Oversight
White House orders agencies to review conference spending
For now, all conference-related expenses must be approved by deputy secretaries.
Pay & Benefits
Employee groups criticize Obama’s deficit-cutting plan
Labor-management council discusses president’s proposals and performance management strategy.
News
Cuts to E-Gov fund could slow federal cloud transition
Congressional appropriators have slashed funding for electronic government initiatives, potentially crippling IT modernization plans.
Oversight
Plan to further restrict contact with lobbyists draws criticism
Proposed Office of Government Ethics rule would expand limits on gifts and events to cover all civil servants.
Pay & Benefits
GAO contemplates layoffs
Government watchdog is considering all options in the face of likely major cuts to fiscal 2012 budget.
Pay & Benefits
ATF offers hundreds of buyouts
Bureau hopes to save up to $20 million from voluntary separation packages.
Oversight
Lawmakers tout new postal reform measure as employee-friendly
House Democrats say their proposal to ease the agency’s financial strain goes easier on workers than a Republican alternative.
Defense
Report: U.S. expanding drone bases in East Africa, Arabian Peninsula
Additional bases would help in an effort to attack al-Qaida affiliates in Somalia and Yemen.
News
Democratic opposition to funding bill makes a shutdown more likely
Measure is needed to keep government running past Sept. 30.
Defense
Washington and Baghdad divided over future U.S. presence
Debate over whether a few thousand U.S. troops should remain in Iraq past the end of the year is playing out differently in the two capitals.
News
Play of the Day -- Colbert proposes a death tax on 'cadaver-can Americans'
A daily roundup of late-night video.
Defense
Panetta urges lawmakers to protect Defense spending
Pentagon chief says Congress should focus on the mandatory spending that is largely to blame for the deficit, including Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid.
Defense
GOP likely to prevail on limiting disaster aid; expect to avert shutdown
Failure of the amendment would likely clear a path for Senate passage of the House-passed continuing resolution.
News
GOP claims White House interference in LightSquared's broadband plan
Company wants to build a national cellular network; opponents say it will interfere with GPS receivers.
Oversight
Deficit reduction pain for federal employees could be worse, some say
Administration argues Obama’s proposal to raise feds’ retirement contribution levels is better than alternatives.
News
NASA research center offers 120 employees buyouts
Move will realign the facilitys workforce with a new focus on deep space exploration.
Oversight