Ideas
Carter Proposes 'Huge' Pentagon Personnel System Overhaul
The defense secretary unveiled major proposals that would reform the military's 'up or out' promotion system and allow civilian recruiters to bypass the traditional federal hiring process.
Ideas
Why Is the US Military Short-Staffing Its Sickest Children?
The military health-care system serves 2 million children with just a handful of full-time pediatric social workers. In the civilian world, this kind of staffing is 'unimaginable.'
Business
The Pentagon's New Grading System for Civilians May Take Even Longer to Get Started
Six years after Congress mandated it, the U.S. military says it's ready to test a new way to assess its civilian workers. But a federal union claims the test-run will be deeply flawed.
Ideas
The US Needs to Whip Its Disaster-Response Plans Into Shape
It's time to digest the lessons of Haiti and Ebola and get ready for the mega disasters ahead.
Business
Livestream: Supporting the Warfighter
Join us today — Tues., Feb. 23 — for a livestreamed conversation with DoD civilian leaders about their methods and challenges in maintaining a strong civilian workforce.
Business
Putting Civilians in US Troop Support Jobs Could Save Billions, Report Says
Converting 80,000 active-duty jobs to civilian positions could save as much as $5.7B per year, according to a new Congressional Budget Office analysis.
Threats
Troops Would Get Paid On Time During Shutdown Under Bill
The Pay Our Military Act proposed by Rep. Mike Coffman would ensure pay in the event of an appropriations lapse and expire at the end of 2016.
Policy
Congress Plans To Keep Government Open
A short-term spending measure would keep the government running until early December.
Threats
Five Times More Fingerprints Stolen in OPM Hack Than Previously Thought
Office of Personnel Management officials now say 5.6 million sets of prints were taken.
Business
White House, Agencies Begin Prepping for ‘Executing an Orderly Shutdown’
OMB is currently reviewing contingency plans submitted by all agencies in preparation for an appropriations lapse.
Policy
Lawmakers Reheat War Over Defense vs Non-Defense Spending
The announcement from Kentucky Senator Mitch McConnell is seen as a coup for Democrats who want a plan to raise budget caps on both defense and nondefense spending.
Business
Pentagon Civilian Worker Reclassification Draws Fire
Union calls the plan "vague, non-specific, and often conflicting."
Business
Pentagon Orders Even More HQ Cuts, Infuriating Employees' Union
Defense Department personnel officials are moving ahead with a more-severe version of an existing plan for cuts to headquarters staff—angering a major union in the process.
Threats
TSA's ‘Airport of the Future’ Will Use Biometrics, Risk-Based Screening
The airport security agency releases its ambitious strategy to upgrade its technology, connect more dots, and search fewer people.
Business
Second OPM Hack Stole Data of 21.5M People, Including Biometric
The breach affects nearly everyone that underwent a background check through OPM in 2000 or later.
Ideas
What Americans Don't Understand About Their Own Military
Reinstating the draft is hardly a realistic solution to bridging the military-civilian gap in the U.S. And here's why.
Science & Tech
VA Blocked More Than a Billion Cyber Threats in March
The VA could become quickly overwhelmed if the threat continues to escalate, the agency's top information officer said.
Business
Number of Security Clearance Holders Drops 12 Percent
Federal agencies have trimmed the ranks of employees and contractors with access to classified information.
Business
Veterans Sue the VA Over Access to Medical Records
Some veterans are upset they're having to waiting hundreds of days just to advance the process of applying for combat-related compensation.
Business