Route Fifty

Feds Sue to Block California Laws Protecting Immigrants

Xavier Becerra, the state’s attorney general, says he’ll “stay the course and enforce all our laws and protect all our people.”

Oversight

Election Assistance Agency Carries On Despite GOP Resistance

Threat of Russian meddling lends urgency to tasks of new chairman.

Management

Almost Everyone Is Creative Around the Same Time Every Day

Remember that when you plan your next brainstorming session.

Nextgov

Kushner Announces ‘Whole of Government’ Plan To Improve Health Tech

Presidential adviser Jared Kushner said the administration has a plan to prioritize access to and interoperability of patient health data.

Pay & Benefits

With Board Hamstrung, Federal Employee Appeals Backlog Grows to Largest Ever Total

Trump’s nominee could help resolve cases that have been sitting in limbo for a year.

Defense

Trump Says His New Tariffs Are About National Security. They’re Not.

But they could force the world trade system into a "moment of crisis."

Nextgov

Lax Census Background Checks Could OK ‘Unfit’ Employees for 2020

Part of the problem is the type of contract the agency used to vet the temporary workers who handle the data, the inspector general found.

Management

House Approves Bill to Prevent Political Appointees From 'Burrowing In'

Legislation would require a two-year "cooling off" period before political appointees can take career positions.

Route Fifty

FEMA Wants Counties to Take Charge of Pre-Disaster Logistics

The agency has its hands full with 21 disasters in 14 states, which means federal assistance may arrive slowly in the event of yet another national emergency.

Management

Think Like a Gambler: Innovation Is About Making Bets

A key problem in government is that leaders spend too much time analyzing choices.

Route Fifty

Has Trump Intervened to Kill Gateway Funding? Chao: 'Yes!'

The multi-billion dollar project features a rail tunnel in and out of Manhattan and is a priority in the New York City region. It's getting fresh attention as Congress works on a major spending bill.

Management

White House Counselor Conway Cited for Two Hatch Act Violations

TV interviews conducted in an official capacity contained partisan comments on Alabama Senate race, Office of Special Counsel finds.

Management

Lockheed: Pentagon Negotiators Are Becoming More Unpredictable

The company’s CFO says willingness to discard precedent has stalled a new deal for the F-35 — and even affected the C-130.

Defense

Trump Said He Spoke With North Korea, But It Was Actually South Korea

Comment came during a series of jokes in a dinner speech.

Insights

CX2: The Next Generation of Citizen Engagement

Is the federal government meeting the mark on CX?

Management

Finally, Managing People Seems to be a Priority

The failure of government to adopt strategies proven in other sectors has long been a mystery.

Route Fifty

‘Desperate’ Illinois City Looks to Sell Assets After Big Pension Surprise

STATE AND LOCAL ROUNDUP | Utah governor prays for much-needed snow; Wisconsin’s lead-foot problem; convicted Pa. mayor makes appeal to citizens; and homelessness hits new lows in Lexington, Ky.

Nextgov

Defense Department Drastically Cuts Nearly $1B Cloud Contract

Amid industry criticism following a $950 million cloud computing contract last month, the Defense Department limited its scope and reduced its size down to $65 million.

Nextgov

DHS Wants Industry Input on How First Responders Should Wear Their Tech

Wearables are great—but they can't get in the way when firefighters and paramedics do their jobs.

Management

Trump Administration Plans to Slash Labor Relations Board, Consolidate Power

Trump officials have "an interest in destroying the agency from the inside," group says.