Route Fifty
Throwing Shade: Reducing Urban Temperatures by Planting Trees
A Maryland county is planting free trees in urban areas to increase shaded areas and lower temperatures.
Pay & Benefits
Republicans Claim Deal on Federal Pay Raise, But Democrats Object to Terms
The preliminary agreement for a 1.9 percent pay boost runs counter to President Trump's recommendation for a pay freeze and faces Democratic opposition over other policy provisions.
Nextgov
Oracle Continues Protest Push Against JEDI
Another legal maneuver by Oracle just a week before bids for the Pentagon’s $10 billion JEDI cloud contract are due.
Nextgov
Senate Agrees Federal Cybersecurity Office Should Have Name To Match
A long-stalled bill to include “cybersecurity” in the name of the government’s central cybersecurity office is now moving forward.
Management
Why Diversity Is Vital For a Healthy Democracy
The author of a new book says that diversity isn't a threat to democracy, it's a key piece of how democracy keeps itself going.
Tech
The Government Doesn’t Seem To Know Why Some People Didn’t Get Its Presidential Alert
There's work to be done on the government's federal alert system.
Oversight
The Most Scandal-Plagued U.S. Visa Program Lives On Because Congress Is Too Busy To Fix It
The golden visa program just got its 19th extension last week.
Management
After Budget Cuts, the IRS’ Work Against Tax Cheats Is Facing 'Collapse'
Audits and criminal referrals are down sharply since Congress cut the tax agency’s budget and management changed priorities.
Oversight
Play of the Day: More Presidential Alerts Coming To Your Phone
Maybe Trump thinks it's just a text message.
Tech
Trump Agency Website Changes Continue to Raise Concerns
SBA defends its handling of Spanish-language materials after Sen. Cardin complains.
Management
How Contractor Fraud Is Reported Shouldn’t Affect How It Gets Investigated
There are two main ways that a whistleblower can sound the alarm. Their outcomes can be very different.
News
Trump Feared Transition Officials Were ‘Stealing’ His Money
In The Fifth Risk, Michael Lewis chronicles the administration’s chaotic struggle to take the reins of government.
Nextgov
There’s One Less Option for Agencies Now on GSA’s Next-Gen Telecom Contract
With last year’s acquisition of Level 3 by CenturyLink, the companies’ offerings on the Enterprise Infrastructure Services contract have been consolidated.
Nextgov
Security Clearances Won’t Get in the Way of Responding to Election Cyber Threats, Officials Say
One intel leader urged a “just get it done, we’ll worry about the consequences later” approach to countering threats on Election Day.
Management
OPM Calls on Agencies to Implement Coaching Programs for Employees
Coaches provide confidential format to assist in career development, OPM says.
Nextgov
IG: Incompatible Tech Added to Family Separation Policy Chaos
The agencies tracking parents and children separated at the border had to email data and compile spreadsheets, an auditor found.
Pay & Benefits
A Snag in Loan Forgiveness for Feds, Census as a Second Job and More
A weekly round-up of pay and benefits news.
Oversight
IRS Enforcement of Tip Reporting Leaves Billions on the Table
Watchdog recommends broader audits of voluntary income declarations.
Pay & Benefits
USPS Set to Run Out of Postal Retiree Health Care Funding in 12 Years
Options could include cutting benefits or increasing retirees’ share of premiums, GAO says.
Tech