Pay & Benefits
Pay raise spared in Senate budget measure
Republican senator says he is still working to freeze the 3.1 percent proposed hike for next year.
Tech
House votes to centralize Veterans Affairs IT spending
Legislation would place department’s IT in chief information officer’s hands.
Defense
Thousands of volunteer feds staff Katrina relief effort
More than 7,500 civil servants have assisted as volunteers, with offers to help still arriving.
Defense
Homeland Security unveils unified border control strategy
Initiative includes increased staffing, strengthened interior enforcement and greater investment in detection technology.
News
NASA chief gives funding priority to new space vehicle
Lawmakers concerned that attention to expeditionary vehicle will come at expense of other research, technology programs.
Defense
TSA to ease security delays for frequent fliers nationwide
Registered traveler program slated for June debut.
Defense
Installation of anthrax detectors at postal facilities nears end
By December, agency expects to have installed biohazard detection systems at 282 mail-processing facilities around the country.
Tech
IRS tees up next generation of tech contracts
Twenty-one companies to share in $3 billion, multiple agency IT services agreement.
Management
Committee members irked by Katrina contracting practices
Anger fueled by officials’ lack of knowledge on disaster relief policies.
Defense
Panel grills officials over soaring weapons systems costs
Overruns and schedule delays in shipbuilding, aircraft and military space programs of particular concern to lawmakers.
News
Mileage rate to stay put until end of year
Despite lower gas prices, IRS will likely wait to adjust reimbursement rate.
Pay & Benefits
Liable to be Liable
When it’s time to implement pay-for-performance, managers might want extra protection.
News
New Orleans levee design faulted in report
Failures were the result of poor construction, human error, research team finds.
News
Conference on Defense spending bill postponed
GOP leaders agree on one thing: they would like to avoid wrapping spending bills into an omnibus.
Defense
Lawmakers threaten subpoenas for Katrina-related documents
New e-mails shed light on ex-FEMA director Michael Brown’s actions after the hurricane hit--including a plea from his press secretary that he roll up his sleeves for the TV cameras.
Management