Defense
DHS officials grilled on vacancies in high-level jobs
Lawmaker says FEMA is at only 73 percent of the staff level it needs, just weeks away from hurricane season.
Tech
State department reverses itself on use of Chinese computers
The 16,000 Chinese-made computers, bought for $13 million for use on classified networks, will now be designated for unclassified work.
Defense
Bush shares details of $1.95 billion border security funding request
President seeks $756 million to deploy 6,000 National Guard troops and $410 million to hire and train 1,000 Border Patrol agents.
Defense
Panel demands better oversight of DHS contractors
Congressman suggests investigating backgrounds of executive officers and board directors of small companies before making awards.
Defense
Election to represent Customs, Border employees under way
Federal court denies Agriculture union’s request for delay.
Management
Partisan fight delays bill to reauthorize SBA
Democrats suggest 49 amendments to the measure; one would require agency chief to have small business experience.
Tech
OMB official: Too soon to judge computer security law
Critics say 2002 Federal Information Security Management Act is largely a paperwork exercise.
Management
Subpanel approves bill requiring privacy review for federal rules
Without Office of Management and Budget oversight, agencies may try to exempt themselves, law professor has testified.
Defense
Navy details huge unmanned aerial vehicle program
Initiative has grabbed lawmakers’ attention; language in fiscal 2007 defense bill encourages systems development.
Pay & Benefits
Pay Gap: A Different Take
A libertarian think tank argues that federal pay is actually higher than private sector.
Defense
Rumsfeld presses for resolution of impasse on supplemental funding
Neither the White House nor House leaders want the final price tag to exceed $94.5 billion.
Defense
House panels OK conflicting plans to fix FEMA
One measure would make the agency independent again; other would keep it within the Homeland Security Department.
Defense
Panel approves Homeland Security spending bill
Bill funds DHS personnel system below president’s request.
Defense
Defense agency resumes processing some clearances
Move will help 2,000 secret-level applications; Top Secret credentials and requests for re-investigations still stalled.
Management
GAO: IRS procedural flaws leave taxpayer materials vulnerable
Unauthorized access to secure areas, slow processing of large payments, procedures for hiring juveniles were among the problems.
Defense