Defense
Security official defends satellite surveillance plan
Official says DHS has conducted a full "privacy impact assessment" on the recently unveiled National Applications Office.
Tech
VA is slow to upgrade tech security, GAO says
Report finds agency isn’t moving fast enough to address the weaknesses exposed by an incident that compromised the personal information of roughly 26.5 million people.
News
Revised mining rule heartens industry, worries environmentalists
Regulatory change will increase Interior agency’s workload because staff will have more information to evaluate.
Oversight
OMB finds performance of federal programs improving
Administration rated 48 new programs in this round of evaluations, with 77 percent found to be at least adequate.
News
Agriculture secretary weighs bid for Senate seat
Mike Johanns would need to resign before he enters the election; Democrats say he has a history of resigning public office to pursue the next job.
Defense
Aerospace team urges tanker performance over content
American-European team says its aircraft would have 58-60 percent "domestic content," which would meet the "Buy America" requirements of at least 50 percent.
Defense
Defense labor relations reforms waiting on Congress
Pentagon personnel official says it wouldn’t make sense to enact changes only to have lawmakers repeal them later.
Defense
Delays in vital security programs frustrate Democrats
Department official says GAO report misrepresented progress on individual programs; comptroller general stands by the report.
Defense
Outgoing VA head cites slow progress on claims backlog
Processing delays likely to continue as long as the nation is at war, says Jim Nicholson.
Management
Nixon Intelligence
The federal director of the new presidential library will use spying to tell a story.
Defense
Surveillance law prompts clashes in two panels
Intelligence director says updates were critical since original version did not foresee cellular telephones, e-mail and the Internet.
Tech
Satisfaction with agency Web sites remains on plateau
The biggest gap between the private and federal sectors is in the area of search capabilities, analyst says.
Pay & Benefits
Intelligence agencies move closer to common personnel system
New 500-day plan will focus on performance management, pay for performance and hiring in the intelligence community.
Oversight
New OMB chief to hold firm against excess spending
Despite $23 billion difference over appropriations, Jim Nussle says there is still time to avoid a train wreck.
Oversight
Special counsel, merit protection measure advances
Subcommittee passes language aimed at ensuring allegations of discrimination based on sexual orientation are pursued.
Defense
Defense cites strides in medical care for deployed civilians
Officials acknowledge there's still room for improvement.
Defense