Learn the latest public administration news in today's edition of The Bridge!
July 8, 2026

     
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AI and Digitization—ASPA Summer Series Continues

Advanced artificial intelligence—including generative AI—has been deployed quickly across all levels of public administration in the past several years. Whether routine functions are being automated or machine learning/large language models are employed, administrative bodies of all kinds are asking fundamental questions about how this next generation of technology reshapes the relationship between governmental entities and the people they serve. Some tools have delivered meaningful improvements in efficiency, accuracy and reach; others have introduced new risks, advanced inequities or simply failed to achieve goals.

The first of this series has taken place. Three more installments are scheduled in July and August, using evidence from real-world deployment to examine how (generative) AI and similar digital tools are performing across a range of public administration contexts and what governments around the world are learning from experience. We hope you will join us for these sessions! Use the links below to register.

There’s an Algorithm for That: AI in the Fight Against Fraud
July 16 | 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. ET
Sponsored by the IBM Center for The Business of Government

Fraud and corruption in government impose enormous financial and social costs on public institutions and the communities they serve. These bad actors divert meaningful resources from critical social services, with damaging effects on recipients; erode public trust; and further undermine democratic systems. What role could AI play in preventing, catching and reporting these behaviors? Our experts will examine the digital programs and platforms that combat fraud and corruption in government, evaluate the conditions under which these tools succeed and consider the ethical framework of using automated systems to monitor public officials, programs and institutions.

Speakers:
Dan Chenok, Executive Director, The IBM Center for The Business of Government
Irakli Petriashvili, Research Associate, University of Sussex
Wenyan Tu, Assistant Professor, Institute of Global Public Policy, Fudan University



Left Behind? Rural Communities and the Digital Divide
July 28 | 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. ET

Rural communities operate with fewer resources and greater infrastructure constraints relative to their urban counterparts, including broadband shortages, intergovernmental limitations, relevant skill sets and more. All of this exacerbates the “digital divide” noticed across the country and create yet another have/have not dichotomy. But AI and digital tools represent a genuine opportunity: automating routine tasks, extending staff reach and modernizing service delivery in communities that long have been underserved by analog systems. As federal investment pulls back—or disappears entirely—the question facing rural administrators and policymakers is increasingly urgent: Can these communities realistically keep pace with the digital transformation reshaping the rest of the country and, if not, what do they do about it? Our experts will discuss how public administrators in rural communities engage with digital tools, including artificial intelligence, and explore whether strategic implementation could close the digital divide.



Launch and Learn: Evaluating AI Implementation in Public Administration
August 11 | 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. ET

Most discussions about AI in public administration center on hypotheticals rather than realities. While experts, politicians and think tanks debate the merits and drawbacks of AI technology for public use, most agencies are rolling out tools and technology—with or without a framework for their use. After several years of real-world deployment across a range of functions, from benefits administration and workforce services to public safety and urban planning, a clearer picture is emerging for how AI impacts outcomes for practitioners and their communities. Our experts will take a rigorous, evidence-based look at lessons learned from AI adoption in public spaces, examine the contexts and conditions under which these technologies have delivered (or not) on their promise, reflect on the impact these tools are having on the workforce and explore what boundaries should be considered.



Missed the first episode, "Catching Up: Digital Government in a Global Context"? Catch it in our digital archives!


Comments on OMB's Grantmaking Rule Due July 13

The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has posted a new rule, "Regulation for Federal Financial Assistance," for which an open comment period is available through this Monday, July 13.

Since we mentioned this rule in the June edition of this newsletter, more groups have come out in opposition, including scientific organizations, the American Medical Association, higher education and, most recently, federal lawmakers—in part due to evidence that OMB already is executing this rule despite it not being final yet.

As described by Don Moynihan several weeks ago in a Substack post, "The White House [has] proposed new policies governing the federal funding of American science...Think of the new rule as a giant license justifying the use of arbitrary and political cancellations of grants..." The rule moves scientific decisions away from scientists and instead to political appointees. Should the rule move forward, appointees will decide what will and will not get funded, and will determine if funding should be revoked at any time.

