Defense
Commissioners call for streamlined vets benefits
Recommendations include assigning the Defense Department sole responsibility for performing physical exams that determine soldiers' fitness to serve.
Defense
Defense comptroller: Financial management better than perceived
Further improvements hinge on showing military leaders and managers why it’s important to their mission, comptroller says.
Oversight
Senate approves $55 billion in Commerce, Justice, science spending
The appropriations measure now moves to conference with the House, which passed a $53.5 billion version in July.
Pay & Benefits
CSRS retirees to get 2.3 percent pension increase in 2008
Those in the newer FERS will receive a 2 percent adjustment.
Pay & Benefits
OPM projects potential locality pay rates
Percentages detailed for two different scenarios, depending on overall raise approved by Congress and the president.
Defense
House panel questions benefits for deployed civilians
Hardship pay and other benefits are sufficient to attract qualified civilian employees to serve in Iraq and Afghanistan, agency representatives say.
Defense
Senators question Defense's attempts to improve management
Defense official testifies that by 2009 the Pentagon expects to earn clean audit opinions on 39 percent of its assets, up from almost none in the 1990s.
News
Groups closely eye attorney general nomination hearings
Advocacy groups want to see the Justice Department change course on civil rights, privacy.
Oversight
Survey indicates dissatisfaction with government management
Two-thirds of Americans questioned said they don’t understand how government spends its money; 92 percent said they’re unsure the best value is received on contracts.
Oversight
Commerce seeks emergency aid for Census Bureau
The agency continues to struggle with a financial shortfall as it prepares to conduct the 2010 census.
Oversight
Senators seek compromise bill to boost IG independence
New bill will not include a provision that allows IGs to send their budgets directly to Congress; White House had objected to that language.
Defense
Pentagon asks Congress to drop plan for Afghanistan IG
Defense officials say the office would be redundant and deplete the department’s regular inspector general of needed personnel.
Defense
TSA begins issuing ID cards to port workers
House committee demands an explanation for delays in implementing the program.
Defense
Lawmakers urge Pentagon to hold off on new pay policy
Three House members say employees under new personnel system should get the raise they had anticipated for 2008.
Oversight
Rhetorical firefight escalates over veterans spending
Democrats point out that Congress hasn’t passed a veterans appropriations measure before the end of the fiscal year since fiscal 1997.
Oversight