Defense
President signs bill repealing Defense personnel system
Signing ceremony coincides with release of GAO report criticizing Pentagon’s approach to pay for performance.
Oversight
Agencies to expedite electricity transmission permits on federal land
New process aims to speed up grid modernization and spur renewable energy production.
Defense
Senator: Pentagon must make painful spending adjustments
Democrat predicts the military will delay programs that are not "absolutely essential," reduce its purchase of hardware and consider terminating some initiatives.
Defense
Senators clash over Homeland Security management nominee
Maine Republican Sen. Susan Collins says Obama's pick for undersecretary for management at DHS lacks sufficient experience.
Defense
Probe of intelligence notification lapses includes Pelosi's briefings
Investigators will examine whether the CIA misled the House speaker about the use of waterboarding on terrorism suspects.
Oversight
Negotiators agree on plan to fund agencies through mid-December
Stopgap spending measure will be attached to the Interior-Environment appropriations bill and will keep money flowing at fiscal 2009 levels until Dec. 18.
Management
Deep-Sixing Waste
The Pentagon is a leader in increasing efficiencies through Lean Six Sigma.
Pay & Benefits
Rain doesn’t deter feds from fitness campaign kickoff
Hundreds flock to the National Mall to exercise with football stars and administration officials.
Oversight
Unions express concern over new draft of labor-management order
Proposal backs away from requiring agencies to bargain over broader set of work rules.
News
From Nextgov.com: Government breaks new ground in Web site satisfaction
Analysts say the achievement has more to do with long-term improvements to sites than the Obama administration’s focus on technology.
Oversight
OMB calls for 5 percent growth in civilian acquisition workforce
Administration also addresses ways to reduce risky contract types and increase competition.
Defense
FEMA is unable to measure funding benefits
Agency official says billions spent on homeland security since 2002 have made country safer, but admits FEMA has no way to definitively assess the improvement.
Defense
Official: Hill was not informed of other intelligence activities
Senior administration official does not disclose specific instances, but agrees that the process for congressional notification needs to be improved.
Defense
West Point privatization plan expected to be canceled
Move follows GAO ruling citing flaws in how the Army reached a decision to outsource public works jobs.
Oversight