Hiring and retaining talented staff remains a top concern for state DOT officials and a recurring topic at SSTI’s annual meetings. Whether shifting federal policies disrupt local recruitment or send a flurry of former federal employees into state government, as reported by The New York Times, staffing challenges are likely to persist for years. To address this, more state agencies are working to eliminate barriers, strengthen workplace culture, and encourage innovation—strategies outlined in our newly released Innovative DOT framework.