Defense
Senator faces off with president on immigration
Arizona Republican Jon Kyl says Obama will only secure the Southwest border if it's part of a comprehensive immigration bill.
Oversight
Budget director to step down
Peter Orszag plans to leave the Obama administration this summer, becoming the first Cabinet member to depart.
Oversight
When Politics Is National
A recent poll of likely voters in battleground districts shows disturbing results for Democrats.
Defense
Defense policy bill could affect insourcing efforts
Provisions would prohibit quotas and require agencies to give “special consideration” to bringing several categories of contract work back in house.
Defense
Tough choices confront defense budget cutters
The Pentagon is looking for $100 billion in savings over five years, but it might not be as easy to find fat as it appears, analysts say.
Defense
Guard work defies easy labels
Witnesses tell wartime contracting panel a nuanced approach is needed to identify which security jobs should be off-limits to contractors.
Oversight
From Nextgov.com: Data.gov’s next big thing: Mashing up federal stats with maps
With new tools, anyone will be able to diagram official statistics from across the federal government to discover interesting correlations or suspicious trends .
Oversight
Obama directs government to withhold pay from delinquent contractors
The new Do Not Pay list alerts agencies to the status of recipients of federal funds.
Oversight
White House makes case for authority to perform spending surgery
Lawmakers raise concerns about bill that would provide the president with expedited budget rescission authority.
Oversight
Senate eyes FAA, collective bargaining bills
The chamber's schedule through July 4 remains in flux.
Defense
Homeland Security officials weigh more UAV border patrols
A long-standing obstacle to deploying more aerial drones in U.S. civilian airspace has been getting approval from the FAA.
Oversight
Key Dems criticize HHS reshuffling of public health fund
Under plan money would be used to increase the physician workforce instead of disease prevention.
Defense
IG launches new probes of domestic surveillance
Justice office will review records of use of national security letters, which are demands for information without a court order.
Defense
From Nextgov.com: VA faces flood of new claims and charges of a ‘hostile’ work environment
Tests of new work processes show ways the department can manage a double-digit increase in claims it expects to receive in the next two years.
Defense
Gates: Defense needs supplemental by July 4
Pentagon chief says military would have to begin curtailing defense operations if Congress does not pass bill by deadline.
Oversight
Agencies must justify non-competitive contracts
Final rule mandates that officials post documents explaining lack of competition.
Oversight
OMB makes pitch to senior executives on performance management
Key agency official urges top career leaders to focus on goals, data-driven improvement efforts.
Oversight
Air Force calls up plan to save millions
Service will heed the advice of an employee and change its cell phone strategy.
Defense
House Democrats looking to expedite work on supplemental
Sending the bill to the floor without a markup is a likely scenario for speeding along the war funding.
Oversight