Oversight
FDA suspends plan to consolidate inspection laboratories
Agency chief says he is waiting for a presidential panel’s recommendations on improving safety.
Pay & Benefits
Hitting the Ceiling
Limits on salaries are causing employees in the top echelons of government to fall behind on pay.
Oversight
Bill to target waste in contracting moves to Senate floor
Measure encourages maximum competition and limits length of non-competitive contracts awarded under exceptional circumstances.
Defense
Bush pushes lawmakers to act on spying bill
Administration is urging Congress to move fast to broaden the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act.
Defense
Rumsfeld faces House oversight panel on Tillman death
Hearing witnesses say there was no attempt at a cover-up, but acknowledge the Army failed to follow rules in informing family of circumstances.
Defense
House lawmaker joins bid to end TSA contracting exemption
Senators are making a similar effort; witnesses at hearing say changes would bring greater transparency, more competition.
News
Senate leader says there are no guarantees for OMB nominee
Full Senate is unlikely to consider Jim Nussle before August recess, senior aide says.
Oversight
Lawmakers probe claims of improper influence over science
Interior inspector general questioned about interactions between scientists and policy-makers.
Pay & Benefits
Public service group promotes networking site, campus program
Site designed to lure young people to government will feature profiles of federal employees, video tours, message boards.
Defense
Frustrations raised over delays in frequent traveler program
Transportation Security Administration chief says the agency supports the program, but has to focus on other priorities.
Defense
Democrats say additional money is needed for war
Unbudgeted needs associated with surge of troops in Iraq could reach $30 billion or more, House appropriators estimate.
Managing Technology
Spiraling Into Control
An intriguing DHS program fills safety gaps fast with low-cost technology.
Features
Security Theater
There’s little downside to being alarmist about terror, so we spend too much on measures that evoke feelings of security without actually improving it.
Features
Adapt Or Die
Soldiers need a new set of skills and qualities to succeed at counterinsurgency.
Features
Empty Towers
Angered by slower raises and tighter rules, air traffic controllers are retiring en masse.
News And Analysis
Clash Over Casualties
Battlefield medics resist push to stop using joint patient tracking system.
News And Analysis