Oversight

Obama's manufacturing adviser and former car czar leaving White House

Bloom was instrumental in administration’s effort to set first-ever fuel economy standards for big trucks and other heavy-duty vehicles.

Defense

Senator pushes Robert Ford as ambassador to Syria

Lieberman changes his stance on the appointment because of Ford's work to build ties with the Syrian people revolting against President Bashar al-Assad.

Management

Summer Slowdown

Vacation time and understaffed offices can make August a tricky month.

Oversight

Source: Democrats Murray, Baucus, Kerry on deficit reduction committee

Under debt deal, bipartisan panel must find additional cuts by Nov. 23.

Tech

From Nextgov: Large solar flare likely disrupted radio systems in the Mideast

That and a separate event that forced officials to reroute commercial flights foreshadow future problems, scientist says.

News

White House still reviewing plan for disclosing contractor campaign gifts

Pressure intensifies with House Democrats’ letter urging Obama to issue executive order opposed by Republicans.

Defense

Obama clears schedule to meet returned bodies of fallen troops

President honors the 22 Navy SEALs and eight other American troops killed in Afghanistan on Saturday when an insurgent shot down their helicopter.

Defense

Pentagon appoints Army general to investigate fatal crash in Afghanistan

Helicopter downing caused the biggest single-day loss of life for American forces in the war.

Oversight

Employees rank NASA as most innovative agency

Nonprofit looks at how federal workers view creativity in their jobs.

Oversight

OPM backs management groups seeking to participate in labor forums

Berry reminds agencies to consult with organizations representing supervisors on personnel and operations issues.

News

Bill would authorize back pay for furloughed workers

Rep. Frank LoBiondo, R-N.J., introduces legislation that would reimburse thousands of FAA employees.

Defense

Shadow war unlikely to slow down after SEAL deaths

A close look at an earlier incident suggests the pace of operations by SEALs in Afghanistan is likely to intensify, not decrease, in the months ahead.

News

After two centuries, House page program to end

Hiring teenagers as messengers was found to be both costly and unnecessary with current technology, though the Senate is keeping its program.

Oversight

Self-Sorting

More and more, politically like-minded Americans are living next to each other. Polarization is one result.

News

White House Pay (Cont'd)

Management

A Strength When Overused

News

From Nextgov: Verizon strike isn't likely to disrupt federal communications

But a prolonged walkout of more than 45,000 workers could affect the deployment of new services , consultants say.

Defense

Privacy groups challenge proposal expanding access to terrorist watch list

Plan making an FBI database available to more Homeland Security employees draws concerns about transparency.

Oversight

Obama says downgrade should prompt 'renewed sense of urgency'

Standard & Poor's lowered the U.S. credit rating on Friday.