Oversight

Advocates push Illinois Dem. to forsake maverick course on spending

Fiscal conservative was the only House Democrat to vote against the $607 billion fiscal 2008 Labor-Health and Human Services appropriations bill last month.

Oversight

Senate, House to scramble before Iraq report hits in September

After returning from recess, the Senate will first debate President Bush's nomination of Jim Nussle to be Office of Management and Budget director.

Oversight

Agencies fall short of small business contracting goals

Two of the government’s top contracting shops – the Defense Department and the General Services Administration – fail to meet targets.

Defense

Appropriators question funding for emergency wireless project

Senators express concern about "lagging progress, as well as the recurring costs of the conversion" to narrowband operations.

Tech

HHS secretary pushes new health IT advisory panel

Standards for health technology should be developed outside the political process, Mike Leavitt says.

Pay & Benefits

Employees in U.S. Virgin Islands to get cost-of-living bump

Workers in Puerto Rico and some areas of Alaska may be headed for further decreases, but rates will remain the same for now.

Tech

Air Force plans huge follow-on contract for intelligence IT

Agreement will be worth more than $1 billion, but accelerated schedule and large scope prompt concerns about manageability.

Pay & Benefits

Feeling Special: Q&A

Answers to your questions on special retirement provisions for law enforcement officers and others.

Defense

Homeland Security chief touts faster cargo scanning

Recently signed law requires DHS to ensure, within five years, that all U.S.-bound ship cargo is scanned at foreign ports.

Defense

Army Guard says $2 billion shortfall threatens 2008 recruiting

Guard may have to lay off as many as 800 recruiters and stop awarding enlistment and re-enlistment bonuses if deficit isn’t addressed.

News

Imaging program to offer natural resources snapshot

The United States has never had a program purely focused on moderate-resolution land-imaging capability.

Oversight

GSA starts second phase of contract streamlining program

Initiative will be expanded to include more contracts and accept electronic submissions.

News

As repair needs mount, highway trust fund faces shortfall

The fund that finances the federal highway program through fuel and other taxes is headed for a $4.3 billion shortfall in two years.

Oversight

Democrats seek to shield top health official from political pressure

Measures introduced in House and Senate would narrow the pool of candidates from which the president could select the surgeon general.

Defense

Army suicides on the rise

Growth raises questions about mental health care provided to service members.

Pay & Benefits

Continuing Coverage

Union leader says the government should consider letting dependent children stay on federal employee health insurance until age 25.

Tech

Interior spending bill generous to tech programs

Environmental Protection Agency would be the biggest benefactor; it is slated to receive more than $770 million for science and technology efforts.

Pay & Benefits

Union members rally against labor relations official

Some NLRB employees say general counsel has violated labor law by refusing to work with a consolidated bargaining unit.

Oversight

Lawmakers pursue more money to guard intellectual property

Reports accompanying spending bills signal appropriators are troubled by growing backlog of patent applications and the time it takes to process them.