Nextgov
VA Offers Conflicting Accounts of Claims System's 'Spontaneous' Shutdowns
IG says VBMS issues were reported as recently as August.
Pay & Benefits
Senior Executives Bash Pentagon’s Cuts to Bonuses
Decision will drive away top career officials at the Defense Department, SEA says.
Defense
Panetta Leaked Information to Hollywood Writer
Former CIA director says he didn’t know the writer was present during a speech with classified information.
Defense One
Karzai: There is ‘No Deadline’ to Sign Troop Deal
Afghan President Hamid Karzai says the Dec. 31 deadline to sign a post-2014 troop deal is just ‘pressure’ from the U.S. But visiting Gen. Martin Dempsey said negotiations are ‘closed.’ By Stephanie Gaskell
Management
VA’s Use of Reverse-Auction Contracts Comes Under Attack
Lawmakers join GAO in questioning claims of savings and help for small businesses.
Nextgov
Proposed Budget Deal Offers Stability for Federal IT
The plan may make it harder to recruit top tech talent, though.
Pay & Benefits
Lawmakers Propose Self Plus One Option for Federal Health Program
The bipartisan budget deal includes a provision that expands health coverage choices for federal employees without dependents.
Oversight
Paul Ryan Says Conservative Attacks Are a 'Strange New Normal'
As outside groups pile on, the Republican budget negotiator says he is sticking to principles.
Nextgov
How Government IT Shops Can Learn From Starbucks
There are lessons in the coffee chain's business model.
Management
Federal Contractors Are Violating Labor Laws, Senate Panel Finds
Forty-nine major firms linked to infractions of safety and wage standards.
Management
George Bush Shows Hillary Clinton His Paintings on Air Force One
It was one of those rare times that a president, two former presidents and a former first lady/former secretary of State shared the same plane.
Nextgov
HHS Chief Seeks Investigation Into Obamacare Website Contracts
Kathleen Sebelius also directed CMS to appoint a chief risk officer to oversee IT acquisitions.
Oversight
Play of the Day: Handshake-gate
Barack Obama and Cuban President Raúl Castro exchange a greeting.
Oversight
Will Rank-and-File Lawmakers Accept the Budget Deal?
Both sides may have trouble selling the plan.
Defense
Budget Agreement Eases Pentagon's Sequester Pain
Deal gives the Defense Department about $31.5 billion in relief over two years.
Nextgov
Only 137,000 People Got Insurance Through HealthCare.gov Last Month
While 365,000 Americans selected new plans under the Affordable Care Act during October and November, most were through state exchanges.
Management
From Air Travel to Food Safety, More Data Can Be Misleading
The FAA unpacks the "black box" of incident reporting and performance measures.
Pay & Benefits
Budget Deal Asks New Feds to Contribute More to Pensions
Bipartisan panel also asks military retirees to sacrifice, spares current workers.
Management
What Is Your Agency Doing Right?
Federal employees overwhelmingly are engaged in their work, despite all the bad news coming out of government these days.
Management