Route Fifty
Cities Seek to Align ‘Opportunity Zone’ Capital With Local Priorities
"There's a lot of work to do here that tax-advantaged capital will not do by itself,” says urban policy expert Bruce Katz.
Route Fifty
Before States and Localities Can Respond to Disasters, FEMA Must Coordinate Advance Contracts Better
A new federal report report on 2017 advance contracts found the agency’s coordination on disaster response remains wanting.
Management
DHS Scales Back Troubled Contract Designed to Bring on More Border Agents
Agency makes adjustment after contractor brought on 0.2 percent of anticipated hires.
Management
Court Lacks Jurisdiction Over Trump’s Workforce Orders, Justice Lawyers Argue
The administration says only the Federal Labor Relations Authority can review unions’ legal challenge. But the president has failed to nominate a general counsel, rendering it unable to function.
Nextgov
CBP Officers Aren’t Deleting Data After Warrantless Device Searches, IG Says
An inspector general report found Border Patrol officers didn’t follow standard procedures during device searches, mostly because those procedures weren’t clearly laid out.
Nextgov
OMB Redefines Government's 'Crown Jewels'
A new policy memo expands the government’s guidance for protecting high-value assets to include every agency and office and broadens the definition of “value.”
Nextgov
IARPA Is Trying Keep Adversaries From Corrupting AI Tools
Could cyber adversaries be training the government’s artificial intelligence tools to fail?
Management
Analysis: Why Trump Can’t Find Anyone to Be His Chief of Staff
Sure, the job is terrible—but that’s not new. What’s different is that this president can’t use the same leverage that predecessors such as George H. W. Bush and Bill Clinton did.
Management
How To Deal With Naysaying Employees
Almost every team has one: the resident contrarian who takes issue with every plan.
Oversight
Judge Slams Justice and State Departments for Inept Handling of FOIA Requests
Ruling saying the agencies’ approach “smacks of outrageous misconduct” and “negligence” gives new life to Clinton email case.
Management
What You Need to Know Before Taking a Polygraph
Eliminate the stress from this security clearance screening test.
Oversight
Incoming Oversight Chair Blasts New Hatch Act Guidance Limiting Talk of ‘Resistance’ in the Office
Rep. Cummings calls Trump-era adjustments "radical" and perhaps "unconstitutional."
Management
Analysis: John Kelly Couldn't Fix the Trump Presidency
Under Kelly’s guidance, the White House functioned more effectively than it had during the tenure of his predecessor—yet it still remained unfathomably chaotic.
Management
The U.S. Plans To Stop Releasing Its Most Detailed Census Data
The Census Bureau is concerned about your privacy. Maybe a little too concerned.
Oversight
The Dangerous ‘New Phase’ for Donald Trump
The incoming House Judiciary chairman says the president has allegedly been involved in “massive frauds against the American people.”
Management
Americans Value Critical Thinking But Choose Not To Practice It
Only 25% of people are willing to regularly have debates with people who disagree with them, according to a new study.
Oversight
Play of the Day: John Kelly's Time At The White House Is Up
The general is leaving his post at the end of the year.
Route Fifty
Reply-All Nightmare in Utah Offers Important Lessons for Any Large Organization
STATE AND LOCAL ROUNDUP | Texas civil asset forfeitures … New Mexico anti-crime omnibus bill … and Philadelphia “good cause” eviction rules.
Route Fifty
How the Humble Home Water Heater Could Play a Big Role in Energy Storage
A pilot study in the Pacific Northwest shows the promise of “the unexpected battery in your basement.”
Pay & Benefits