Pay & Benefits
GSA employee goes from union organizing to stapler filling
Agency calls it routine reassignment; clerk sees ulterior motive.
Oversight
Industry hoping for action on data security bill this year
Legislation would update the six-year-old bill establishing requirements for securing personal or sensitive data.
Oversight
Food and Drug Administration snubbed offer by USDA to help inspect plants
FDA requested use of third-party food safety inspectors because of limited funding and manpower.
Oversight
Congressional Budget Office: Patent bill cost exceeds expected revenue
Bill would would increase federal spending by $26.9 billion.
Pay & Benefits
TSP tech upgrade progressing, officials say
Two-year plan to improve efficiency and enhance security is on track.
Oversight
Depressed Old Party
Republicans are going through a hard time, but will need to tough it out until the general election.
Defense
State Department drops ban on HIV-positive diplomats
Change was made after consultation with medical experts and in response to a lawsuit.
Defense
Security clearance process still a paperwork exercise
Technology association official says only a Web-based system will reduce backlog of needed clearances.
Oversight
Surplus federal computers not reaching rural towns
Advocates push for passage of a bill that would direct federal surplus property to communities in need.
Tech
Government still suffers from information insecurity
Ensuring only authorized users have access to data is among the top challenges facing agencies, says GAO.
Defense
Air Force envisions multiyear contract for new tankers
The multiyear buy would not immediately affect Air Force budgets.
Defense
Chairman delays bill to prevent debt collection from service members killed in action
Under current law, the VA is required to contact family of deceased to collect debt.
Defense
DHS abandons proposed labor relations system
Omnibus spending measure effectively prevented department from implementing new rules.
Defense
DHS and Labor want to revamp program for hiring temporary farm workers
More than half of the 1.2 million agricultural laborers are undocumented immigrants.
Defense