Defense
The Air Force’s ‘Doomsday Plane’ Is in the Shop
The E-4B, a plane that would quarterback a nuclear war, has lost its secondary mission as the secretary of Defense's main long-haul ride.
Management
Addressing the Crisis in American Governance
The National Academy of Public Administration launched its Grand Challenges initiative to tackle the most critical problems facing the nation.
Route Fifty
Local Elected Officials Lambast Book Publishers for Limiting Library Access to E-Books
Librarians have been boycotting one publishing company over restrictive new policies. Now more than 70 mayors and county executives are urging publishers to grant libraries better access to e-books.
Route Fifty
Democrats Launch Inquiry Into Opportunity Zones Program
They’re focused on whether political interference by Trump administration officials played a role in the selection of a Nevada zone. Meanwhile, a senator has put forward a bill that would impose new transparency requirements.
Nextgov
House Committee to Hold Hearing on the Online Exploitation of Veterans
A veteran, a scientist and representatives from Facebook and Twitter are all set to testify.
Workforce
Interior to Offer Buyouts to Employees Tapped for Relocation, As Some Already Head for the Exits
"We're losing people every day," one employee says.
Route Fifty
Another Major City Adopts Ranked Choice Voting for Elections
New York will become the largest city in the country with ranked choice voting in some local elections after voters this week approved a ballot measure to adopt the system.
Nextgov
Despite Federal Efforts, 5.5 Billion Robocalls Targeted Americans in October
Robocallers just keep on robo-calling.
Oversight
What’s at Stake If Sen. Rand Paul Names the Ukraine Whistleblower
While there might not be legal implications, the move could hurt national security and have a chilling effect on future whistleblowers.
Oversight
GovExec Wins Eddie Award for 2018 Immigration Crackdown Series
The stories documented the Homeland Security Department’s struggle to hire thousands of new border security personnel.
Pay & Benefits
No New Locality Pay Areas, But Salary Council Considers More Formula Tweaks
The Federal Salary Council announced that the pay gap between federal workers and the private sector, as calculated by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, now sits at 26.71%.
Management
How Mike Pence’s Office Meddled in Foreign Aid to Reroute Money to Favored Christian Groups
Officials at USAID warned that favoring Christian groups in Iraq could be unconstitutional and inflame religious tensions. When one colleague lost her job, they said she had been “Penced.”
Route Fifty
Kansas City Votes to Remove Martin Luther King Jr’s Name from Historic Street
Residents voted overwhelmingly to restore MLK Jr. Boulevard back to its original name, The Paseo.
Nextgov
Vets Can Now See VA, Private Sector Health Data in iPhone App
Apple’s Health app now integrates with Veterans Affairs’ patient data API, giving veterans access to their medical information on their phones.
Nextgov
Senate Lawmakers Want to Pop Social Media Filter Bubbles
A newly proposed bill would require large social media companies to give users the chance to opt out of algorithmically curated content.
Defense
SecDef: China Is Exporting Killer Robots to the Mideast
For the first time, a senior Defense official has called out Beijing for selling lethal autonomy.
Management
Justice Department Announces ‘Strike Force’ to Combat Procurement Crimes
The interagency partnership aims to prevent bid-rigging at all levels of government.
Workforce
Impeachment Transcripts Show Tanking Morale at State as Foreign Service Officers Raise Legal Defense Funds
"It's scary," one State Department official says.
Route Fifty
There Could Be Millions More Americans Living in Poverty Than Officially Reported
New research suggests poverty statistics do not fully account for how price inflation differs for the rich and poor.
Route Fifty