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June 11, 2025
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Celebrating Equity
Next Thursday, June 19, is Juneteenth, a national holiday memorializing the day that Texans found out enslaved Americans had been freed (more than two years after it had happened). This will be the fifth year this holiday is a federal holiday, marking its importance in our nation's history and its relevance to current times. Considered the longest running African-American holiday, it is a day dedicated to celebration, reflection, family and commemorating the struggles Black people faced during slavery and after emancipation, and still face today.
Equity is one of public administration's pillars—along with economy, efficiency, effectiveness and ethics—established as such decades ago due to H. George Frederickson's scholarly contributions. Its importance is obvious: Equity is necessary for stable, reliable and economically viable public service. More, everyone in the community receives public services, no matter their demographics. Equity in those services enables a community to thrive.
ASPA's H. George Frederickson Center for Social Equity works to elevate and bring focus to social equity across public administration throughout the year. Not only does it host resources, news updates and other valuable information on its website (via aspanet.org), but also, it hosts convenings and webinars, and its board members conduct research and practice social equity within our communities across the country.
The Frederickson Center defines social equity as: the fair, just and equitable management of all institutions serving the public directly or by contract, and the fair and equitable distribution of public services, and implementation of public policy, and the commitment to promote fairness, justice, and equity in the formation of public policy.
If you are doing research or are working in your community in areas related to social equity, the Center welcomes your contributions and participation. You can find the Center's board listed on ASPA's website; contact them to share more about your work and learn about how you can get involved.
E-Learning at Your Fingertips
ASPA staff work tirelessly to keep your skills up to date and the information flowing all year long through our e-learning program. Visit our website to see more details about upcoming KeepingCurrent, BookTalk and Student and New Professional series programming.
KeepingCurrent: The Power of Performance Audits
June 17 | 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. EDT
Sponsored by ASPA's Center for Accountability and Performance
Speakers:
Mark Funkhouser, President of Funkhouser & Associates and Former Auditor and Mayor, Kansas City Missouri
Richard Greene, Moderator, Principal, Barrett and Greene, Inc. and Chair, Center for Accountability and Performance
Douglas Jones, County Auditor, Johnson County, Kansas
Laura Kearney, Deputy State Auditor, California
Corrie Stokes, City Auditor, Austin, Texas
While some efforts in the world of performance management can be little more than paperwork exercises, the significant role of performance audits cannot be overemphasized. While some performance auditors are elected and others are appointed, they all strive—and often succeed—to remain independent observers of programs, agencies and policies in cities, counties and states. They are mainstays of government accountability and when their job is done well, it can enhance trust on the part of residents who can see that there’s someone out there whose role is to make certain that public dollars are being spent wisely and well. This webinar, featuring representation from cities, counties and states, will provide honest insights into this world.
BookTalk: Calling the Shots: The President, Executive Orders and Public Policy
June 26 | 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. EDT
Speakers:
Daniel Gitterman, Author and Duncan MacRae ’09 and Rebecca Kyle MacRae Professor and Chair of Public Policy, University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill
The U.S. Constitution lays out three equal branches of government: executive, legislative and judicial. But over the years, the president has emerged as the usually dominant political and administrative force at the federal level. In fact, the president is the CEO of an enormous federal bureaucracy. Using the unique legal authority delegated by thousands of laws, the ability to issue executive orders and the capacity to shape how federal agencies write and enforce rules, the president calls the shots as to how the government is run on a daily basis. Presidents and their staffs use specific tools, including executive orders and memoranda to agency heads, as instruments of control and influence over the government and the private sector. For more than a century, they have used these tools without violating the separation of powers. Calling the Shots demonstrates how each of these executive powers is a powerful weapon of coercion and redistribution in the president's political and policymaking arsenal.
KeepingCurrent: Alternative and Innovative Audit Processes
July 1 | 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. EDT
Sponsored by ASPA's Center for Accountability and Performance
More information coming soon.
