News

Why Government Matters

Defense

Space shuttle Endeavour gets set to attempt its final landing

Shuttle program will end after Atlantis mission in July.

Oversight

Efforts to bring jobs in-house may be losing momentum

Contractors welcome House-passed Defense bill that would lift Obama’s two-year-old moratorium on Pentagon outsourcing.

Oversight

Former Obama Secret Service agent running for senate in Maryland

It's a rare move for a member of the president's security detail.

Pay & Benefits

From Nextgov: Social Security statements to go online

SSA has been especially cautious about putting info on the Web because Social Security numbers can be used in identity theft.

Pay & Benefits

Agriculture Department offers buyouts, early outs

Department joins growing list of agencies trying to contain costs in difficult fiscal environment.

Oversight

Obama to name former utility executive as Commerce chief

John Bryson would inherit a department expected to be at the center of efforts to overhaul government.

Oversight

Room for One More

Watch for Michele Bachmann or Rick Perry to try to fill a void in the GOP presidential race.

Defense

Obama names new military leadership team

Army Gen. Martin Dempsey tapped as new chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff, Navy Adm. James A. Winnefeld Jr. named vice chairman and Gen. Ray Odierno designated to be Army chief of staff.

Oversight

From Nextgov: Government performance website may not meet Hill requirements

After losing more than three-quarters of its e-gov budget, OMB says it may not be able to complete the congressionally mandated project by October 2012.

Oversight

Six consequences of not raising the debt ceiling

Layoffs of feds could be a byproduct.

News

Pentagon would pursue performance pay under House-passed authorization

Successor to abandoned National Security Personnel System should incorporate new incentives and flexible hiring, language says.

Oversight

Senior executives give low marks to Obama appointees

Top career managers rate the president’s political leaders as less effective than those in the Bush or Clinton administrations.

Defense

House approves bill with nuclear treaty-limiting provisions as veto bait

The measures would restrict Obama's ability to reduce nuclear weapons.

Oversight

Committee approves bill that would forgive debt for some disaster assistance recipients

The full Senate now will vote on the legislation.

News

GOP lawmakers push back on contractor disclosures

Bills in House and Senate would bar collection of campaign contribution information.

Oversight

Senate will hold a pro-forma session next week, preventing recess appointments

Much-anticipated potential appointment of Elizabeth Warren will be debated.

Pay & Benefits

Waiting Game

It might be worth your while to delay retirement.