Oversight

Senators suggest a federal pay freeze to help fund wars

GOP proposals aim to recoup costs partly by holding salaries steady and cracking down on tax delinquent government workers.

Defense

Dispute over oversight powers stalls intel policy bill

Democrats are trying to work around a threat to veto language allowing GAO to audit intelligence agencies.

Defense

House supplemental includes $500 million for border security

Measure sets aside money to hire 1,200 new agents along the Southwest border and up to 500 new officers to reduce shortages in inspectors.

Management

Listening In

Surveillance laws should focus on how agencies use information, not how they collect it.

News

Great Expectorations

News

From Nextgov.com: Multiple Award Schedules program suffers from dearth of data

Electronic purchasing tools provide limited information and hinder GSA's ability to meet customer needs, report says.

Defense

Washington officials honor incoming and outgoing Coast Guard leaders

Adm. Robert Papp Jr. takes the helm of the service; former commandant Adm. Thad Allen heads to the Gulf.

Defense

White House and Pentagon clear way for repeal of military ban on gays

Defense secretary says he can accept a legislative proposal to overturn the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy.

Oversight

Report finds interagency contracts rife with inefficiencies

Agencies spend $60 billion annually on multiple award and enterprisewide contracts that often are duplicative.

Defense

Administration gets weak marks on spill

Poll says only 31 percent see Obama doing an excellent or good job dealing with the Gulf of Mexico disaster.

Oversight

MMS employees in Louisiana admit accepting gifts from oil and gas companies

IG report also highlights drug use and sharing of pornography on work computers.

Oversight

Senate passes telework bill

Full Senate unanimously approves legislation which would create more robust programs at agencies.

Defense

Unclear if war supplemental will steer clear of add-ons

One amendment would provide funding to hire more personnel and make improvements inside federal agencies that work on border security issues.

Defense

Lawmakers, experts weigh response to DNI's departure

While officials say the intelligence chief needs proper authority, they agree there's no appetite on Capitol Hill to pass legislative fixes.

Oversight

GOP Soul-Searching

Republicans have lost three straight special congressional elections in swing districts.