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Government Capacity
day one project
Policy Memo
Reforming the Federal Advisory Committee Landscape for Improved Evidence-based Decision Making and Increasing Public Trust

Protecting the health and safety of the American public and ensuring that the public has the opportunity to participate in the federal decision-making process is crucial. As currently organized, FACs are not equipped to provide the best evidence-based advice.

02.18.25 | 11 min read
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Government Capacity
day one project
Policy Memo
Protecting Infant Nutrition Security:
Shifting the Paradigm on Breastfeeding to Build a Healthier Future for all Americans

Policymakers on both sides of the aisle agree that no baby should ever go hungry, as evidenced by the bipartisan passage of recent breastfeeding legislation and widely supported regulations. However, significant barriers remain.

02.11.25 | 10 min read
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Government Capacity
Press release
Federation of American Scientists and Environmental Policy Innovation Center Unveil Permitting Tech and Talent Policy Recommendations to Support Deployment of Crucial Energy, Environmental, and Infrastructure Projects

FAS today released permitting policy recommendations to improve talent and technology in the federal permitting process. These recommendations will address the sometimes years-long bottlenecks that prevent implementation of crucial projects, from energy to transportation.

02.05.25 | 4 min read
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Government Capacity
Report
Solutions for an Efficient and Effective Federal Permitting Workforce

The United States faces urgent challenges related to aging infrastructure, vulnerable energy systems, and economic competitiveness. But the permitting workforce is unprepared to implement changes. Here’s how they can improve.

02.04.25 | 14 min read
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Government Capacity
Report
Technology and NEPA: A Roadmap for Innovation

Improving American competitiveness, security, and prosperity depends on private and public stakeholders’ ability to responsibly site, build, and deploy proposed critical energy, infrastructure, and environmental restoration projects.

02.03.25 | 15 min read
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Government Capacity
Blog
Setting the Stage for a Positive Employee Experience

Adoption of best practices across the ecosystem will help to improve hiring outcomes, reduce process delays, and enhance the overall hiring experience for all parties involved.

01.29.25 | 10 min read
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Government Capacity
Blog
The National Security Council’s Decision-Making Process: When Consensus Becomes a Constraint

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.

01.22.25 | 4 min read
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Government Capacity
Blog
Herding Unicorns: Sharing Resources Speeds Hiring

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.

01.17.25 | 10 min read
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Government Capacity
day one project
Policy Memo
Unpacking Hiring: Toward a Regional Federal Talent Strategy

With a collaborative, cross-agency lens and a commitment to engaging jobseekers where they live, the government can enhance its ability to attract talent while underscoring to Americans that the federal government is not a distant authority but rather a stakeholder in their communities that offers credible opportunities to serve.

01.15.25 | 6 min read
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Government Capacity
Blog
Building Talent Capacity for Permitting: Insights from Civil Servants

FAS reached out to over 55 civil servants who work across six agencies and 17 different offices to lea about their experiences trying to hire for permitting-related roles in the implementation of IRA, BIL, and CHIPS.

01.07.25 | 22 min read
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Government Capacity
day one project
Policy Memo
Transforming the Carceral Experience: Leveraging Technology for Rehabilitation

Investing in interventions behind the walls is not just a matter of improving conditions for incarcerated individuals—it is a public safety and economic imperative. By reducing recidivism through education and family contact, we can improve reentry outcomes and save billions in taxpayer dollars.

12.20.24 | 7 min read
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Government Capacity
day one project
Policy Memo
Fixing Impact: How Fixed Prices Can Scale Results-Based Procurement at USAID

To respond and maintain U.S. global leadership, USAID should transition to heavily favor a Fixed-Price model to enhance the United States’ ability to compete globally and deliver impact at scale.

12.19.24 | 11 min read
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