KeepingCurrent: A Fresh Look at the Federal Civil Service under Trump
July 8 | 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. EDT
Speakers:
John Hatton, Vice President, Policy and Programs, NARFE
Tom Temin, Former Host, Federal Drive
Few characteristics of federal work life remain unchanged due to the Trump administration's ongoing reforms. Federal managers not only must deal with unpredictable modes of professional conduct requirements, but also with uncertainty about their pay and benefits and their assumptions of Title 5 protections. Federal experts John Hatton and Tom Temin will discuss the ongoing challenges and repercussions including:
- Trump administration spending and budgeting approach—what’s different and how do the changes affect agency administration?
- What do we know of how appointees are dealing with/relating to career people?
- What’s different about the approach to contractors and how does this affect public administration?
- What's in the “big beautiful bill” related to federal employment and how would things change for federal employees?
- What does it appear Trump wants to do fundamentally with respect to the federal workforce?
- What do we expect for the future in terms of recruitment and retention and for the general attractiveness of federal employment?
From the Archives
KeepingCurrent: The Relative, Subjective and Contradictory Nature of Respect
In this session, our presenter was interviewed about the “seven forms of respect” framework. In this practical guide for any team leader and team player in the American workplace, she helped attendees navigate the ambiguity of what it means to respect others. She offered thought-provoking questions and exercises that will transform your communication and relationships with the people you work with in lasting and surprising ways. (Members only)
Students and New Professionals: The Cover Letter Conundrum
According to ResumeLab, 83 percent of employers say cover letters are important when making hiring decisions. But, they are not a regurgitation of your resume or CV in paragraph form, they are not generic letters and they certainly are not optional. Constructing them is an art form, deserving serious attention every time you write one. This webinar is designed for those on both the practitioner and academic job markets. (Members only)
Calling All Authors: PA TIMES Online Needs Your Voice!
ASPA is seeking authors for PA TIMES Online for the second half of 2025. If you are reading the nuanced articles we publish through this website then you know our authors provide you and the entire public administration profession with new concepts, idea starters, thoughtful research updates and valued commentary. Take this opportunity to get involved.
We are looking for columnists who can write about a range of subjects. Topics include:
- Infrastructure and technology
- Artificial intelligence (AI)
- Emergency management
- Energy and the environment
- Budgeting
- Social equity
- Ethics
- Efficiency and effectiveness
- Public finance
- Volunteerism
- Procurement and supply chain management
- Federalism
- Evidence based decisionmaking
- Public health
- State and local government challenges
Open rotations are for monthly columns only. Applicants must commit to writing six columns during the remainder of 2025. (Publication deadlines will be provided by the PA TIMES Online editorial team.)
Interested in being considered? Submit an application, including a sample column, for review. First-time authors and students are welcome to apply!
All applications must be submitted by June 16, 2025 for consideration.
ASPA Members: Routledge Discounts Available
Summer is here, which means it's time to update your reading list and add new books to your collection! If you find yourself interested in something from the Routledge catalog, remember that ASPA members receive a 30 percent discount off purchases.
Visit our website for more information about ASPA's partnership with Routledge and to access your code, useable when you check out from the Routledge site. And, remember to look at the ASPA book series, partnering with authors for all things "public administration." From HR to government performance to local government and beyond, the list of titles has something for everyone!
Happy reading!
In Memoriam: Warren Master
Warren Master passed away in March 2025 at the age of 82.
Master joined ASPA in 1991 and was an active member of the Section on Public Management Practice, the South Florida Chapter and the International Chapter. He attended ASPA conferences regularly and participated on national committees. He enjoyed bringing his work with other organizations into the ASPA community.
Master was born in New York City, was a baseball prodigy and got an offer to play with a Brooklyn Dodgers Farm Team. He chose instead to attend City College of New York, studying engineering and theater. He knew his wife, Karen, from high school and when their paths crossed in 1964, he wasted no time in putting a ring on her finger. Their courtship lasted three weeks; their marriage lasted more than 60 years.
Soon after their wedding, they departed for a stint with the Peace Corps in Turkey, teaching English and running a vaccination program outside the City of Ankara. After their tour in Turkey was over, they traveled throughout the Middle East on their way back to the United States.
