Every federal contract starts with a solicitation — the government’s request for proposals or quotes from prospective suppliers. Per Neil Miller, the warning signs of a failed project are usually already evident during the solicitation process. www.niskanencenter.org/spotting-con...

When the federal government contracts with businesses, it often forces them to follow rigid checklists instead of focusing on functional results. The same processes that slow agencies down end up written into contracts too, limiting the government and its vendors.

New analysis from Gil Guerra & Claire Holba shows that U.S. military actions in Venezuela could drive an additional 1.7 to 3 million people to flee Venezuela.

State and local governments are taking aim at high housing costs with preapproved building plans for homes. Now the idea is catching on at the federal level too!

Part of a @niskanencenter.bsky.social series on the past, present, and future of government reform. Read @daviddagan.bsky.social’s introduction and find the other essays here ➡️ hypertext.niskanencenter.org/p/the-ghosts...

NEW: To keep the lights on between now and 2030, the U.S. will need nuclear/fossil fuels and renewables. Choosing between them isn't an option.

In order to get a progressivism that can build again, progressives have to embrace pragmatism.

Hundreds of U.S. counties need additional labor and also have the housing capacity necessary to welcome new residents. Our new Migration Match Index lets policymakers see exactly where those opportunities are. www.niskanencenter.org/mapping-amer...

The potential benefits of migration are not identical everywhere. This remarkable new resource from @niskanencenter.bsky.social maps the US counties where the economic benefits of immigration might be highest —> www.niskanencenter.org/mapping-amer...

Per @pahlkadot.bsky.social, “every state, and of course our federal government, needs to care less about passing laws and more about making good on the promises they represent.”

Smart immigration policy is a strategic asset, and other countries know it. While the U.S. now charges a $100k fee for H-1B visas, peer countries are racing to recruit the workers America is turning away. www.niskanencenter.org/the-global-r...

Labor shortages and population decline are hitting communities across the U.S. At the same time, migrants are struggling to find opportunity. Cassandra Zimmer's Migration Match Index identifies a way to solve both problems.

The Clinton administration spent 8 years "Reinventing Government.” So, 31 years later, why are we trying to fix government inefficiency? That's what this issue of Hypertext tackles⬇️

Mamdani's big, bold visions inspired New Yorkers. Big, bold visions rely on strong foundations. The civil service system is the bedrock of that foundation.

Voters want a legal, orderly, and fair immigration system. That's really reasonable. Let's think big and make it happen.

NEW: The administration's attempt to curb reliance on costly contracts is commendable. But federal agencies don’t have the in-house technical expertise to break free. www.niskanencenter.org/vendor-captu...

Can you automate immigration policy? We think so.

Only two states — California and New Hampshire — provide levels of support for families compared to Canadian provinces. Two reforms can help! 🇺🇸🇨🇦

How many people would be displaced if the U.S. intervened in Venezuela (or maintained the status quo)? Gil Guerra and Claire Holba have modeled 5 scenarios ⤵️

Ben Bain of @niskanencenter.bsky.social says we need to align the incentives of civil servants with outcomes you want to see. Need to understand why process was put in place, so you're not surprised by the hurdles.

The @niskanencenter.bsky.social has a helpful new, centrist, and comprehensive roadmap to better immigration regulation in the United States.

Then Nell Abernathy, @ksabeelrahman.bsky.social, Clarence Wardell, @jmargetta.bsky.social and Ben Bain of @niskanencenter.bsky.social tackled how to “fix the plumbing”—the overlooked operational mechanics that determine whether policy truly serves the public. Policy lives or dies on execution.

A bit dry, but the stakes are high.

"There is no more important effort for law enforcement than to solve crimes and give some measure of closure to victims and families," says Sheriff @MikeJBouchard. New bipartisan legislation in Michigan would help. ↓

Matthew La Corte went to Vienna this week to engage with key stakeholders from across the world on immigration policy. 🌍 Discussions focused on some of the most pressing migration issues today: labor mobility, the future of asylum, and regional cooperation.

Congress still has the chance to deliver a big win on energy by: — Promoting clean-firm generation — Making commonsense updates to NEPA — Speeding up approval for major transmission lines. It's time for ERPA 2.0. www.niskanencenter.org/permitting-r...

