Oversight
KBR, Halliburton reach agreement in bribery case
Two firms will pay $579 million in penalties to settle allegations of bribing Nigerian government officials to earn contracts.
Defense
Outlook for Defense spending is grim
Significant cuts are unlikely until the economy stabilizes, but weapons programs are unsustainable in the long term, budget observers say.
Oversight
Negotiators drop E-Verify mandate from stimulus package
Pro-business and pro-immigrant groups hail the removal of language requiring companies to check employees’ immigration status.
Defense
Lawmakers urge halt to NSPS pending review
The Defense Department’s new personnel system has resulted in distrust and discontent among the civilian workforce, critics say.
Defense
Pentagon may shift some war costs to base fiscal 2010 budget
An outline of the fiscal 2010 defense budget is expected on Capitol Hill this month after President Obama addresses Congress on Feb. 24.
Oversight
Pressure grows on Obama to alter NASA space proposals
Former government officials advise agency to focus less on space exploration and more on efforts to develop wind and solar energy and to combat global warming.
Oversight
Interior chief says agency prepared for stimulus projects
Salazar tells Senate Indian Affairs Committee he’s asked managers to give priority to work that could be started now.
Pay & Benefits
Deposit Directions
How to make sure you get credit for all your civilian federal service.
Oversight
Acquisition lawyers say mandatory disclosure rule is opaque
New policy could turn into a legal land mine, as companies try to guess how regulators meant to define words such as “timely.”
Defense
Panel dismayed by rise in overseas Defense contracting
Lawmakers claim that Pentagon payments for contractor services rose by 183 percent since 2000, while military pay has gone up only 5 percent.
Oversight
Deficit will near $2 trillion in 2009, federal budget expert predicts
Funding that proved contentious in the economic stimulus package likely will be added to agency budgets this spring.
Oversight