Master went on to earn a master's degree in anthropology and made his way to Washington, DC, where he worked for 30 years as a career civil servant at the Department of Health and Human Services. In his final role, he traveled around the country (and the world) setting up telework networks (in the days before Zoom) and federal agency cooperatives where disparate federal agencies shared resources to save on costs.
After his retirement, Master was heavily involved in a variety of organizations, including ASPA and The Graduate School USA, that promoted good governance here and abroad. He was founding editor-in-chief of Good Governance Worldwide (2012 – 2021) and editor-in-Chief of The Public Manager (2000 – 2011).
Master was a polyglot who enjoyed a lifelong love of foreign languages. He was a marathoner well into his 50s. He loved wine and spent many years writing a book about the wine roads of France, where he traveled extensively. His was a life well lived, full of generosity, and deep and abiding humanity. He passes along these values, hopefully making the world a better place for generations to come.
Find a tribute written by his family online here.
Choosing the Next Comptroller General is Too Important—Don’t Play Politics
News articles have included regular updates about agency heads and other political appointees being nominated for roles, removed from a role, transferred to new ones and retiring. Last week, The Hill published an op-ed from former Comptroller General David Walker, reflecting on the political maneuverings taking place as they relate to the Government Accountability Office (GAO), the process for appointing the next comptroller general and the importance of this role. You can find the piece online here.
Trans-Atlantic Dialogue Takes Place This August!
The EGPA 2025 Conference will be held in Glasgow, Scotland, August 26-29, in association with the University of Glasgow’s Centre for Public Policy and the Glasgow Convention Bureau.
The EGPA Conference is the annual meeting of the multi-disciplinary community of Public Administration academics, researchers, and practitioners in Europe, also joined by colleagues from the IIAS network. The Conference is organized around several activities: plenary sessions, dedicated seminars (PhD symposium, French-speaking seminar, and thematic ones), panels arranged by 23 EGPA Permanent Study Groups, and side meetings (EAPAA meetings for accreditation, EGPA Steering Committee Meeting, Meeting of the Permanent Study Groups co-chairs and collaborative projects’ meetings).
It is well-established that the integrity of democratic forms of government internationally are being challenged by a variety of sources. These include the spread of disinformation and the associated erosion of trust in public institutions; the transnational nature of global threats such as the climate and biodiversity crises; the need to better engage and represent citizens in increasingly diverse societies; the spread of nativist politics and of course the challenges wrought by digital technologies on democratic processes. Within public administration research questions are being raised about the fragility of states or even the prospect of failing states due to this heightened turbulence.
In order to explore these issues, for this year’s Trans-Atlantic Dialogue we seek to address these changes as they manifest in four domains:
- How to rethink the role of bureaucracies in the 21st century and their relationship to politics, society and the economy, particularly given changing political-administrative relationships or ‘bargains’
- How to design new national and international public institutions to tackle the political and societal challenges of today, including new technological developments such as AI
- How to support and reaffirm democratic values within public administrations
- How best can administrative systems represent future generations and promote wellbeing in their current decision-making
Those registering for the conference can do so before August 27.
O*Net Seeks Management Analysts
The O*NET Data Collection Program, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor, is seeking input from expert management analysts. O*NET is a free resource and provides instant access to detailed descriptions on more than 900 occupations that drive the U.S. economy. Website visitors include counselors, human resource professionals, researchers, developers and students, to name a few. Participation in this important initiative will ensure that public administration/policy complexities are described accurately in the O*NET database. Analysts help conduct organizational studies and evaluations, design systems and procedures, conduct work simplification and measurement studies, and prepare operations and procedures manuals to assist management in operating more efficiently and effectively. Experts meet the following criteria: have at least one year of professional experience working in the occupation; have a minimum of five years combined in one or more of the following: practicing, training, teaching and/or supervising others; are currently actively involved in the field and based in the United States. Those interested in participating should contact Jumoke Dickson at RTI International, the O*NET data collection contractor. (A random sample of experts responding to this request will be invited to complete a set of questionnaires. Experts who are selected and agree to participate will receive a $40 VISA gift code and a certificate of appreciation from the U.S. Department of Labor.)
