Pay & Benefits
First entrants to NSPS eligible for one-time pay bump
Buy-in will be the last within-grade increase seen by employees moving to the Pentagon's new personnel system in April.
Defense
Defense agency's effort to secure Soviet pathogens grows
Goal is to create disease surveillance network in former Soviet republics.
Defense
Committee seeks changes in color-coded alert system
Bill approved by House panel Wednesday also would overhaul DHS intelligence operations.
Defense
House panel to seek changes in Pentagon procurement
Previous attempts at reform, lawmakers say, have not stemmed rising costs and schedule delays.
News
Fire closes IRS headquarters
More than 3,000 employees work at the building in downtown Washington.
Defense
Probe raises doubts over focus of DHS agency's investigations
ICE puts only 15 percent of resources toward cases with security or terrorism connections, GAO says in report disputed by the agency.
Defense
Lawmakers criticize Navy plans to shrink submarine fleet
House members question the security and workforce implications of a plan to reduce the fleet to as few as 40 boats.
Tech
GAO knocks IRS for gaps in computer security
Federal employee union cites report as evidence that the agency should not outsource collection of tax debt.
Management
Hawk or Dove
Attorney General Alberto Gonzales balances tough action with an amiable management style.
Defense
White House, Congress urged to step up efforts to prevent nuclear attack
Bush should speed up timetable for securing materials that could be used for nuclear weapons, Congress must provide resources, observers say.
News
Senators seek more funds for federal aviation programs
Lawmaker questions whether FAA will be able to hire enough air traffic controllers to replace those who are expected to retire soon.
Defense
Travel group seeks details on airline screening
Group looks for more information on unspoken TSA policy allowing people into secure areas of airports without government-issued IDs.
Management
Bolten said to have stayed the course as OMB director
Most of the major management initiatives in place at OMB started with his predecessor.
Defense
Panel approves major immigration reform bill
If approved by the full Senate, measure must be resolved with a House-passed bill that is devoted mainly to beefed-up border security.
Pay & Benefits
Bush team may drop labor part of civil service overhaul
Move to focus proposed legislation on pay for performance could avoid lawsuits similar to ones hindering efforts at Defense, DHS.
Defense
Navy intranet contractor receives three-year extension
The extension, worth $3.1 billion, strengthens incentives for meeting project deadlines.
Management
Group proposes agency to review public works funding
Establishment of an impartial, federally funded body to evaluate projects would limit the role of politics in the investment process, commission says.
Defense