Oversight

Former White House, congressional leaders call for faster appointment process

They back a bill working its way through the Senate that would exempt 200 positions from formal confirmation.

Management

Managing for Savings

Agencies have economized by as much as 30 percent in their budgets by implementing program management best practices.

Oversight

Federal performance officers stretched too thin, study says

PIOs don’t have adequate resources or time to identify poor-performing employees, report finds.

News

From Nextgov.com: Budget deal threatens government cloud security clearances

Lawmakers agree to gut an e-government account that feeds FedRAMP, a program to assess the security of federal Web-based systems.

Tech

Transparency websites hit by budget ax

The deal struck to avoid a shutdown would endanger sites as Data.gov, which have enjoyed bipartisan support.

News

Bill would boost federal manager training

Legislation also directs OPM to develop required competencies for managers that agencies would use to assess performance.

News

Recovery Act reporting becoming the norm

Only 366 recipient reports remain to be filed with the Recovery Accountability and Transparency Board.

Oversight

Van Hollen rips Ryan budget

Maryland House member gives few details of Dems' alternative but vows to restore Clinton-era tax rates.

Oversight

Budget cutting a difficult task

Composition of cuts in budget agreement shows the difficulties of reducing spending for the White House and Congress.

Defense

White House launches major effort to support military families

Initiative targets employment, education and health of service members, spouses and kids.

Oversight

What's in the spending bill?

Labor, health, and education programs were cut by $5.5 billion; Defense got a raise.

Defense

Navy secretary announces special review team for contracts

Move comes in the wake of a bribery and kickback scandal.

News

Loud opposition unlikely to scuttle budget deal

Even vociferous opponents don't want to be responsible for a shutdown of government if the deal falls through.

Oversight

Death Wish?

Republicans pushing to revamp Medicare could find themselves voted out of office in the next election.

News

Obama: Sorry, Feds--and Thanks!

News

From Nextgov.com: Congress, administration grapple with cyber defense authority

White House hasn't yet signaled how it might empower the Pentagon to avert a cyberattack on civilian networks.