Management
A One-Size-Fits-All Approach to Civil Service Reform Won't Work, Study Says
Reform effort will require bipartisan buy-in and the balancing of flexibility with preservation of merit system principles.
Route Fifty
CBO: Senate Repeal-and-Delay Bill Would Cause 32 Million to Lose Coverage
And, a separate Kaiser Family Foundation study found the bill would cut federal Medicaid funding to states by $700 billion over the next decade.
Nextgov
Survey: Government Workers Have a Confidence Problem—At Least When It Comes to I.T.
Many survey respondents feel less confident about IT operations than they did a year ago.
Pay & Benefits
Dueling Proposals for Feds’ Retirement Benefits, More Flexibility on TSP Withdrawals and More
A weekly roundup of pay and benefits news.
Nextgov
Cyber Office or Not, State Dept. Will Shape International Cyber Rules, White House Official Says
White House Cyber Lead Rob Joyce also dove into the government's use of Kaspersky anti-virus products and how agency leaders will be held accountable for breaches.
Route Fifty
In Government, ‘Failure Is Just an Opportunity to Learn’
Public policy makers in Colorado consider a second round of pathbreaking entrepreneurial-style problem-solving pitches.
Oversight
Is Closing Guantanamo Still Conceivable?
Former officials of both parties have endorsed the goal. But the 41 inmates left there have reason to wonder if they'll ever leave.
Route Fifty
Trump-Induced Labor Pains for Michigan Fruit Growers
STATE AND LOCAL NEWS ROUNDUP: Ohio’s planned review of state tax breaks hasn’t begun; controversial cloud-seeding in North Dakota; and an “atypical” case of mad cow disease in Alabama.
Management
New Law Aims To Cut Red Tape
But vacancies in the White House budget office threaten to slow the law’s implementation.
Oversight
USPS Vows Corrective Action to ‘Systemic Violations’ of Hatch Act During 2016 Election
Postal management created "institutional bias" in favor of individual candidates, watchdog says.
Nextgov
House Oversight Passes FITARA Backup Plan
The panel moved along a standalone bill to extend sunsetting provisions—just in case.
Nextgov
Is That Really You Typing? New DOD Tech Will Know
In its quest to drop common access cards, the Defense Department is piloting an authentication system based on the nuances of users' typing.
Management
Most People Feel Guilty About Taking Breaks—But Science Shows Rest Is Just As Vital As Hard Work
If we push ourselves too hard, we'll never figure out how to grow.
Defense
The Army Seeks Internet-of-Battlefield-Things, Distributed Bot Swarms
After nearly two decades of war against technologically unsophisticated foes, the Army Research Lab is reorienting to counter China and Russia.
Management
The Simple Mistakes That End Up Wrecking Attempts To Collaborate At Work
Do you put the same effort into preparing for meetings with coworkers as you do for clients?
Oversight
Play of the Day: The GOP Health Care Plan Is Done… For Now
Trump says he wants Congressional Republicans to "let Obamacare fail."
Pay
Non-profit seeks better tax treatment for feds
The National Association of Active and Retired Federal Employees makes pitch in advance of congressional tax reform efforts.
Management
Nine Major Agency Reform Proposals in the House GOP Budget
Eliminating programs, restructuring agency components, streamlining hiring and more.
Nextgov