Features
Following the Money
Understanding how terrorists finance their operations is key to predicting and thwarting attacks.
Features
Oversight & Out
Congressional mandates are making life difficult for federal contractors, and some could head for the door.
Oversight
OPM suspension of electronic retirement calculator blamed on contractor shortcomings
In a recent round of testing, agency says, only five of 61 functions passed.
Pay & Benefits
Lawmakers discuss expanding locality pay to areas covered by COLAs
Senators and federal employee groups cite need to keep retirement payments competitive, improve recruiting.
Oversight
From Nextgov.com: IRS reports slight increase in e-filing rate
Agency has four years to hike the percentage of electronically filed tax returns it receives to meet a congressional requirement.
Oversight
Nonprofit group helps contractors navigate new ethics rules
A 134-page document provides guidance to firms that need assistance complying with federal regulations.
Defense
Newly appointed Afghanistan IG lacks necessary funding
The office exists only on paper, until Congress resolves issues with supplemental war funding requests.
Pay & Benefits
Myth Busting
Setting the record straight about some misunderstood aspects of federal retirement.
Defense
Marine general lays groundwork for unprecedented change
Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff James Cartwright has a record of conceptualizing vast bureaucratic reforms -- and actually accomplishing them.
Oversight
Congress pursues dual paths on contracting oversight
House pushes aggressive strategy while Senate appears ready to take a step back.
Defense
From Nextgov.com: Bandwidth shortage threatens Army’s FCS plans
Congress concerned about Future Combat Systems and other programs that could overwhelm network capacity .
Defense
Chinese hackers pose serious danger to U.S. computer networks
Hackers may be responsible for two major U.S. power blackouts.
Oversight
OPM suspends portion of contract for electronic retirement system
Agency orders contractor to stop work on electronic retirement calculator.
Oversight
Survey shows airport screening, delays hurting economy
Nearly one third of travelers avoided at least one flight during the last year due to problems with the air travel process, including government screening.
Defense
House-passed bill would ramp up IED office oversight
A separate but related provision in the bill would place more emphasis on irregular warfare by creating an assistant secretary of Defense post.
Oversight
Aviation groups push agenda as FAA reauthorization stalls
Collective bargaining for air traffic controllers is among legislative priorities.
Defense