Defense
State Department urged to beef up mental health support
Foreign Service employees returning from the Middle East may decide not to seek help for emotional problems due to fear of retaliation, officials testify.
Pay & Benefits
Payband Balancing Act
Some advice for agencies on striking a balance among efficiency, equity and employee acceptance in pay for performance systems.
Defense
Analysts say plans to buy fighter jets too costly
Report doesn’t recommend cancellation of program, but says services need to look at more affordable options.
Oversight
Bill aims to enhance independence of inspectors general
Idea of setting renewable seven-year term limits for IGs draws mixed response.
Defense
Panel probes effort to monitor Mexican trucks at border
At issue is how well the Transportation Security Administration and U.S. Customs and Border Protection work together.
Defense
DHS delays plans for land-sea passport requirement
Retreat from initial January 2008 goal expected to ease strain on passport processing agency.
Defense
DHS technology chief faces tough questioning at House hearing
Homeland Security Committee Chairman Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., says security breaches make him question Scott Charbo's "ability to lead the department's IT efforts."
Defense
Coast Guard names executive to new acquisition job
Position added as part of effort to strengthen the service’s contracting efforts in face of Deepwater controversy.
Oversight
FBI deploys first phase of technology upgrade
Agents start to use long-awaited system for managing case files and other information.
Oversight
Spending bills’ fate uncertain with new budget chief, veto threats
Successor to outgoing OMB Director Rob Portman may be less willing to compromise, Democrats fear.
Oversight
Budget chief says Bush won’t back down on excessive spending
The president would like to avoid a government shutdown, but will follow through on threats to veto spending bills that surpass his overall discretionary limit.
Management