Public Administration Today Highlight
Public Administration Today features white papers, research and blogs from across the profession. If you're interested in more—especially your own curated news feed in your inbox every week—visit the website, create an account and check off your interest areas so you can stay up to date about the latest research being released!
Lessons for US Deputy Secretaries on Effective Federal Management
via McKinsey: Five core practices can help federal leaders handle management challenges and achieve tangible impact in their roles. These officials are tasked with developing and implementing policies to promote operational efficiency... As such, they are essential to advancing their departments' agendas and sustaining momentum on core initiatives. But they also face unique institutional dynamics that make operational transformations challenging in the federal environment.
Tips, Resources and Updates
5 Eating Habits That Can Help You Sleep Better at Night
Want better sleep at night? You may need to rethink your eating habits, say sleep specialists.
How to Rest Well—and Give Your Brain a Real Break
Most of us know that rest is more than just taking a break—but we often find it hard to put into practice. In a world where work deadlines and personal responsibilities often compete for attention, knowing how to rest well can make all the difference in maintaining high performance and overall health.
Career Advice to Pivot with Purpose Following Federal Service
For many mid- and senior-level federal professionals, job loss can feel like a career derailment. After years of public service, the next step might not be obvious. You’ve built deep expertise, led complex initiatives, and managed through bureaucracy, budget shifts, and political transitions. And now, you’re left wondering: What’s next? One smart, strategic answer? State and local government.
Trump's Travel Ban Is Now in Effect. Here's What to Know
President Trump's extensive new travel ban took effect recently, barring nationals of 12 countries from entering the U.S. and partially restricting those from another seven.
How Many Times Should You Practice a Presentation?
The good news is, not as many times as you think.
In the News
Today's headlines contain plenty of news coverage of some of our nation's most pressing public administration challenges. ASPA has curated some of the most important stories from recent weeks. If you have not seen these yet, make sure you read them now!
Infrastructure
Public Finance
Public Service
Note that most news related to federal workforce changes by the current administration are being reported in Federal Workforce in Turmoil. Bridge subscribers have been automatically subscribed to that publication; contact us if you need to check about your ASPA email subscriptions.
Social Equity
Members in the News
John Bartle:
Consider This TV program including John Bartle discussing the current "One Big Beautiful Bill."
J. Paul Blake:
Public Service Is Undervalued
John Kamensky:
How to Build the '90s DOGE
Don Kettl:
Trump Orders the Government to Stop Enforcing Rules He Doesn’t Like
Don Moynihan and Pamela Herd:
Republicans Will Use Paperwork to Kick Americans Off Health Care
Ron Sanders:
How Human Capital Got a Seat at the Federal Leadership Table
and
Neglect the IC’s Human Capital at Our Peril
Frank Thompson:
Will the Supreme Court’s Chevron Decision Undercut Trump’s Unilateral Presidency?
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Around Public Administration
Here are the most recent updates from across the profession. Did we miss you? Send us your news and we'll include it in the next round!
Upcoming Events:
Calls for proposals, calls for nominations and other updates:
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SECOPA 2025 Call for Proposals
SECoPA 2025, the annual Southeastern Conference for Public Administration, will take place September 10-13 in Coral Springs, Florida. The theme is, "Government Integrators: Presilience Solutions for Sustainable Development and Regional Stability." The organizing committee is accepting full panel proposals and individual proposals through June 15. Tracks include: Muddling Through: How to Avoid the Peter Principle; Assessing Public Trust in Government: Democracy Do’s and Don’ts; Know the Law, Ethics is Key: Don’t Drink the Kool-Aid; Regional Stability: Critical Infrastructure and Presilience; Matter of Time: Crisis Management and Intergovernmental Relations; Bipartisan Infrastructure: Rebuilding America, Even Across the Aisle; Immersive Technologies for the Future; Prioritizing DEIA: Diversity of Thought, Diversity of Background; Applications for Health Policy and Public Safety; and Public Service Roundtable: Governing in the 21st Century. Click here to submit your proposal.