The public comment period expires Monday, July 13. Click here to review information via Regulations.gov and submit your comment by midnight on Monday.


ASPA's webinar program keeps your skills up to date and the information flowing all year long. Beyond our summer series focusing on digitization, we have other programs coming your way in the months ahead. Visit our website to see more details about upcoming programs.


Students and New Professionals: The Service Responsibilities of Faculty Life
August 4 | 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. ET

Speakers:
Mac-Jane Crayton, Assistant Professor, Appalachian State University
S. Mohsen Fatemi, Moderator, ASPA Student Representative and PhD Student, University of Kansas
Jon Fisk, Associate Professor, University of Utah
Nicole Humphrey, Associate Professor, University of Kansas
Stephanie Moulton, Acting Dean and Professor, The Ohio State University
Sarah Young, Professor of Public Administration, Kennesaw State University

As doctoral students prepare to begin faculty appointments this fall, the transition from education to faculty brings both exciting opportunities and new responsibilities. This webinar will focus on service responsibilities of faculty life, particularly for new assistant professors. The goal is to create an opportunity for experienced faculty members to share their perspectives on topics such as understanding service expectations in the early years of a faculty appointment; balancing research, teaching and service responsibilities; selecting service opportunities strategically; and more.




From the Archives
KeepingCurrent: Sailing Through the Doldrums: How Nonprofits Are Coping with Funding Cuts
Many nonprofit organizations have been facing sudden and dramatic funding cuts. The federal government has limited the amount of funding available and failed to distribute much that has already been authorized. Funding from private charitable sources has become more competitive. Because the loss of funding has been sudden, organizations have not had the opportunity to plan for this reduction. How are nonprofits coping with these funding cuts while still attempting to focus on their mission? (Members only)




Students and New Professionals: Where Policy Meets People: Leading through Code Compliance
This presentation explored how MPA graduates can find meaningful and impactful careers in the field of code compliance, while also highlighting the role our profession plays in community well-being, policy implementation and public trust. (Members only)

 


Critical Take-Aways Focus: The Exodus

Our most recent Critical Take-Aways edition looked at Episode 3 of our Project 2025 series: "Professionalism in Peril? The Exodus of Expertise from Government." The original webinar featured four public sector workforce experts as they discussed the effects of workforce erosion on public services, competency and trust. If you missed it in your inbox last month, find it on our website any time!

Five editions are available now:

  • The Power of Performance Audits
  • Navigating the New Intergovernmental Relationship
  • From the Heritage Foundation to the White House: Project 2025 in Practice
  • Redefining Governance: How Project 2025 Impacts Institutions and Social Trust
  • Professionalism in Peril? The Exodus of Expertise from Government
We release a new edition every month, open access for both the summary and the webinar for further viewing. Contact us for assistance if you are not getting a copy and want one!

 


Want ASPA in Your Inbox? Whitelist Us!

ASPA has been making some adjustments to how we send emails—which may be resulting in our messages going to your spam or junk boxes!

If you want to make sure you continue to receive all of our announcements—including webinar alerts and membership renewal reminders!—please make sure to whitelist aspanet.org and icpbounce.com to ensure our announcements get to you in a timely fashion (ICPBounce is our third-party email tool, so not spam!). Check out this article to find out more about whitelisting and how to do it, depending on what you use to receive emails.


Leveling Up Your ASPA Membership

As fall programming ramps up across campuses and organizations, now is an ideal time to explore an ASPA institutional membership. These packages enable universities, nonprofits and public sector organizations to consolidate individual buying needs into one tailored package, bringing faculty, staff and students together under a single agreement built around your institution's priorities.

