Personality

C. Virginia Fields’ retirement plan: Being a voice for civic engagement

The former City Council member and Manhattan borough president discusses what’s next after stepping down as CEO of the health advocacy nonprofit Black Health in an interview with City & State.

Nextgov

Space operations boss wants more virtual simulations to boost training

After a recent demo, Lt. Gen. David Miller said Space Operations Command needs realistic simulations to train at the highest levels.

Ideas

NASA’s astronauts return after a year living on simulated Mars

Everything about the mission was conducted to simulate an actual Martian environment.

Nextgov

DHS generative AI pilot embraces hiccups of emerging tech

Michael Boyce, the director of the AI Corps at the Department of Homeland Security said a pilot program using generative AI to train new asylum and refugee officers is leaning into hallucinations to better mirror real interviews.

Route Fifty

Rough ride? Data bikes chart the condition of bike paths in more cities

The tools that transportation agencies use to record the condition of pavement on roadways don’t work for biking and walking paths, so several communities are rolling out bikes that can get the job done.

Nextgov

Several DOD IT programs still don’t have a cyber strategy, watchdog finds

Cyber strategy requirements in the Defense Department’s IT business unit date back to at least 2014. A government watchdog thinks it's time for an update.

Route Fifty

Stackable certificates could be a lifeline for governments facing an IT talent crisis

COMMENTARY | In an era of breakneck digital transformation, this incremental and cumulative approach to upskilling could be the answer to states and localities' hiring woes.

Defense One

US ‘winding down’ Gaza pier operations

Now, the issue is “getting aid around Gaza effectively,” national security advisor says.

Management

Senate's FY25 spending bills gain bipartisan momentum

Committee reaches bipartisan agreement to boost funding levels that lawmakers say are key to avoiding furloughs and layoffs at agencies.

Route Fifty

A nonprofit’s abrupt closure puts access to public benefits at risk

The Benefits Data Trust said it would close after a ‘careful review’ of its operations and finances. The closure leaves in question the status of its work with numerous state governments.

Contracts

Yulista awarded $219M Army aviation support contract

The Army sought an 8(a) small business to work with one of its air integration and engineering teams.

Workforce

The FLRA is nearly back at full strength following Senate confirmation vote

The Senate voted 55-37 to confirm Anne Wagner as the third member atop the Federal Labor Relations Authority, allowing the agency to consider controversial cases again for the first time in more than a year.

Companies

AI and rockets mark the week's space investments

The venture capital arms of Boeing, Booz Allen Hamilton and Lockheed Martin are among those involved in the deals.

Nextgov

NASA’s astronauts return after a year living on simulated Mars

Everything about the mission was conducted to simulate an actual Martian environment.

Contracts

T4NG2 lawsuit hearings set for late summer

The defendants want the case dismissed, saying challenges to the solicitation for the Veterans Affairs' $60 billion IT vehicle are too late.

Management

House fails to pass measure to hold attorney general in ‘inherent contempt'

House legislators on Thursday rejected a resolution to fine Attorney General Merrick Garland for withholding audio tapes from the Justice Department special counsel’s interview with President Joe Biden.

Defense One

US agrees to build icebreakers with Canada, Finland

White House hopes Ice Pact will boost shipbuilding in democratic countries while it addresses Arctic challenges.