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PMM Special Issue Call for Papers
Public Money and Management announces a special issue: The Politics and Management of Policing. The policing of society is a core feature of the modern state, lying at the heart of relationships between citizens and the state, with questions of legitimacy, equity, power, authority, governance as well as the effectiveness and efficiency of organizational performance as central matters of interest. Policing has some distinctive features, yet also offers insights to other public services. While police organizations are of particular scholarly and professional interest, the analysis of policing may include other groups, organizations and institutions concerned with order and safety in society, hence the focus is on policing not only police. With many countries contemplating or implementing reforms to police organizations, this topic is of wide interest to both academics and practitioners. The audience for readers of this themed issue is an interdisciplinary and broadly defined community of academics and professionals who share an interest in the research of policing, law enforcement and the provision of public safety from an organizational, managerial, governance and/or public policy analysis perspective. Editors invite articles exploring questions of policing and public management, for example concerning the legitimacy, equity, power, authority, governance and organizational performance in policing; the analysis of organizational functions such as strategic planning, human resource management, budgeting and evaluation, coordination of operations, control of accountability of policing, cooperation with public and private partners; whether and how policing is value-creating or value-destroying in different settings and social environments; changing roles and expectations of police at points of political and societal change and/or stress and austerity; comparative analysis of policing values, operations, consequences in or across different locales; political governance systems and their implications for the provision of an effective, fair and accountable police service—in both its ideal forms and its practical manifestations—for policing. All submissions are due June 16, 2025. Click here for more information.
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Call for Articles: Special Issue, Administrative Theory and Praxis
Administrative Theory and Practice (ATP) is publishing a special issue: Critical Public Administration and the Environment. Governing the environment has become an increasingly urgent challenge in public administration. Yet, despite the critical role of public administration in implementing environmental policies, the field of public administration has been slow to fully embrace environmental governance and administration as a key area of study. Compared to other administrative areas such as healthcare, criminal justice, housing, and education, environmental administration remains underexamined. At the same time, scholars within critical public administration have challenged the traditional views of bureaucracy and governance and called for greater citizen participation, re-examining power structures and challenging status quo, developing administrative critical consciousness, incorporating cultural competence by integrating diverse perspectives, and re-distributing knowledge and influence in policy making between administrators and citizens. Across disciplines, research has firmly established that pre-existing systemic inequities and discrimination influence access to public services and programs. This especially holds true in the case of environmental policies and programs. The critical public administration scholarship lends itself well to the examination of environmental policies and programs. ATP has long shaped the field of public administration theory, pushing conversations in new conceptual and theoretical realms and “pushing the boundaries of theory and praxis in public service." Thus, ATP is a fitting venue to elevate and organize critical perspectives in public administration to the study of the environment and have these critical perspectives be in communication with each other. We invite contributions that represent varied socio-economic, political, geographical and cultural contexts, especially from the Global South. This special call focuses on how critical public administration engages with and how its principles are applicable to the environmental realm. All abstracts are due no later than June 20, 2025. Click here for more information.
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2025 NECoPA Call for Proposals
The 2025 NECoPA will take place at Kean University in Union, New Jersey, November 7-8. The theme is, "Democratic Governance in a Turbulent World: Innovation, Inclusion and Comparative Perspectives in Public Administration." The conference explores the vital question of how public institutions can preserve and advance democratic governance in a world marked by disruption, uncertainty and complex global challenges. The conference theme calls on public administration scholars and practitioners to reflect critically on the evolving role of government, the practice of inclusive and equitable administration, and the possibilities for institutional innovation grounded in ethical public service. Tracks include: democratic governance and public trust; human resource management, workforce resilience and talent development; financial management, budgeting and fiscal accountability; inclusion, equity and social justice in public and nonprofit administration; ethical innovation, artificial intelligence and digital governance; comparative public administration and global civil society; performance management, evaluation and evidence-based governance; collaborative governance, nonprofits and cross-sector partnerships; and public affairs education, professional development and pedagogical innovation. All proposals are due August 22. Click here to submit.
PA TIMES Online
Here's a selection of current pieces on PA TIMES Online, covering a range of issues within the profession. We accept individual articles on a rolling basis; if you have a piece you think would fit our publication, submit it to [email protected] for consideration. (Please review our submission guidelines in advance!)
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