Defense

Dispute over oversight powers stalls intel policy bill

Democrats are trying to work around a threat to veto language allowing GAO to audit intelligence agencies.

Defense

Washington officials honor incoming and outgoing Coast Guard leaders

Adm. Robert Papp Jr. takes the helm of the service; former commandant Adm. Thad Allen heads to the Gulf.

Oversight

Report finds interagency contracts rife with inefficiencies

Agencies spend $60 billion annually on multiple award and enterprisewide contracts that often are duplicative.

Defense

Administration gets weak marks on spill

Poll says only 31 percent see Obama doing an excellent or good job dealing with the Gulf of Mexico disaster.

Oversight

MMS employees in Louisiana admit accepting gifts from oil and gas companies

IG report also highlights drug use and sharing of pornography on work computers.

Oversight

Senate passes telework bill

Full Senate unanimously approves legislation which would create more robust programs at agencies.

Defense

Unclear if war supplemental will steer clear of add-ons

One amendment would provide funding to hire more personnel and make improvements inside federal agencies that work on border security issues.

Defense

Lawmakers, experts weigh response to DNI's departure

While officials say the intelligence chief needs proper authority, they agree there's no appetite on Capitol Hill to pass legislative fixes.

Oversight

GOP Soul-Searching

Republicans have lost three straight special congressional elections in swing districts.

Oversight

From Nextgov.com: Product safety commission to use crowd sourcing

A new website will allow researchers to download data sets about incidents involving hazardous products, with the aim of identifying patterns so that warnings can be issued more quickly.

Oversight

Young adults might have to wait for health care coverage

Observers say many employers will not be prepared to offer insurance to dependents up to age 26 before 2011.

Defense

Study raises questions about military’s brain injury assessment tool

At issue is determining which instrument works best for evaluating mild injuries that can lead to serious impairment down the road.

Oversight

President pushes for new authority to nix unnecessary spending

White House proposes legislation to grant Obama power to rescind certain funding in spending bills.

Defense

Observers debate role, authority of intelligence chief

Whatever Dennis Blair's personal problems as director of national intelligence, the role is inherently awkward.

Oversight

Tech firm’s use of 8(a) status questioned

Small Business Administration IG finds goods and services for owner’s other companies were billed to Alaska native firm.

Oversight

Alaska senator urges restraint on spill reaction

Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski hopes exploratory drilling qill still begin this summer off the coast of her home state.

Oversight

Judiciary chairman holds up Senate telework bill

Jurisdictional debate on a patent provision halts legislation’s progress.

Defense

TSA viewed as 'profiling' in new screening program

Lawmaker calls on Homeland Security to suspend program using behavioral detection techniques at U.S. airports.

Defense

Security-related spending bills are likely to take priority

House majority leader says plan is to pass some appropriations measures before the midterm elections.

Oversight

From Nextgov.com: Complex Networx contract causes more work, delays for acquisition staffs

Lawmakers, feds and industry executives discuss ways to ease the transition and shorten the delays to telecom contract .