Defense
DHS agency to scour jails for illegal immigrants
Fiscal 2008 budget would grant immigration, customs agencies funding for staffing increases.
News
President’s budget pushes electronic retirement system
The Office of Personnel Management hopes to launch the modernized system by February 2008.
Defense
Budget signals troop surge expected to be short-lived
Supplemental request for fiscal 2008 covers costs for the number of troops deployed before announcement of new strategy.
Defense
Proposed cuts to first responder grants draw fire
Fiscal 2008 budget would provide about 35 percent less than Congress enacted for this year.
Oversight
Measuring the Obstacles
Rudy Giuliani is unlikely to last long if he enters the 2008 presidential race.
Defense
Defense budget looks to modernize, sustain force
Base budget of $481.4 billion is slightly above average annual spending during the Reagan administration buildup of the 1980s.
Tech
More money, end of fee diversion sought for patent agency
In fiscal 2008, the agency anticipates hiring an additional 1,200 patent examiners and plans to continue expanding telework efforts.
Defense
Homeland Security budget generous to Customs, Border agency
Budget request would allow the department to hire 3,000 new Border Patrol agents, bringing the total number of agents to almost 18,000.
Defense
Bush seeks billions of dollars for Army technology
Major areas of investment include unmanned aerial vehicles, manned and unmanned ground vehicles, and battlefield command-and-communications systems.
Pay & Benefits
Administration seeks to trim retiree health subsidies
Under budget proposal, new retirees with fewer than 10 years of federal service would have to shoulder a larger burden of premium costs.
Defense
President proposes cuts to 141 programs
Nonsecurity spending would go up 1 percent in fiscal 2008.
Management
Bush plan aims to return to budget surplus by 2012
Democrats are skeptical, saying proposal relies on misguided policies including tax cut extensions and cuts in domestic programs.
Tech
Budget proposal includes 2.6 percent increase for IT
Number of technology investments rated as well-planned and managed drops.
Defense
Military cutting orders for costly high-tech weapons
Some analysts worry ballooning price tag for new technology will squeeze maintenance and other needs.
Management
Budget plan touches only the surface of long-term fiscal issues
By 2040, interest on the debt could reach about 15 percent of gross domestic product.
Pay & Benefits