Features
Competing Objectives
The White House’s ambitious agenda is running head on into its desire to cut contracting. Something has to give.
Features
Recovery Mode
Recovery Board Chairman Earl Devaney and his team had to find an accurate and public way to account for stimulus spending—and quickly.
Oversight
States report saving 640,000 jobs through Recovery Act
Data from states and local municipalities includes $150 billion in grants, loans and contracts.
Defense
From Nextgov.com: Compliance focus is hampering cybersecurity, critics say
OMB urged to update federal security standards to better detect network vulnerabilities and keep up with new threats.
Pay & Benefits
Hidden cost hikes aren’t new to federal benefits programs
Premium jumps in the long-term care insurance program are the latest example of stealthy rate increases.
Defense
Lawmakers cry foul over Defense procurement debacle
Nobody's happy about the latest development in the high-stakes contest to build aerial refueling tankers for the Air Force.
Oversight
Lieberman sees need for cybersecurity czar
Senator say his bill would not give the Homeland Security Department the power to place mandates on the private sector.
Oversight
18,000 employees accept Postal Service buyout
The next deadline for the $15,000 voluntary separation package is Oct. 31.
Defense
Airport screening systems are not well tested, says GAO
Risk assessments of passenger screening devices are unreliable, according to watchdog.
Oversight
Senate clears Interior bill, stopgap funding
Legislation includes about $11 billion for Interior Department programs and $10.3 billion for the EPA.
News
From Nextgov.com: Hill grills DHS over delay in consolidating financial systems
Risks in the 'monumental task' to create one network include relying heavily on contractors to define and deploy the system , GAO reports.
Pay & Benefits
House health care tax provisions are friendly to feds
Democratic leaders propose raising revenue by taxing high-income individuals rather than insurers, who could pass on the cost through hikes in FEHBP premiums.
Oversight
Officials commit to collaborate on performance-based budgeting
Lawmakers, administration say they will weigh the success and failure of federal programs when making funding decisions.
Oversight