News
GSA launches program to educate new and emerging contractors
The Business Breakthrough Program targets midsize firms that often slip through the cracks of some contracting programs.
Oversight
Analysis: and the winner of the pay debate is . . .
Wednesday's House panel hearing on whether federal workers are underpaid or overpaid laid bare a possible route to reform of the GS system.
Oversight
House subcommittee votes to curb EPA authority
Plan would reduce the agency's ability to regulate greenhouse-gas emissions under the Clean Air Act.
News
From Nextgov.com: GAO upholds contractor protest of DHS financial system award
The Transformation and Systems Consolidation program had been widely criticized.
News
The Week in Comments: Security guards, women in combat and the perils of reorganization
The best in reader reaction to recent articles.
News
Office of Special Counsel nominee vows to boost morale
Carolyn Lerner tells Senate panel she'll focus on whistleblower rights and beef up investigations of veterans’ complaints.
Oversight
Report: Innovation in developing leaders is crucial in a time of tight resources
Leadership development should be narrow and focused on specific qualities, observers say.
Oversight
Wisconsin Senate limits collective-bargaining rights of public unions
A conference committee stripped all of the spending measures out of the bill and sent it back to the Senate.
Oversight
Dems still looking for path on spending
Both the House-passed Republican and the Senate Democratic budget plans, as predicted, failed in the Senate on Wednesday.
Pay & Benefits
Legislative Lottery
Defense authorization legislation includes pay provisions for some civilian employees.
Tech
From Nextgov.com: GPS industry and new cellular carrier spar over interference issue
Effort to expand broadband access could cause massive disruption, critics say.
Oversight
Army skeptical of fixed-price contracts
Service’s top acquisition official tells industry group he prefers cost-type contracts so that vendors share in the financial risk.
Defense
Deputy U.S. marshal killed in the line of duty
John Perry was the third federal officer to be shot to death in less than a month.
Oversight
OPM looks to boost hiring of military spouses
Proposed rule expands noncompetitive appointment eligibility for spouses when service members are disabled or killed.
Oversight
Wednesday's spending votes will lay markers
Senate plan would cut $57 billion from current discretionary spending levels.
Oversight
OPM’s Berry grilled by lawmakers on pay freeze
Conservative analysts tell panel federal workers earn more than private sector counterparts, but call Obama’s two-year freeze badly targeted.
Oversight
SEC's Shapiro comes under fire for general counsel's Madoff conflict
Lawmakers ask for details about the hiring of David Becker, who received $2 million from a Madoff investment, according to a New York Times report.
Oversight