Opinions

Federal officials, industry leaders and top academic minds weigh in on the most important federal operations topics of the day.

Performance evaluation in a year of upheaval

Teleworking and minimal or sporadic in-person attendance have several implications for the performance evaluation cycle.

3 months ago

The United States parcel disservice

Mail services have become a secondary issue for the government enterprise based on its financial losses and poor operational performance.

3 months ago

Opinions

Esper’s end-around on Trump harmed civil-military relations

Further politicization of appointments could lead to a Pentagon that games appointments in the fourth year of an administration or selects separate slates of general officers according to the anticipated preferences of the winning candidate.

In this Aug. 18, 2020, file photo, mail delivery vehicles are parked outside a post office in Boys Town, Neb.

The delusion of postal profits

The USPS has lost more than a billion dollars annually during the last 14 consecutive years, and in 2020, USPS was $9.2 billion in the red.

11 months ago

Threats abound as defense agencies make long-term move to hybrid work patterns

Hybrid work patterns for defense offices are likely to continue to grow in importance, making them targets for increasingly innovative and sophisticated threats.

11 months ago

US Reps. Moulton and Banks: The future of defense is in public-private partnerships

A whole-of-government approach that better partners with the private sector will lead to advancements that help our entire country and our economy.

13 months ago

Former Pentagon comptroller: Observations and opportunities for America’s defense budget

The time is right for a fresh start, one that involves continued aggressive and unafraid changes to how the Pentagon is resourced.

13 months ago

There should be no doubt about Michele Flournoy for defense secretary

The primary criterion for assessing any nomination for secretary of defense is whether the nominee has the experience, competence and steadfastness to oversee the most powerful military and the wide-ranging defense establishment that supports it.

14 months ago

Marine One, with President Donald Trump onboard, prepares to land on the South Lawn of the White House on Oct. 5, 2020, in Washington.

Crisis and leadership: The presidential role in restoring trust

Over the past two decades, our nation has faced two major crises, is currently in the midst of a third with the global pandemic and may be on the precipice of a fourth: modern-day civil war.

15 months ago

The dome of the U.S. Capitol building is seen behind a row of U.S. flags on April 10, 2020, in Washington.

Stop politicizing and insulting the federal civil service

The Trump administration has enacted several changes for federal employees, including a mandatory tax deferral program and efforts to remove agency diversity training.

17 months ago

Close the Pentagon — it’s too big of a target

Why maintain a highly concentrated target for adversaries?

17 months ago

With billions of dollars at stake, let’s responsibly and deliberately spend America’s funds

Two lawmakers warn that hastily passing out money is simply not the solution to a complex problem.

18 months ago

Key life insurance questions for feds in their 20s and 30s

The COVID-19 pandemic has reminded us that no one is immune to life’s ever-present uncertainties and that there’s nothing more important than family.

20 months ago

Congress may not like when Trump fires an inspector general — but it can’t stop him

No president until Donald Trump had asserted that by reporting findings to Congress, inspectors general were making unconstitutional intrusions into presidential and executive branch prerogative.

21 months ago

Choosing the right commercial tech for government

How can the U.S. government best evaluate commercial tech for the federal market, and avoid reinventing the wheel?

21 months ago

Security clearance concerns and the COVID-19 pandemic

The economic and psychological impact from the nationwide shutdown can directly affect the ability to obtain or maintain a security clearance, says the author of this commentary.

21 months ago

A delicate balancing act: The US government must juggle a pandemic and the FY21 budget

It’s time for the government to show it can do two big things at once, and do them right.

21 months ago

Space launch can grow alongside aviation

Anticipated increases in the frequency of space launches will soon require careful consideration for use of crowded airspace.

21 months ago

Veterans and veteran organizations learn about the services available from the VA at the VA Services Showcase in Arlington, Va., in 2014

Challenges remain 2 years after VA’s expansion of caregiver program

The CEO of the Elizabeth Dole Foundation says it has been awaiting new regulations on how the VA plans to expand caregiver benefits to the approximately 4.4 million Americans caring for veterans who served before Sept. 11, 2001.

21 months ago

Recalculating: GPS, L-band and the Pentagon’s untenable position on 5G

Why does the Defense Department continue to blitz the executive and legislative branches with claims that an FCC order will endanger military operations and harm the economy? Is the GPS system truly that fragile?

21 months ago

5 strategies for managing stress during the COVID-19 pandemic

An expert in cognitive performance who has provided training to government, military and private sector explains how the pandemic has expanded the need for cognitive strategies.

22 months ago

Five steps to federal digital transformation

If you’re stuck, slowed, or immobilized, use our current crisis as a catalyst.

22 months ago

The Pentagon’s latest bid to reduce transparency is a bad idea

The Pentagon’s move would only hide more data from the American public, not from our adversaries.

22 months ago

Lost in space: Time to rethink the Space Launch System

The United States may return to the moon, but the costs might be out of this world before anyone lands there again.

22 months ago

Insider trading by members of Congress may be difficult to prove

There are two different provisions of law that could apply to the trading activity of senators and congressional staff. Members of Congress and staff could run afoul of either or both of these laws. But proving a violation and convicting them is not likely.

22 months ago

Trump administration made last minute fix to issue of seniors receiving stimulus checks

We are calling on the administration to immediately reverse its course and automatically add the benefits that these individuals have the right to receive.

22 months ago

America should save emergency spending for emergencies

We have the chance to think differently about how Pentagon spending might look different. Let's not waste the opportunity.

22 months ago

America should use a wartime law to mobilize industry against the pandemic

Former Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Industrial Affairs Jeff Bialos explains how the Defense Production Act should be employed going forward to combat the new coronavirus.

23 months ago