Management
Feds see drop in jobs defended against contractors in 2005
Last year’s public-private competitions will save $3.1 billion over five to 10 years, OMB says.
Defense
Legislators concerned by potential shortfalls in base closure funding
The Army and the Air Force could come up short billions of dollars by the 2011 cutoff for carrying out BRAC recommendations.
Defense
Investigators call cargo security program unreliable
Customs and Border Protection bureau lacks evidence that program targeting high-risk containers is effective, GAO says.
News
Supplemental funding package keeps growing
Senate panel adds money at a rate of $80 million per minute in a two-hour session; exceeds Bush’s request by $15 billion.
Defense
Navy secretary says shipbuilders need long-term focus
Agency plans to build its fleet by more than 30 ships over the next three decades.
Management
As the Wall Crumbles
Intelligence and law enforcement agencies topple the information barrier.
News
Government’s work with data brokers prompts privacy concerns
Safeguards are unevenly applied across agencies, GAO review finds.
News
Critics of IRS tax-return proposal urge changes
Lawmakers have introduced legislation that would ban the sale of tax information.
News
Bush declines to say if Treasury secretary will keep his job
President signals that Joshua Bolten has other staffing changes in the works.
Defense
TSA official says airport security is too predictable
Agency is working on a program to train screeners in behavior recognition techniques.
Pay & Benefits
FAA and union exchange formal labor proposals
Agency says it still wants to reach agreement, but union maintains formal negotiations have ended.
Management
Agencies urged to customize pay-for-performance systems
Merit Systems Protection Board says officials should make decisions about controlling costs and issuing ratings before designing systems.
Pay & Benefits
Employee buyouts on the rise
Cash incentives of as much as $25,000 were used in half of all government agencies in the last three years.
Management
OMB program assessments viewed as flawed budget tool
Congressional staffer says agencies should take program goals set by Congress into account.
News
House, Senate may be unable to agree on spending caps
The chambers’ budget plans are $9 billion apart on discretionary spending for fiscal 2007, with the Senate’s exceeding Bush’s request.
Defense
GAO finds poor management puts Army program at risk
Costs for Future Combat Systems program -- initially estimated at $92 billion -- could reach $200 billion.
Oversight