The current outbreak of Ebola virus disease in West Africa has infected and killed more people than all previous outbreaks combined.
A new report from the Congressional Research Service provides detailed background on the spread of the disease, the weaknesses of the health care infrastructure in the affected countries, and related policy issues for congressional consideration. See The 2014 Ebola Outbreak: International and U.S. Responses, August 26, 2014.
Next week, NATO leaders will hold their first meeting since Russia’s military intervention in Ukraine. A new CRS report offers a preview of the meeting’s anticipated agenda and objectives. See NATO’s Wales Summit: Expected Outcomes and Key Challenges, August 26, 2014.
Some other CRS products that have been recently updated include the following.
Conventional Prompt Global Strike and Long-Range Ballistic Missiles: Background and Issues, August 26, 2014
Membership of the 113th Congress: A Profile, August 26, 2014
Bills of Attainder: The Constitutional Implications of Congress Legislating Narrowly, August 26, 2014
Time out: Secrecy News will be back the week of September 8.
The emphasis on interagency consensus, while well-intentioned, has become a structural impediment to bold or innovative policy options. When every agency effectively holds veto power over proposals, the path of least resistance becomes maintaining existing approaches with minor modifications.
The Federation of American Scientists supports H.R. 471, the re-introduction of the Fix Our Forests Act.
As people become less able to distinguish between what is real and what is fake, it has become easier than ever to be misled by synthetic content, whether by accident or with malicious intent. This makes advancing alternative countermeasures, such as technical solutions, more vital than ever before.
Throughout this phase of work, there are many actions hiring managers and staffing specialists can take to streamline the process and improve the quality of eligible candidates. Most importantly, hiring managers and staffing specialists can collaborate within and across agencies to expedite and simplify the process.