Defense
Gates urges Congress to fund omnibus appropriations bill
A continuing resolution would diminish resources and flexibility, Defense secretary warns.
Defense
Military academies report a 64 percent increase in sexual assault reports
Defense officials estimate fewer than 10 percent of incidents are actually reported at the academies.
Defense
House votes again to repeal of 'don't ask, don't tell'
Stand-alone bill seeks to pressure the Senate to act before adjournment and get a repeal measure to the White House.
Oversight
From Nextgov.com: Senate panel approves VA tech budget below president’s request
Omnibus spending bill also puts a hold on $742.8M until CIO outlines costs for IT projects.
Pay & Benefits
OPM overhauls severe weather leave guidelines
New status designations encourage telework in the event of another snowstorm.
Pay & Benefits
Senate joins push to freeze federal salaries
Omnibus bill moves to floor following House vote to cancel pay increases.
Oversight
Senate omnibus spending bill laden with earmarks
Sen. Jim DeMint, R-S.C., and others are devising a plan to require that the entire 1,924-page bill be read aloud on the Senate floor -- a move that could delay a final vote.
Oversight
Senate appropriator says he has the votes to pass catch-all spending bill
Package caps discretionary spending at $1.108 trillion, the level that Republicans demanded this year.
Oversight
Solutions offered to reduce delays in confirming presidential appointees
Brookings scholars examine why previous reform proposals have been stalled by congressional partisanship and paperwork burdens.
Defense
From Nextgov.com: VA rolls out ‘smart home’ project to rehabilitate brain injury patients
Florida hospital uses technology to help veterans relearn basic but important tasks such as doing the laundry and shaving.
Pay & Benefits
Survey: Managers anticipate pay boosts in spite of freeze
Respondents indicate retirement wave could be smaller than expected.
Defense
Obama to offer assessment of Afghan war on Thursday
President is confident the United States is on track and can meet its commitment to begin a conditions-based drawdown next July, press secretary says.
Defense
Afghanistan envoy Holbrooke dies
Obama commemorates the top U.S. civilian involved in the war effort as "simply one of the giants of American foreign policy."
Oversight