Oversight
In final action of year, Senate OKs debt ceiling hike
The short-term $290 billion increase will allow the government to do business past Jan. 1, according to the Treasury Department.
News
2009: The Year in Quotes
A selection of some of the best quotations from our daily “Quote/Unquote” feature.
Defense
Federal role in transit rail safety debated
Under current law, the Federal Transit Administration is prohibited from directly regulating the nation's public transit systems.
News
Senate votes final passage of healthcare bill
Key lawmakers in both chambers will begin calling each other next week to begin conference negotiations.
Pay & Benefits
Benefits Breakthroughs
Congress passed major pay and benefits provisions in 2009, and the Obama administration has an aggressive agenda for next year.
Defense
Obama issues order implementing 2010 pay raise
Civilian employees receive 2.0 percent pay raise; service members get 3.4 percent boost.
Oversight
Administration alters stimulus job counting formula
OMB instructs recipients to count any position funded with Recovery Act dollars as a job saved.
Oversight
From Nextgov: Education, IRS try to make filing student aid form less daunting
The Education Department plans to allow certain students applying for aid to instantly transfer their tax data from an IRS database to the Web version of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid.
Oversight
Head of Foreign Agricultural Service reassigned
Michael Michener had come under fire for focusing on Afghanistan projects at the expense of the agency’s traditional roles.
Pay & Benefits
Agencies under pressure to mix and match public, private workers
OMB has ordered a thorough review of plans for managing the multisector workforce.
Defense
White House taps new Coast Guard commandant
Vice Adm. Robert Papp would take the helm of a service undergoing widespread change.
Management
Creaky Collaboration
Concerns about information sharing persist, and they're dividing the intelligence community.
Defense