Defense
Powell, Ridge endorse national intelligence director concept
Cabinet chiefs say position is "essential" and will provide "better unity of effort."
Management
GAO gives advice on passing governmentwide audit
Auditors recommend ways the government can get past obstacles to a clean opinion.
Tech
Justice Department plans more labs focused on cyber crime
Attorney General John Ashcroft says department will add eight new forensic analysis centers.
Pay & Benefits
Federal health insurance premiums to rise by 7.9 percent
The OPM announcement marks the first time in four years that the annual increase has not been more than 10 percent.
Defense
9/11 investigation spawns whistleblower movement
A group of 25 former and current federal employees lodges charges of mismanagement and corruption.
Defense
Focus on 9/11 panel shifts attention from Homeland Security authorization
Work on a first-ever authorization bill for the department had already bogged down this summer over partisan differences.
News
Standard per diem rate will increase in fiscal 2005
Travel industry official critical of data used to set new rates.
Management
Administrative costs at overseas outposts up sharply
Cooperative support system is underused, leading to duplication of services and waste, GAO says.
Management
Democrats discuss potential obstacles to oversight of Iraq contracts
Concerns raised over contractor’s role in maintaining a central database of government purchase information.
Management
Three years after anthrax, postal response system very different
GAO urges agency to “err on the side of caution” in handling future threats.
Defense
Defense contract agency hiring civilians for overseas tours
Workforce strained due to global deployments; 200 emergency personnel would go to war zones.
Management
Panel takes up public’s declining trust in government
Nonpartisan group’s project shows downtrend, and panelists attempt to identify how to reverse it.
Defense
Unions, Pentagon agree to continue talking about personnel overhaul
Both sides upbeat after a day of discussions about the pending National Security Personnel System.
Management