Presidential Transitions, Arms Transfers, and More from CRS
A range of presidential transition policy issues — including records management, budget preparation and the role of executive orders — is explored in a new report from the Congressional Research Service. See “Presidential Transitions: Issues Involving Outgoing and Incoming Administrations” (pdf), October 23, 2008.
Other noteworthy new CRS reports obtained by Secrecy News that were not previously available online include the following (all pdf).
“Status of a Senator Who Has Been Indicted for or Convicted of a Felony,” October 22, 2008.
“Transatlantic Regulatory Cooperation: Background and Analysis,” October 22, 2008.
“Would an Influenza Pandemic Qualify as a Major Disaster Under the Stafford Act?,” October 20, 2008.
“The Cost of Iraq, Afghanistan, and Other Global War on Terror Operations Since 9/11,” updated October 15, 2008.
“The Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act: Implementation and Proposed Amendments,” October 22, 2008.
“Conventional Arms Transfers to Developing Nations, 2000-2007,” October 23, 2008.
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.