioids
“To fully address the crisis we have to treat it as a health care issue, as a child welfare issue and as a drain on our local economies,” said U.S. Sen. Patty Murray of Washington state.
Management
Appointee Watch: HR Leaders Confirmed, While Another Official Resigns
Trump has nominated people to key posts at the Energy, Defense, and State departments.
Route Fifty
The Health-Care Gap Between Red and Blue America
States have a surprising degree of autonomy to block President Trump’s changes to Obamacare—and liberal-leaning states are already making their move.
Nextgov