Benefits can include full ASPA membership for faculty and staff, student memberships with access to professional development programming, webinar sponsorship opportunities, guaranteed publication in PA TIMES, advertising discounts, access to our monthly institutional member newsletter and more. Whether your goal is boosting program visibility, strengthening faculty-student connections or building a platform for your organization's expertise, ASPA will work with you to design a package that fits. Contact ASPA's TJ Riggs to learn more or discuss a potential agreement ahead of the fall term.


Chapter and Section Leadership Resources

Did you know that ASPA offers a wealth of informational resources for our Chapter and Section leaders on our website? Whether you have been elected into leadership recently or have been serving for years, resources are posted to help you with many of your activities. Just a few include:

  • Access to your roster
  • Marketing and branding tools
  • Our PR toolkit
  • Marketing materials
  • Resource templates
  • ... and more!
ASPA works to update these materials regularly, so if you find information that is useful but needs an upgrade, let us know! In the meantime, make the most of what is available.

 


In Memoriam: Alan Greenspan

ASPA joins the broader public service community in mourning the passing of Alan Greenspan, who passed away at the end of June at the age of 100 from complications of Parkinson's disease.

Greenspan graduated from New York University, earning undergraduate, graduate and doctorate degrees there, and spent 30 years running an economic consulting service before he entered public service. Beginning in 1974, he served as chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers under President Ford; he also served as chairman of the National Commission on Social Security Reform from 1981-1983. He was a member of President Reagan's Economic Policy Advisory Board and a consultant to the Congressional Budget Office.

Greenspan began his service at the chairman of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System in 1987, nominated by President Reagan to fill an unexpired term. He went on to be one of the longest-serving leaders in the institution's history as he continued to serve under Presidents George H.W. Bush, Clinton and George W. Bush. During his tenure, he was credited widely with guiding the U.S. economy through the longest economic expansion in American history. Inflation was largely dormant during his chairmanship, and the unemployment rate briefly dropped below four percent for the first time since 1970.

After retiring in 2006, Greenspan remained active in public service, serving on numerous presidential commissions and advisory boards and contributing his expertise on issues including financial regulation, economic growth and national security. He also returned to the private sector as an economic consultant in Washington, DC.

Greenspan will be remembered for his decades of public service and his enduring contributions to the nation's economic leadership. Find a full obituary online here.


Now Announcing: Partnership with AAPA

ASPA will be entering into a partnership with the Asian Association for Public Administration (AAPA), an international organization dedicated to expanding and improving research and academic exchange on public administration in Asia. In accordance with ASPA's international engagement policy, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between ASPA and AAPA is available now via our website for a 30-day comment period. Members are invited to review the MOU and share any comments by August 8, 2026.


ASPA South Florida Valentine's Day and Super Bowl Weekend Cruise Fundraiser 2027

The ASPA South Florida Chapter is excited to invite you to participate in its Valentine's Day and Super Bowl Weekend Cruise Fundraiser 2027—a true "Party with a Purpose" supporting scholarships, student development and future public service leaders throughout South Florida. If you're interested in the cruise, it will be on Royal Caribbean's Brilliance of the Seas, February 12-15, 2027, leaving from Port Everglades. Contact Baileys Luxury Travel (Agent Radika) at 954-505-4540 with questions. If you don't want to set sail but do want to enter the cruise raffle, purchase raffle tickets here!

Whether you're cheering for your favorite team, celebrating with someone special, networking with public service professionals or simply enjoying a tropical escape, your participation directly supports the ASPA South Florida Chapter's scholarship programs, student engagement initiatives and professional development opportunities. Join the Chapter for this "Party with a Purpose" and invest in the next generation of public servants while creating unforgettable memories at sea. Thank you for your continued support of ASPA and the ASPA South Florida Chapter. We look forward to sailing with you and appreciate your commitment to strengthening public service in our community.


