Defense
House committee presses State and Defense officials on lack of coordination on nation building
‘Holistic strategies’ needed to fight terrorism and wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, lawmaker says.
News
Transportation subcommittee chair grills FAA chief on wiring inspections
Agency plans to implement a two-year "cooling off" period in which former FAA officials would have limited access to agency inspectors when they take jobs with airlines.
Oversight
Dems seek to require electronic storage of agency e-mail
Bill directs National Archives to issue regulations on compliance to agencies within 18 months.
Defense
Top military doctors say six- to nine-month combat tours would reduce stress
Lack of time at home said to have ‘devastating’ effect on soldiers and their families.
Pay & Benefits
Retirement Made EZ
A look at how the self-serve electronic benefits resource will work.
Oversight
Hill, auditors cross-examine officials about new census plan
GAO skeptical that management changes the bureau took after the failure of a handheld computer contract will ensure a well-run 2010 count.
Oversight
House committee approves bill to close contracting loophole
Despite assurances from administration officials that legislative fix is unnecessary, skeptical lawmakers take extra step.
Defense
Cost estimates for Army equipment repair, upgrades go up by billions
GAO projects total expenditures of at least $190 billion from 2004 to 2013.
Oversight
Transportation completes plans to improve airline service
Department would double compensation amount that airlines pay passengers bumped from oversold flights.
Pay & Benefits
Federal paid parental leave bill heads to full House committee
Legislation would allow all federal employees eight weeks of paid leave with benefits for the birth or adoption of a child.
Pay & Benefits
House bill aimed at increasing diversity among senior executives advances
New SES office would be responsible for hiring more women, minorities and persons with disabilities into top government ranks.
Defense
TSA may begin air passenger background checks in 2009
Agency will review each airline passenger against the government's no-fly list.
Defense
Industry says war has hurt military modernization efforts
Aerospace Industry Association cautions against making defense modernization accounts "a bill payer" for domestic programs.
Management
Blast From the Past
The future of the civil service is a hot topic, but it was even hotter in the 1880s.
Oversight
VA in midst of huge project to rewrite regulations in plain language
Skeptics say it will be hard to change VA writing process, and complex rules do not lend themselves to simple prose.
Oversight
House passes bill to prevent tax cheats from winning contracts
Contractors would have to certify they do not owe "seriously delinquent" taxes.
Defense