Management

Plan to Improve Government Performance Would Actually Undercut Progress

Congress should commit to the system in place, rather than burden agencies with a duplicative set of reporting mandates.

Route Fifty

Fast Growth, Economic Divides Weigh Heavy on Austin’s Smart City Bid

“This is not about testing new, shiny-penny technologies that will do nifty things,” the city’s mayor says. “This about using mobility technology to actually address basic problems.”

Management

Researchers Say You Can Enjoy the Benefits of a Good Night's Sleep… Even if You’ve Barely Rested

If you’re constantly blaming your grumpiness on a bad night’s rest, it could be pessimism causing so many problems.

Management

Finding Solitude in an Era of Perpetual Contact

If a person is alone in the forest when a tree falls, but she doesn't notice it because she is texting, does it still count as solitude?

Tech

What Happens If NASA Finds Life on Mars?

A philosopher argues that now is the time to figure it out, before we make the inevitable discovery of extraterrestrial life.

Oversight

Postal Service Has a New Role: Unwitting Drug Courier

Mail treaties fail to hold foreign countries accountable for security screening, lawmakers say.

Defense

Can the Navy’s Electric Cannon Be Saved?

The Pentagon’s futuristic railgun may be obsolete before it arrives. But not its high-tech bullets.

Nextgov

Congress Scrutinizes DHS, DOD Silicon Valley Offices

Both departments have until mid-June to provide briefings on their West Coast efforts.

Nextgov

Where is Customer Experience Working in Government? We’ll Show You.

On June 7, we’ll explore some of the best CX use cases in government.

Management

The U.S. Enters a Historic 10-Year 'Hurricane Drought'

A major hurricane not making landfall for this long only happens once every 270 years, according to NASA.

Route Fifty

Kansas City’s Smart City Challenge Bid Builds Upon Its IoT, Transportation Investments

The city wants to expand its digital corridors to better connect neighborhoods, deploy autonomous buses and boost mobility for residents and visitors.

Route Fifty

Enforcement of Mental Health Care Coverage Lacking

Millions of people who suffer from mental illness or addiction are still not getting the treatment they need.

Pay & Benefits

Changes to Veterans’ Preference Could Be On the Horizon

A provision in a major Senate bill would limit the advantages veterans have in applying for federal jobs.

Nextgov

EXCLUSIVE: 18F Tech Team Struggles to Cover its Costs, Draft Report Shows

Per its own projections, 18F is not expected to break even until at least fiscal 2018.

Management

Which Clinton Aide Arranged the Private Email Server?

Eight former aides declined to cooperate with the State IG; two others failed to respond to the IG’s requests.

Management

Harvard Researchers: Not All Women Should 'Lean In' For Salary Negotiations

Women are less likely to ask for more, and therefore get less than men.

Management

A Gunfight Breaks Out Over Navy Ship’s Cannon

A fight has erupted between gunmakers vying to arm the Littoral Combat Ship from swarm boats

Oversight

Hillary Clinton Warns the World About Donald Trump

The Democratic presidential frontrunner calls her Republican rival’s ideas “dangerously incoherent” in a sweeping foreign-policy speech.

Management

The Five Factors That Drive Employee Satisfaction

Federal data show that employee engagement lags far behind agency goals.

Management

Agency Funding in Limbo as House and Senate Forge Different Paths

Partisan rancor in lower chamber obscures progress in upper.