Pay & Benefits
Federal Employees Unlikely to Receive Extra Time Off Around Christmas
Christmas Eve falls on a Sunday this year.
Oversight
Play of the Day: The Trump Family's White House Christmas Decor
The White House tweeted a scary photo of the holiday decoration.
Route Fifty
As States Face Sluggish Revenue Growth, They’re Threatened by Federal Policies
New Jersey’s former budget director and comptroller digs into expenditure data from a recently released report from the National Association of State Budget Officers and has six key observations.
Management
Court Refuses to Block Trump Appointee From Assuming Command of Consumer Bureau
Judge rejects CFPB deputy director’s request for a temporary restraining order to bar Mick Mulvaney from serving as acting director.
Nextgov
EPA Sued Over Employees Using Encrypted Messaging App
An advocacy group is suing the EPA over an open records request regarding employees’ use of the application Signal.
Route Fifty
Trump Tells Senators He Backs Capped SALT Deduction in Tax Bill
GOP tax legislation in the Senate could get a floor vote before the end of the week.
Defense
North Korea Ends Its Pause in Missile Tests
Along with speculation it was signaling a desire for talks
Management
The Agencies Cutting the Most Regulations
More than 80 percent of Trump's withdrawn rules were proposed under Obama.
Oversight
These Are the Lending Scams CFPB Has Stopped Recently
From "zombie loans" to charging minorities more—companies refunded $12 billion in unfair fees and charges since the CFPB was formed.
Management
How To Network At Conferences Even If You're Not a Natural
Don't miss out on the most valuable aspect of attending a conference.
Management
How To Digital Detox Without Totally Ditching Your Phone
Freeing yourself from your device doesn't need to be extreme in order to be effective.
Nextgov
All Major Agencies Will Be on Federal Cybersecurity Dashboard by February
The dashboard will help government cyber officials work faster when a new bug is discovered.
Nextgov
The Customs System That Clogged Airports In January Isn’t Fixed, IG Says
The agency doesn't have a backup system in place if another outage happens, the watchdog said.
Pay & Benefits
TSP Officials to Continue Studying a Potential Change in How Lifecycle Funds Are Invested
Proposed shift could offer increased returns, at a greater risk.
Nextgov
Government Has Completed Phase Two of Kaspersky Ban
Agencies have all scanned their systems for the Russian anti-virus and drafted plans to replace it.
Route Fifty
Colorado Is the 1st State to Warn Residents of CHIP’s Uncertain Future
The state only has enough money to keep the program operational until Jan. 31.
Nextgov
GAO: FCC Needs to Consider How Connected Toasters Could Clog the Spectrum
The internet of things could eat up spectrum, but the FCC isn’t doing enough to anticipate strains.
Management
Shutdown Negotiations Between Trump and Democrats Break Down Before Starting
Congressional leaders on both sides of the aisle warn of increased chances of shuttering agencies.
Defense
Top Enlisted Leaders Push Back: There Is No Readiness ‘Crisis’
Recent deadly accidents are concerning, but part of the risk of military operations around the globe, they said.
Management