Pay & Benefits
Senate spares feds in payroll tax bill
Democratic chamber excludes provisions that would reduce federal compensation, but legislation is expected to fail in the House.
Oversight
House speaker calls for Congress to continue work on payroll-tax package
Boehner says Senate Democrats should put their vacations on hold until differences are resolved.
Defense
U.S. casualties trending down in Afghanistan
As of mid-December, 407 Americans have been killed, nearly a hundred fewer than last year.
Oversight
Play of the Day -- Ron Paul on Leno; Dick Cheney's warning
A daily roundup of late-night video.
Tech
Winter Woes
Proposals to extend the pay freeze could make it even harder to compete with the private sector for talent.
Oversight
Senate agrees on spending bill; Obama signs legislation keeping agencies open
Overall bill, if approved, would eliminate the possibility of government shutdown for the rest of the fiscal year.
Oversight
Senate strikes deal on short term payroll tax cut package
Senators also agreed to back massive spending measure funding most agencies for 2012.
Defense
Medal of Honor recipient settles lawsuit with BAE
Meyer said he and the firm settled their differences 'amicably.'
Oversight
HHS proposes rule to help define essential health benefits
To comply with the Affordable Care Act, states must now select plans that address 10 categories of care.
Oversight
A look at federal hiring reform, 20 months on
Agencies share their progress on streamlining the employee application process, but are they measuring success the right way?
Defense
Defense bill seeks new submarine cost assessment
The provision adapts an earlier demand in the House-passed version of 2012 defense authorization legislation.
Oversight
SEC husbands resources in appealing judge’s ruling on Citigroup
Agency wants to preserve flexibility to settle cases without an admission of guilt, leading to savings if litigation is avoided.
Defense
Odds of hacker 'shenanigans' during the primaries are high
Forget electronic voting machines; there are other ways to manipulate ballots, security analysts and former hackers say.
Oversight