APPAM 2026 Raphael W. Bostic Fellowship for Economic Opportunity

APPAM, in partnership with the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, will award the Raphael W. Bostic Fellowship for Economic Opportunity in honor of his retirement. This Fellowship will support travel costs to APPAM's Annual Fall Research Conference for one scholar engaged in research that examines how policies, institutions and market structures shape economic opportunity and equity, with an emphasis on addressing racial and social disparities, advancing economic equity and dismantling systemic barriers to financial and housing security for historically marginalized communities. Applicants must:

  • Be a current APPAM Professional Member. Students are not eligible to apply for this award.
  • Be engaged in research that addresses housing, credit and/or community development, with a demonstrated focus on racial and social disparities, economic equity and systemic barriers affecting historically marginalized communities.
  • Provide a resume/CV and one letter of recommendation.
  • Provide at least one and up to three recent completed research products that highlight contributions to the area.
Priority research areas include: Housing Access, Stability and Finance, Community Development and Reinvestment, Credit Markets, Financial Inclusion, Homeownership, Wealth-Building, Economic Mobility, Race, Identity and Discrimination in Home Ownership, Institutional Bias and other related areas. The recipient will receive: complimentary APPAM Fall Research conference registration fee; $599 stipend to offset costs of transportation (air and ground) as well as meals during the conference; three nights' accommodation at the conference hotel. The fellowship selection committee invites nominations through Thursday, July 9, 2026. Click here to submit a nomination.

 




New editions of PAR are released every other month; articles are posted online regularly between editions. Check out the following open source articles that have been posted to the website recently.

The Diffusion of Local Administrative Innovation: Investigating Municipal Climate Managers in the State of Hessen in Central Germany
Kai Schulze, Jonas J. Schoenefeld and Marco Nicolay

Stimulating Pro-Environmental Behavior Using Management Control: Survey Evidence From a City Government
Berend van der Kolk, Eelke Wiersma and Willemijn Odekerken

 

Public Integrity—2025 Impact Factor on the Rise!

The Public Integrity editorial team and Taylor & Francis are delighted to announce that the journal's impact factor has increased for the 2025 JCR year, to 1.4. Public Integrity received its first impact factor in Clarivate's Emerging Sources Citation Index for the 2022 JCR year. It is ranked at 60 of 97 journals in the public administration category. For 2025, 82 articles contributed to the impact factor. The top cited article was Rashed Alhaimer, "Exploring the Attitudes of Kuwait's Residents Toward the Role of Corruption and Anti-Corruption Entities (Nazaha) in Kuwait," receiving 20 citations in the period. The article is freely available to view and download until the end of September.


New Edition of JSEPA Is Out

The most recent edition of the Journal of Social Equity in Public Administration (JSEPA) has been released. Volume 4, issue 2 includes research and reviews from an array of scholars covering topics such as gender ideology, approaches to budgeting, SNAP, racial healing, book reviews and more. JSEPA is open access; please share articles with your colleagues, students and social media followers.


Tips, Resources and Updates

Healthcare Affordability: The Overlooked Way Federal Employees Can Save Hundreds on Healthcare
Despite rising healthcare costs and tighter budgets, most federal employees are leaving this guaranteed savings opportunity on the table.



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
Most news related to federal workforce changes by the current administration are being reported in Federal Workforce in Turmoil. Contact us if you are not receiving that digest and want to. Social Equity

Members and Notables in the News

Barrett and Greene:
Good Ideas That Come from Small Places
and
The Policy Challenge of Selection Bias

Trevor Hamilton:
Hamilton Turns a Passion for Helping Others into a Career in Public Service

Nick Hart:
The Federal Government Has a Major Blind Spot in How It Evaluates Programs

Alex Henderson:
Henderson announces he is now department chair and MPA program director at Marist.

Janice Lachance:
The Plan to Make Climate Science Harder to Erase

Craig Maher:
AI Can Balance Government’s Books. It Can’t Understand What They Mean.

