Oversight
Election Commission Needs More Authority In Face of 2020 Threats, Report Finds
“The federal government regulates colored pencils . . . more strictly than it does America’s election infrastructure,” the nonpartisan Brennan Center notes.
Route Fifty
Federal Recommendation for State Bike Helmet Laws Elicits Pushback
Cycling advocates and some city officials are bristling at the idea of requiring people to don helmets when they ride.
Route Fifty
In the One State that Tested the Census, Concerns About Reaching Hard-to-Count Residents
The census deployed the only end-to-end test for the 2020 census in Rhode Island. But it didn’t assess efforts to reach communities of people who could be hesitant to participate, something local leaders are now trying to figure out.
Nextgov
China Said It’s Developing 6G. What Does That Mean?
While most mobile users operate on 4G, the country announced two working groups focused on advancing 6G.
Management
Two of U.S. Energy Secretary Rick Perry's Political Supporters Won 'Potentially Lucrative' Ukraine Energy Deal, Report Says
The Associated Press reports that the oil and gas exploration contract was awarded after Perry recommended one of his backers as an energy adviser to Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Route Fifty
A City Could Wipe Away 55,000 Old Warrants
More than 44,000 people in New Orleans have warrants for traffic violations and what advocates call “crimes of poverty.” City leaders say the system needs to be overhauled.
Management
Bernie Sanders Announces Plans to Break Up Homeland Security Dept. and Expand VA
DHS is an aimless "bureaucratic behemoth," Sanders says, while VA is on a path toward privatization.
Nextgov
Don’t Rush Quantum-Proof Encryption, Warns NSA Research Director
Quantum computers could crack the codes that secure the world’s digital information but racing to a solution could create more threats, according to Dr. Deborah Frincke.
Nextgov
Agencies Are Sending Better Data to USASpending But Still Have Room for Improvement, GAO Says
Confusion over data standards, process and transparency remain.
Pay & Benefits
Federal Retirement Applications, Processing Both Down in October
The backlog of pending requests crept to nearly 18,000 last month, although the number of applications is significantly down from the same period in 2018.
Management
Leading and Succeeding Where Organizational Boundaries Are Unclear
These are the gray zones—visible an irritating to all—where authority and responsibility are muddled.
Management
Viewpoint: Hush Contracts Corrupt Everyone Who Signs Them
Nondisclosure agreements silence sexual-harassment victims and White House employees alike. The law shouldn’t allow these deals.
Defense
Viewpoint: How Best to Thank a Veteran? Avoid More Unjust Wars
A 2017 poll found that about half of Americans would support launching an unprovoked war on a country that poses no near-term threat.
Pay & Benefits
Updated Consumers’ Checkbook Guide Aims to Help Feds Compare Health Plan Costs
“Most people don’t realize how much money they’re leaving on the table,” says consumer advocate Walton Francis.
Route Fifty
Texas Will Use State Land for Homeless Camp
STATE AND LOCAL ROUNDUP | Border mayors convene in San Diego … Virginia governor announces tech talent pipeline … Idaho governor asks state agencies to cut budgets.
Route Fifty
A State Braces for Major Transportation Funding Cuts As Ballot Measure Nears Passage
Seattle area officials are vowing to sue over the Washington state initiative, which seeks to limit vehicle registration fees to $30 and impose new restrictions on taxes.
Defense
At Long Last, the F-35 and F-22 Might Talk to Each Other
And once service officials can digitally link two of the military’s stealthiest platforms, they’re going to try to link everything else.
Management
Union Decries VA Response to Lynched Doll Found in Staff Area of Louisiana Facility
Employees at the Overton Brooks VA Medical Center have questioned the finding that the person responsible was not an employee, given where the doll was located.
Nextgov
Report: Cyber Workforce Must Grow 145% to Meet Global Demand
In the U.S., there are only enough cybersecurity pros to fill about 60% of the available jobs, according to industry researchers.
Management