Making Capitol Hill a Better Workplace, US Troop Removal in Afghanistan, and More

February 12, 2021

As the insurrection on January 6 acutely shows, there are real and significant threats to the safety of Capitol Hill staff who support members and operations in the building. In her Blueprints brief, Molly Reynolds outlines recommendations to help protect the physical and mental health of employees, bolster diversity, recruit and retain top talent, and streamline administrative operations.

A growing chorus is framing President Biden’s choice on Afghanistan in one-dimensional terms: Should he withdraw U.S. troops by May 2021, the date identified for a complete withdrawal in the U.S.-Taliban deal of last year? Or should troops stay past that date? Madiha Afzal explains why this is a false choice and why rushing to exit without ensuring the Taliban are holding up their side of the bargain is self-defeating.

Over the past year, many workers in the U.S. tech sector have left coastal hubs like San Francisco and Seattle to resettle in the middle of the country. John Austin discusses the emergence of heartland tech centers and the importance of research universities for the region’s economic growth.

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