Management
Musk's role as ‘special government employee’ raises ethics questions
The SpaceX founder and CEO's moves across federal agencies break with tradition and could result in legal action.
Management
Musk visits and asserts growing influence at GSA
Musk has former employees installed at the government’s HR shop, and several have appeared at its acquisition, tech and real estate agency as well.
Transition
2 Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Democrats fired
Their removals by President Donald Trump leave the EEOC without a quorum.
Tech
Gregory Barbaccia named federal CIO
The Palantir alum has also served in the Army and as an intelligence analyst.
Transition
Musk visits OPM following workforce assignments for DOGE
Amanda Scales, a former employee of Elon Musk’s AI company, was recently tapped to be the chief of staff at OPM.
Oversight
Top Oversight Democrat says he’s open to collaborate with the DOGE
The new Department of Government Efficiency — which, despite the “department” referenced in its name, is an advisory effort, not a government department — has aims to trim the federal workforce and hunt efficiencies in tech and fraud reduction efforts.
Tech
US has ‘a lot of work to do’ on cyber defenses, departing cyber czar says
Outgoing National Cyber Director Harry Coker thinks his office needs more influence over the federal cyber budget but not necessarily more authority on offensive cyber operations.
Management
OPM CIO announces retirement
Guy Cavallo is the agency’s longest serving CIO in the past decade.
Tech
Intelligence CIO moves to helm IT at the National Institutes of Health
Adele Merritt, who served as CIO for the Office of the Director of National Intelligence since January 2022, took over as the NIH CIO on Dec. 16.
Management
USDS looks for a new deputy as the Trump administration approaches
Mina Hsiang, current administrator of the U.S. Digital Service, is expected to leave before the Trump administration takes the helm.
Tech
How the federal CIO is prepping for the presidential transition
Cybersecurity, customer experience and effective transition efforts have been top-of-mind for Clare Matorana in the last days of the Biden administration.
Management
CISA Director Jen Easterly to depart on Inauguration Day
Easterly and Deputy Director Nitin Natarajan are set to leave as an administration change casts doubt on the agency’s future.
Management
Holding poor performers accountable can lead to better government
COMMENTARY | The current process for addressing poor performers in government is difficult for managers and confusing for employees.
Management
The government needs to up its game on technology and use of data to better serve the public
COMMENTARY | Despite pockets of progress, the government is still behind the curve when it comes to modern technology and AI, writes one good government observer.
Management
Fixing the broken federal hiring process is critical to improving government performance
COMMENTARY | It's time to fix what has become a convoluted and broken system.
Management
The federal government must make improved customer service a priority
COMMENTARY | A good government requires good customer experience—and that requires serious reform, writes one observer.
Management
The federal government must focus on developing and supporting leaders dedicated to serving the public interest
COMMENTARY | Unlike organizations within the private sector and the military, the executive branch does not have a systematic, deliberate approach to developing and supporting federal leaders, writes one good government advocate.
Management
5 steps for government reform
COMMENTARY | Fixing these systemic issues would maximize the impact of agencies and career civil servants already doing amazing work every day, writes one good government advocate.
Defense
DARPA hires Twitter whistleblower to serve as its CIO
Peiter “Mudge” Zatko — the former security head of then-Twitter who alleged that the platform was overlooking critical security flaws — will be returning to DARPA after almost a decade away in the private sector.
Tech