Pay & Benefits
Shutdown-Averting Spending Bill Would Allow Fed Pay Raise
House GOP measure would keep government open through mid-December and would not block Obama’s proposed 1 percent raise.
Insights
Going Beyond the Buzzwords Just Might Be Acquisition Reform's Best Hope
The Pentagon’s updated acquisition reform initiative emphasizes technological innovation, but its efforts to improve communication among stakeholders are at least as important.
Management
OPM Terminates Controversial Background Check Contractor
Falls Church-based USIS had been suspended after breach in computer network.
Management
Two Government Agencies Are Feuding Over How Red States Should Expand Medicaid
GAO has "long-standing concerns" with the way the Department of Health approves Medicaid waivers.
Management
You Don’t Need a Standing Desk, Just Do This Instead
Five minutes an hour of walking really helps for those of us sitting at our desks all day.
Defense
American Fears of Terror Attack Surge Ahead of September 11th
A new poll reveals that a striking number of Americans believe that the country is less than safe now it was before the 2001 attacks.
Insights
America’s Bridges Are at Risk and Here’s Why
Technological and process failures have resulted in preventable tragedy and pose a threat to bridge safety nationwide.
Oversight
House GOP Funding Bill Would Keep Government Open Through Mid-December
Stopgap measure reauthorizes the Export-Import bank through June 2015, and includes $88 million to fight Ebola.
Defense
Obama Prepared to Strike Islamic State Without Hill Approval
Ahead of a Wednesday prime-time address, the White House makes clear he won't go to Congress.
Oversight
Play of the Day: ISIL May Have A Plagiarism Scandal
Did the Islamic State steal its ideas from the US?
Management
Help Wanted: How Can OPM Make USAJOBS Easier to Use?
OPM wants feedback on overhauling the government's hiring website.
Employee Policy
OPM will not renew contracts with background investigations firm
US Investigations Services, a major contractor that performs background checks for federal agencies—announced Sept. 9 that the Office of Personnel Management will not exercise its options to extend the company's background investigation fieldwork and background investigation support services contracts that expire September 30.
Retirement
Agency ponders phased retirement
One agency may pass on the opportunity to give its employees the long-awaited chance to enter phased retirement.
Pay
House lawmakers offer funding bill to avert shutdown
House Republicans rolled out a short-term funding bill that would fund the federal government from the end of the fiscal year until early December and prevent a repeat of last year's shutdown.
Nextgov
Privacy Isn't Dead -- Yet
National security programs may not be the biggest threat to Americans' privacy.
Defense One
The Military Wants a Vehicle That Can Dodge Rockets By Itself
The military wants to build future vehicles that don’t just withstand assaults but avoid them. By Patrick Tucker
Nextgov
Report: Agencies Aren’t Properly Vetting All Cyber Contractors
Most departments failed to assess whether IT vendors took security precautions.
Defense
The VA Scandal Isn't Going Away
The Veterans Affairs Inspector General's Office is investigating 93 facilities and is "pretty confident" scheduling or data manipulation took place in most of them.
Management
If There’s a Pandemic, Homeland Security May be Scrambling
Department has mismanaged its inventory of masks, hand sanitizer and other emergency protective equipment, watchdog finds.
Defense