Defense
White House details ethics agreement with TSA nominee
Harding will have three levels of recusals for dealing with the contracting business he founded in 2003 and the clients and partners of that business.
Oversight
From Nextgov.com: Napolitano freezes spending for high-tech border security project
Secretary cites cost overruns and missed deadlines as reasons to move $50 million in Recovery Act funding for the first phase of SBInet to pay for proven technologies.
Defense
FEMA seeks to boost regional offices
Lawmakers praise efforts to decentralize operations, but worry about staffing shortages.
Oversight
Dems hit Kentucky senator for new holds
Republican Jim Bunning is holding up administration nominees, critics say.
Defense
Petraeus: Expect setbacks in Afghan war
Army general says next several months will be marked by tough fighting, as the military sends 30,000 more troops to quell rising violence.
Defense
Legal adviser: Drone position will be explained
State Department's Harold Koh said he is "comfortable" with the administration's legal position on the use of unmanned aircraft to kill suspected terrorists.
Defense
OMB details many concerns with intelligence bills
Congressional notification provisions in House and Senate authorization measures top the list of issues.
Defense
Nominee's ties to TSA contractors raise ethics concerns
White House says retired Army Maj. Gen. Robert Harding will recuse himself for one year from matters relating to security firm he founded.
Oversight
Narrow Margin
The results of latest polls are not nearly as favorable for Democrats as superficial glances would suggest.
Oversight
GAO upholds Afghan training contract protest
DynCorp International argues that the Army’s new proposed task orders were outside the scope of the underlying multiple awards contract.
Oversight
From Nextgov.com: Audit blames OMB's lack of guidance for shoddy contracting data
But agencies also are responsible for accurate reporting of contract award spending, analysts say.
Oversight
Agencies’ progress meeting FOIA transparency mandate mixed
Research institute finds more pressure and leadership from the administration are needed to make significant changes.
Oversight
Census is counting on ad campaign
Agency hopes its offbeat commercials will save money by encouraging more people to return forms.
Oversight
Obama tries to dampen Medicare fears
The president kicks off a week of lobbying for healthcare reform, insisting the proposal is good for older Americans.
Oversight
Senator holds up bill compensating furloughed Transportation workers
Coburn says Congress should pay workers out of its own budget as punishment for its “inability to maintain core federal programs.”
Oversight
GOP announces debt panel picks
Congressional leaders have pledged to take up the panel's recommendations before the end of the year and have lawmakers cast an up-or-down vote.
Oversight
Stimulus workload taxes agency staffs and missions
Survey shows other projects have been put on the back burner, leading to award delays and less contract monitoring.
Oversight
Blue Dogs advocate three years of spending cuts
The moderate Democrats will suggest reducing nonsecurity discretionary spending by 2 percent annually for three years, and then freezing spending levels for two years.
Oversight
White House to post spending bill earmarks
Move is part of a broader effort to boost transparency and accountability.
Defense