Route Fifty
$19 Billion Disaster Relief Bill Blocked for Second Time
The House was unable to approve a package of disaster relief funds destined for states hit by hurricanes, wildfires and flooding after a Republican lawmaker lodged an objection Tuesday.
Nextgov
Critical Update: At Your Digital Service, Part 2
We talk with U.S. Digital Service project managers for a ground-level view of what it really takes to make innovation happen in government.
Defense
NATO Getting More Aggressive on Offensive Cyber
Secretary General Stoltenberg says NATO pushes limits of what the alliance can do in cyberspace.
Defense
Defense Contractor Accused of Overcharging Will Repay $16 Million
TransDigm Acts following inspector general report and noisy hearing.
Management
How to Promote Your Work Without Being Self-Promotional
Consider these seven questions to help you avoid sounding like a braggart.
Management
The Most Unrealistic Proposal in the Democratic Presidential Primary
Michael Bennet and Elizabeth Warren want members of Congress to ban themselves from ever lobbying after they leave office. Here’s why it’ll never happen.
Defense
Viewpoint: The Navy Didn’t Take My Reporting Seriously
Emails obtained using a FOIA request reveal how naval officers really feel about critical reporting.
Defense
Doping Soldiers So They Fight Better – Is It Ethical?
Doping is condemned in sports. But what about in the military? Should soldiers be allowed or even encouraged to take drugs that make them superior fighters and more likely to complete a mission?
Management
Viewpoint: A Single Scandal Sums Up All of Trump’s Failures
The president has been intervening in the process of producing a border wall, on behalf of a favored firm.
Route Fifty
$831 Million Project to Repel Invasive Fish From Great Lakes Gets Army Corps Greenlight
One advocate describes a “race against time” to block Asian carp, which pose a threat to native wildlife.
Route Fifty
Lawmakers Take a Hard Look at Facial Recognition Technology
One expert estimates a quarter of American law enforcement agencies have facial recognition capabilities, but the technology remains largely unregulated.
Management
U.S. To Send 900 Troops To Middle East To Counter Iran
The Trump administration insists that the deployment is purely defensive.
Management
Obama Called It LGBTQ Rights. Trump Calls It Executive Overreach.
The Department of Health and Human Services is joining other agencies in rolling back controversial discrimination protections created under the past president.
Route Fifty
State Prohibits Schools From Using Native American Mascots
Maine became the first state in the country to outright ban schools from using Native American mascots and imagery, though other states have passed similar, less strict measures.
Nextgov
How the Bureau of Labor Statistics is Ditching Hand-coding Data
Using some DIY-attitude and machine learning tools, BLS figured out how to automate 85% of its survey workload.
Nextgov
The Pentagon is Trying to Secure Its Networks Against Quantum Codebreakers
The Defense Information Systems Agency is exploring new encryption strategies that could withstand an attack from quantum computers.
Management
TSA Braces for 4% Increase in Summer Travelers Amid Staffing Woes
Low pay and limited career opportunities are contributing to high turnover at the agency, investigators have found.
Management
Electric Vehicle Tax Credit Program Needs More Than Routine Maintenance
The U.S. Treasury is missing out on a program that often benefits the wealthy.
Management
OPM-GSA Merger Could Cause Regulatory Bottleneck, Legal Challenges
Even if Congress were to pass the Trump administration’s proposal to reorganize OPM, it could still take years before policymakers could tackle other workforce issues.
Management