Defense
Marines will be first to deploy to Afghanistan
Approximately 1,500 Marines from Camp Lejeune, N.C., will deploy in December.
Oversight
Democratic rhetoric shifts on health plan
Latest proposal is modeled after the federal employee health benefits program.
Oversight
Energy IG issues management alert over weatherization program
Lax controls and poor oversight jeopardize effectiveness of $5 billion stimulus program.
Oversight
Administration announces finalists in cost-cutting contest
Four proposals to boost efficiency make the last round; President Obama will include the winning idea in his fiscal 2011 budget.
Oversight
Managers are unsure government can handle expanded health care role
Survey respondents expect legislation will mean increased responsibility, but aren’t confident federal agencies are up to the challenge.
Pay & Benefits
Senators seek to force Congress, political appointees out of FEHBP
Move would require them to join public option system embodied in health care reform.
Defense
Forward Observer: Back To Tit For Tat
Al-Qaeda and the Taliban will respond sooner or later to Obama's surge, much like the Vietcong did during the escalation of the Vietnam War.
Pay & Benefits
OPM could get role running national health plan
Agency had been considered for role administering public option; now Senators weigh putting agency in charge of national health exchange.
News
Senators seek to put OPM in charge of health care public option
Deal would modify original plan to give responsibility to Health and Human Services Department.
News
From Nextgov.com: Questions raised about access to public comments that White House gathers
Much of the citizen input the transition team collected in online sessions to help form policy is no longer available, and critics fear the practice could be applied to other sites.
Pay & Benefits
Bill caps flexible spending account contributions
The Senate version of the health care reform legislation would limit FSA contributions to $2,500 beginning in 2011.
Oversight
Audit unit says it helped GSA save hundreds of millions of dollars
Implementation of the economic stimulus package is among the challenges the IG addressed from April to September.
Defense
Agencies join forces to stop arms trafficking to Mexico
ATF and ICE are putting aside their differences and pursuing a coordinated strategy to stem the flow of guns and drugs across the border.
Defense
Surge will include thousands of mine-resistant vehicles
Pentagon has already tapped Oshkosh Corp. to build 6,219 of the vehicles by April.
Oversight
House Dems consider two-part omnibus plan for endgame
Continuing resolution expires Dec. 18 and seven appropriations bills are pending.
Pay & Benefits