Nextgov

Lawmakers Demand Answers on Facial Recognition Deployments in Public Housing

In a letter to HUD Secretary Ben Carson, democrats from both chambers raised concerns about threats to residents’ privacy.

Management

Data Evangelists Spread the Word on Boosting Government Performance

A recent gathering of state and local officials had the feel of an old time revival.

Route Fifty

In This State, Government Employees Can Now Bring Their Babies to Work

Starting next month, some state employees in New Hampshire will be allowed to bring their infants to work.

Pay & Benefits

TSP to Change COLA Calculations, and More

A weekly roundup of pay and benefits news.

Oversight

Analysis: The Stain of Impeachment Will Last Forever

The House is poised to indelibly alter Trump’s legacy.

Oversight

Watchdog: OPM is At Risk of Not Being Able to Restore IT Systems Post-Disaster 

The massive 2015 data breaches that exposed personal information of current and former federal employees are the subject of an ongoing lawsuit. 

Nextgov

App Rationalization Is Not About 'Low-Hanging Fruit'

While agencies often look for quick wins on new administration policies, the application rationalization process is not one of those areas, an official said.

Workforce

Poll: Majority of Feds Support Impeachment, Half Say Rhetoric Has Hurt Their Safety

One in three feds are concerned about impeachment's impact on morale, survey finds.

Pay & Benefits

OPM Issues Guidance on Christmas Eve Closure

Most federal workers will receive their usual basic pay.

Nextgov

CISA Still Wants Your Thoughts on Its Vulnerability Disclosure Policy

The agency wants feedback on how the government should accept unsolicited bug reports.

Nextgov

A More Automated FedRAMP is One Step Closer

The program office seeks public comments on updates to its automation plans.

Route Fifty

The Lasting Health Effects of Moving to a Wealthier Neighborhood

New research found that young children from low-income families who moved to neighborhoods with less poverty through housing vouchers spent less on health care as adults.

Oversight

In Win for Harvey Victims, Federal Judge Finds Government Liable for Reservoir Flooding

During Hurricane Harvey, thousands of properties behind two federally owned reservoirs flooded. On Tuesday, the United States Court of Federal Claims ruled that the government was liable for the flooding and that property owners are eligible for damages.

Defense

Veterans with TBI Have More Than 2X Higher Risk Of Suicide

Veterans with a moderate or severe traumatic brain injury are more than twice as likely as those without a TBI to commit suicide.

Nextgov

NIST Launches Biometric Databases to Boost Identity Verification Research

The rollout marks the beginning of “what is intended to be an expanding collection of biometric resources.”

Pay & Benefits

In Surprise Move, Trump Gives Federal Employees Christmas Eve Off

The move splits from most recent precedent when Christmas fell on a Wednesday.

Management

Hiring Initiatives, Funding Windfalls and Other Major Takeaways for Federal Agencies in the 2020 Spending Bills

Two bills setting the line-by-line allocation of $1.4 trillion are set to become law later this week.

Route Fifty

Over 40% of Consumers in Some States Have Delinquent Household Debt, Data Indicate

Financial stress from debt has subsided somewhat since the Great Recession, but remains high in some places. New data provides insight into how it looks at the state and county level.

Nextgov

The Governmentwide Tech Guide to the 2020 Spending Deals

The 2020 appropriations package includes billions for tech upgrades at some agencies, as well as funding for governmentwide modernization projects. In some cases, that money comes with strings attached.

Management

Congress Will Not Block Mandated Union Contracts in Spending Bill

In a blow to labor groups, a provision blocking the implementation of collective bargaining agreements that have not been “mutually agreed to” by all parties does not appear in the final spending legislation.