Defense
Once Again, Trump Lurches to End a War, But Troops Remain
The collapse of talks with the Taliban raises questions about the president’s willingness to bring troops home from costly engagements overseas.
Management
Federal Officials Credit Trump's Crackdown after Border Apprehensions Dropped in August
The monthly total is the lowest since January — and less than half of this year's peak in May.
Oversight
Play of the Day: The President's Canceled Meeting With the Taliban
Donald Trump announced on Twitter that he decided against meeting with the terrorist organization.
Route Fifty
Union Organizing Emails May Be Subject to Disclosure After State High Court Ruling
A group often at odds with government labor unions says the case sets an important precedent for when correspondence about union activities is public record.
Route Fifty
Food Stamp Recipients in Some States Would Be Hit Harder than Others by Trump Proposal, Analysis Says
A policy analysis also found that a proposed change to food stamp eligibility rules would affect more people than federal estimates had originally anticipated.
Workforce
Agencies Kick Off Annual Giving Drive for Federal Workers, Hoping to Reverse Years of Decline
A series of internal and external factors has driven the Combined Federal Campaign to the brink of irrelevance.
Route Fifty
State Attorneys General Launch Google Antitrust Probe
The investigation of Google’s advertising practices is the latest to target tech companies.
Nextgov
Energy Unveils Artificial Intelligence and Technology Office
The new office will synchronize all departmentwide AI activities, facilitate partnerships and accelerate the delivery of AI capabilities.
Pay & Benefits
Defense Employee Health Support Programs Restored After Weeklong Outage
Department officials said a "previously unidentified contracting issue" led to a temporary suspension of programs designed to help employees cope with substance abuse and other mental health problems.
Nextgov
DISA is Merging Its Cyber Operations Into a Single Cloud-Based Platform
The Unified Situational Cyber Awareness capability would help cyber analysts keep tabs on every part of the Department of Defense Information Network.
Defense
Viewpoint: The Writing Was on the Wall With Afghanistan
The latest bout of bloodshed may have played some role in the actions Trump just took, but it is also a convenient out for an administration that had gone all in on a floundering initiative.
Nextgov
Pentagon’s New Electronic Health Records System Deployed To Second Wave of Bases
The MHS GENESIS system went live at four more sites this weekend, teeing up the second major test for the Defense Department’s new health records system.
Management
Leadership, Flexible Work Arrangements Key to Success of Employee Health and Wellness Programs
Agencies earning top marks on recent assessment share their secrets.
Management
Analysis: NOAA Politicized the Weather Report
The scientific agency sided with the president’s inaccurate forecast over the work of its professional staff.
Oversight
Viewpoint: Interior Secretary’s Move to ‘Enhance’ Ethics Could Legitimize Bad Behavior
Consolidating the department’s ethics programs in the Office of the Solicitor will benefit leadership, not the public.
Oversight
Play of the Day: The President's Busy Schedule
Amid reports that Donald Trump is not working hard, the White House released his schedule.
Defense
Viewpoint: The Mattis Two-Step
The forever general’s attempt to "stay out of politics" is bringing him right into it.
Route Fifty
Union-Backed Ballot Proposal Takes Aim at Self-Service Grocery Store Checkouts
The measure in Oregon is still in the early stages.
Management
Don’t Fall Into This Leadership Trap
If you’re only transmitting information, you’re not influencing people. Leadership is more than giving inspirational speeches.
Oversight