Defense
Senate gives FDA $265 million in Defense supplemental ’08 funding
Funds would expand agency’s inspections of foreign drug plants and food products, but faces Bush veto.
Defense
Committee accuses DHS of double-counting small business figures
House Homeland Security panel wants greater oversight of how agency disperses its contracting funds.
Defense
House chairman blasts VA move to set up panel on soldier suicides
Rep. Bob Filner, D-Calif., instead calls for “immediate action” to provide mental health evaluations for discharged service members.
Defense
ICE chief urges lawmakers to tour detention facilities
Julie Myers on Friday defended how her agency treats illegal immigrants being held in facilities across the country.
Defense
House-passed bill seeks better coordination between State and Defense
Amendment would establish a 12-member panel to review how the two departments, as well as the U.S. Agency for International Development, collaborate on overseas national security issues.
Oversight
CMS clears hurdles to collaborate with Food and Drug Administration on drugs
The two agencies will share access to a database containing comprehensive information about the safety and side effects of prescription drugs.
Pay & Benefits
New bill would provide grad student scholarships for service
Bipartisan legislation would offer tuition and living expenses, and allow noncompetitive hiring of scholarship recipients.
Pay & Benefits
TSP and Taxes
A primer on the tax implications of withdrawals from your Thrift Savings Plan account.
Defense
From Nextgov.com: Hill: Regulatory groups fail to protect power grid from cyberattacks
Federal regulatory commission says it needs more authority to force plants to tighten security for computer networks.
Defense
Coast Guard maritime casualty investigations hindered by poor management, IG finds
Service releases five-year plan to improve safety, but more resources are needed.
Oversight
OMB issues guidance for evaluating federal acquisition processes
Agencies must use a standard template to assess procurement strengths and weaknesses by fiscal 2009.
Defense
Senate OKs war supplemental bill with veterans' benefits
Package includes a provision that would essentially provide a four-year scholarship to any public university to veterans who have served since Sept. 11, 2001.
Defense
Panel praises Petraeus during nomination hearing
General said the number of violent incidents in Iraq last week was the lowest in four years.
Defense
Report: Defense Department cannot fully account for $7.8B spent in Iraq
Inspector general concludes funds were spent without appropriate documentation; office reconciling Iraqi payments has been moved from Kuwait to Rome, N.Y.
Oversight
Lawmakers push for more diversity at Homeland Security
Department has strong Hispanic representation, but racial clashes among workers continue.
Oversight
Senator accuses FBI of retaliation against whistleblowers
Iowa Republican cited two cases of veteran FBI agents who were transferred to lesser jobs and became targets of internal probes.
Oversight
GAO official says political influence not isolated at Interior
Investigator says four more department officials might have interfered in endangered species decisions for political reasons.
Pay & Benefits