🚨🚨The Senate has passed the bipartisan ROAD to Housing Act as part of the NDAA! This is a historic level of bipartisan cooperation to expand Americans' access to housing. @aarmlovi.bsky.social, @awjustus.bsky.social, and @rohanaras.bsky.social unpack what's in the 310-page bill. ⬇️

From @niskanencenter.bsky.social , a potentially powerful tool to ease the nationwide housing shortage. www.niskanencenter.org/home-field-a...

It looks like there's at least one MAHA crusade that every good-government liberal can get behind: Breaking the AMA's stranglehold on how doctors are paid.

The Dept of Veterans’ Affairs piloted capability-based budgeting and proved it works. Agencies don’t need new laws to try this, and the payoff is big: – More transparent reporting – Increased flexibility & agility – Clear accountability www.niskanencenter.org/fragmented-p...

Most federal budgets are fragmented across so many projects and authorities that everyone loses sight of the outcome. Solitaire Carroll’s work at the VA shows it doesn’t have to be this way. www.niskanencenter.org/fragmented-p...

Gun violence costs the U.S. $557 billion a year. Insurance companies shoulder much of that cost — but do little to reduce the risks that drive it. Congress can fix this incentive gap.

Utah is producing a lot of new energy — from solar farms, batteries, and soon nuclear — but much of that power can’t get to the cities and businesses that need it. There's never been a better time to build a more coordinated electricity grid across Western states! www.deseret.com/opinion/2025...

Medicaid work requirements are coming in 2027. And without quick action from CMS, they could trigger the next billion-dollar government IT disaster, similar to healthcare.gov, FASFA, etc.  But a tech meltdown doesn't have to be our story this time. www.niskanencenter.org/dont-let-wor...

"The U.S. stands to lose more than India with the Trump administration's H1-B fee hike."

🏙️ Niskanen staff represented at YIMBYTOWN! @aarmlovi.bsky.social, Andrew Justus, Kaj Gumbs, and Rohan Aras presented on a "Federal Policy Roundup" panel (alongside minority staffer Madeleine Marr of Senate Banking and David Garcia of Up For Growth).

The Paperwork Reduction Act doesn’t work, and everybody knows it. Per Alex Mechanick, it’s time for Congress to make comprehensive changes rather than continuing to pass piecemeal exemptions.

Conrad 30 lets international physicians who train in the U.S. practice in underserved communities. But last year, 330 of the program’s slots were unused. Congress should fix this.

Most state agencies wait until after unemployment claims are filed to ask employers why a worker left. By collecting separation data closer to the time of departure, states could reduce errors and help workers receive their benefits faster.

Our grid isn’t ready for 21st-century demands. Join us on Wednesday to discuss how unlocking HVDC can drive down energy costs and boost U.S. energy security. www.niskanencenter.org/how-congress...

Markets & innovation can power an abundant, clean energy future. To get there, reforms should focus on investing in innovation & infrastructure rather than prescribing narrow procedures. nationalinterest.org/blog/energy-...

Medicare reimburses hospitals more than freestanding clinics for the same routine procedures, so they acquire physician practices where patients could otherwise receive the same care at a lower cost. Newly proposed rules attempt to address this.

Electronic monitoring (EM) allows people who have committed crimes to serve their time without burdening an already stressed prison system. New evidence shows that it can do this while improving public safety. www.niskanencenter.org/can-we-reduc...

A huge thank you to all who made Abundance 2025 happen! Niskanen partnered with leading organizations to bring together elected officials, academics, and policy experts to explore what abundance can look like across parties and across the U.S. www.niskanencenter.org/niskanens-ab...

Per Kenneth Sercy, to reach net-zero, reforms must: – Invest in transmission and R&D. – Encourage fair pricing through carbon taxes and border adjustments. – Promote healthy market competition to spur innovation and drive down prices.

Today, we went to the Hill to discuss a politically viable fix for our strained and aging electric grid: a high-voltage direct current (HVDC) macrogrid. ⚡️

New research: Electronic monitoring (EM) can cut reoffending more effectively than prison at a fraction of the cost.

I learned about Abundance from Steve in the first place, so I may have thought this was more obvious than it is - it's not an ideology, it's to do with the material circumstances of ideology www.niskanencenter.org/abundance-va...

Choose your variety of abundance. It's like having your colors done, but actually useful. www.niskanencenter.org/abundance-va...

New: Niskanen Housing's writeup of the Senate Banking megabill 👇 Chair Scott & Ranking Member Warren assembled the biggest bipartisan federal housing package in living memory, with proposals from the whole committee—a real first step to buttress growing state & local action on the housing crisis