Management

Winning and Losing the HR Game

Using the same metrics across federal agencies would highlight the best and worst performers.

Defense

The Problem With a ‘Smart’ Border Wall

To resolve Trump’s impasse, many lawmakers have proposed boosting surveillance technology to create a virtual border wall. Is that more humane and effective?

Defense

The Air Force Has Won Control of the Space Force

Six months ago, service leaders said they were being cut out of the planning process. Now they’re being put in charge of it.

Management

Shining a Brighter Light on the Work of Federal Watchdogs

Providing timelier access to the status of IG recommendations could incentivize agencies to act.

Oversight

Play of the Day: Trump, the Wall and Dogs

The president held a rally in Texas and covered a range of topics.

Route Fifty

Appeal to Trump on SALT Cap Appears to Get Cool Reception

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo says "there is no more vital long-term issue" for his state's finances than a limit on the state and local tax costs taxpayers can write off on their federal returns.

Route Fifty

Bike Share Continues to Have an Equity Problem

Washington, D.C made it a goal to place more bike stations in disadvantaged neighborhoods, but wealthier, white areas are favored while usage remains low in predominantly black wards.

Management

Labor Relations Authority Chairwoman Decertifies Agency’s Own Union

Colleen Duffy Kiko claims the agency was violating the Civil Service Reform Act by recognizing its union, despite a 1980 Justice Department legal opinion stating otherwise.

Tech

A Very Relatable Moment on the International Space Station

Even astronauts have to deal with plumbing problems.

Management

AFRICOM Commander: Elite Troop Cuts Won’t Help China, Eyes Shift To Conventional Forces

“It’s really a misleading narrative to say that optimization is causing us to walk away from Africa,” Gen. Waldhauser said in an interview.

Route Fifty

Costly Natural Disasters Becoming More Frequent

In the past two years, damage caused by wildfires cost about $40 billion, roughly the same as the costs of the past 37 years combined, an analysis finds.

Nextgov

DHS Wants to Outfit Its Dogs With Wearable Tech

The agency is investing in a smart harness that would monitor the health of Border Patrol’s K-9 units.

Management

Trump Says He’s ‘Extremely Unhappy’ With Spending Agreement, Still Predicts No Shutdown

Congressional leadership appears on board with the deal, though Trump would not commit to signing it.

Tech

FBI Should Tighten Monitoring of Employee Texting, Watchdog Says

Software recommendations come as follow-up to 2016 review of alleged political bias.

Nextgov

GSA, NGA Expand Space-Based Data Offerings

Agencies now have more options when purchasing geospatial data and analytics off GSA’s IT Schedule 70.

Pay & Benefits

OPM Awards $416M Contract for Protection Services to Hack Victims

The millions of federal employees and contractors using those services will see no disruption.

Insights

From "Cloud First" to "Cloud Smart"

GBC polled 220 federal and defense employees on their motivations for migrating to cloud and the obstacles to doing so. Click here to read the results.

Management

Paving a Bipartisan Path on Health Care Reform

The electorate is right to put the issue at the top of its worry list, says a leading scholar and former advisor to U.S. presidents and policymakers of both parties.

Management

U.S. Marshals Complain That System Unfairly Denies Them a Promotion

Clash on merit principles raises questions about agency’s management structure.

Defense

The Afghan Government Is Missing From Afghanistan's Peace Process

Two sets of negotiations with the Taliban are under way in Afghanistan. Neither includes the country’s democratically elected, internationally recognized administration.