Management
Pentagon shifts focus to results in pay-for-performance system
After a self-imposed delay, department marginalizes initial “benchmarks” concept.
Defense
Investigators detail fraud, waste in FEMA disaster assistance
Agency is no better prepared today for a large-scale disaster than it was last summer, DHS inspector general says.
Pay & Benefits
Bush seeks to end retirement penalty for part-time service
Retirement-related legislative package also would allow cash bonuses to be contributed to Thrift Savings Plan accounts.
Defense
Chertoff announces major changes for FEMA
Measures will include hiring as many as 1,500 full-time employees to help in disaster relief.
Management
Better training needed for emergency purchases, procurement chief says
Interagency contracts and procurement data will receive close scrutiny this year.
Defense
Ex-FEMA head says White House warned about flooding
Michael Brown also says he was frustrated by Homeland Security Department bureaucracy and focus on terrorist threats.
Defense
DHS runs drill to test readiness for online attack
Observers call exercise an important step, say it was more extensive than past incident-response drills.
Defense
Pentagon shares some lessons learned from Hurricane Katrina
Faster damage assessments, unified command and control structure to coordinate multiple agencies’ efforts, are needed, Defense officials say.
Management
VA medical system earns high customer satisfaction ratings
Survey fails, however, to capture large number of veterans without access to care.
Management
Panel supports recommendations to fine-tune small business contracting policies
Advisory group will recommend against cascading procurements.
Defense
Fight over Pentagon proposal to raise health care fees begins
Plan to raise enrollment fees and deductibles on a sliding scale based on rank at retirement would save $11 billion over the next five years.
Pay & Benefits
Bush seeks upgrade of retirement benefits processing
Modernization aimed at making benefit delivery speedier and more accurate.
Pay & Benefits
Buying Retirement Credit
The first of a three-part series on the nitty-gritty of service credit deposits.
Defense
Senators decry slow progress on passenger screening projects
Transportation Security Administration director says comprehensive audit would be necessary to review one system, further delaying it.
Management
McCain, others say time is right for new earmark rules
Lobbying scandals said to provide political window for crackdown on spending for legislators' pet projects.
News
Postal overhaul bill finally passes Senate, heads to conference
Negotiations could be contentious; White House objects to language transferring responsibility for $27 billion worth of postal workers' military pensions back to the Treasury.
Defense
Pentagon backs dual leaders in domestic crises
Placing a single person in charge of active-duty and Guard forces is not a good idea in such situations, Defense official says.
Defense