Don Moynihan:
What the Reflecting Pool Actually Reflects

Ron Sanders:
The "New" Schedule F Will NOT, Necessarily, Politicize the Civil Service

Kendra Stewart:
Lowcountry Food Bank Foundation Welcomes Committee, Board Members

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:
  • Call for Editors: Journal of Health and Human Services Administration
    JHHSA is seeking to expand its editorial board. They are welcoming inquires for the following roles: managing editor, associate editor, social media editor and social media intern. Statements of interest are requested by August 15. They may be sent to: [email protected] and [email protected].

  • Call for Proposals: Economic Diplomacy Journal Special Issue
    Economic Diplomacy Journal invites submissions for a special issue examining the evolving role of "Small States, Statecraft and Diplomacy in a Changing World Order." The contemporary international system is characterized by geopolitical fragmentation, institutional strain, financial volatility and widening development asymmetries. Multilateral institutions are facing mounting pressures, while global cooperation is increasingly challenged by competing national priorities and strategic rivalries. In this context, new calls have emerged within international policy discourse for strategic options among states and for the formation of coalitions capable of navigating a more uncertain global landscape. For small states, these developments raise important questions of diplomacy and strategy. How do small states respond to global uncertainty and systemic disruption? What forms of statecraft allow them to exercise influence in international affairs despite structural constraints in the context of contemporary global politics? And how can small states leverage diplomacy, partnerships and multilateral engagement to advance national and collective interests? This special issue seeks to explore the practice of statecraft and diplomacy among small states, focusing on how they navigate global instability while shaping their own agendas. While often described as system-takers within the global order, small states are faced with new challenges beyond the orthodox processes of coalition diplomacy and strategic engagements in world institutions. Proposals are due by September 15. Contact the journal with any questions or for more information.

  • Call for Papers: Public Money & Management (PMM) Theme
    For this theme issue the publishers are looking for disciplinary eclecticism. They seek contributions that bring together insights from several disciplines including law, social sciences, public management and the study of politics. Traditionally public management has not engaged in "constitutional’ conversations." However, the rise of what has been identified within the political landscape as "populism" calls for a cross-disciplinary perspective to understand whether, and how, it is impacting public management and administration. Contributions of 8,000-word research articles, 1,000-word debate pieces and 3,500-word new development articles are asked to consider, but are not limited to: are we facing the limits of traditional thinking in public management? Is there a problem, incipient or actual, facing public managers if they are becoming answerable to politicians (1) with a value set that is antagonistic to the values of public management (if such exist); (2) antagonistic to the liberal, law-based state; (3) who may be poised to break the law—or make decisions that are likely to be challenged in courts? What is "extremism"/populism? Do public managers observe/answer to a code that protects them against orders (short of law-breaking)? How far do existing doctrines of accountability accommodate answerability for extremist policies? What lessons could public managers learn from international and comparative perspectives from the rise of populism in different political systems and architectures? The publishers are seeking both conceptual and case examples to address the questions above. All submissions should follow the PMM author guidelines and be submitted via ScholarOne. Find more information online. All submissions are due October 1.

  • Harvard Kennedy School: Collaborating for Public Value
    Collaborating for Public Value is a five-week program that will run October 13 - November 12. Each week there will be independent asynchronous work (approximately three hours/week) and one live session on Thursdays at 10 am ET. Program participants will gain practical tools for alignment, accountability, adaptive management and building durable collaborative capacity across diverse institutional environments. Visit their website for more information.

  • Public Voices Seeks Submissions
    Public Voices: The Journal of Public Service focuses on historical, artistic and reflective expression. Unlike traditional social science journals, contributors publish unorthodox, controversial perspectives on public service and the public sector. Contributions include research articles, original fiction, poetry, photographs, art, critiques of existing works and insights based on experience, observation and research. Among the journal's contributors are public servants, writers, artists and academics in all fields. The journal is seeking submissions; prospective authors are encouraged to review the archives and submission requirements online. The journal is sponsored by the Virtual Museum of Public Service and ASPA's Section on Historical, Artistic and Reflective Expression (SHARE).

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!)

 

American Society for Public Administration
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Please send inquiries to Managing Editor Karen E. T. Garrett.