Defense

Immigration offices flooded with visa petitions for tech workers

California and Vermont service centers have already received requests for more than double the number of special visas available.

Management

Senator places hold on nominee to lead Army Corps

Hold was placed to protest mismanagement of New Orleans levee system, rather than question the nominee’s qualifications.

Defense

Bush seeks fast action on wartime funding bill he can support

The president has threatened to veto the supplemental if it sets deadlines for troop withdrawal.

Management

NASA urged to align internal, external workforces

Agency generally rates well on employee satisfaction, despite its heavy reliance on contractors.

Management

Labor, Transportation, VA win kudos for performance reports

Officials discuss possibility of requiring agencies to include more performance information in budget justification documents.

Tech

Senators push for IRS to expand free online tax filing

About 70 percent of taxpayers already can file electronically for free; figure is called too low.

Oversight

Bottoming Out

Opposition to the war in Iraq may have leveled off.

News

NASA Names Science Chief

None

News

GSA Clarifies Contracting, Sort Of

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News

TSA to Cops: Don't Shut Our Checkpoints

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News

Is First Lady a Cabinet Post?

None

Defense

Dems unveil backup bill requiring troop withdrawal

Measure would give Democrats another chance, should effort to include the language in the wartime supplemental funding bill fail.

Defense

Final chemical security rules impose limits on state laws

State and local governments couldn’t pass laws that conflict with regulations from the federal government.

Management

Rule would require contractors to report tax debts

Unpaid taxes would be grounds for suspension or debarment if rule becomes law.

Defense

Reports suggest Justice may use broad definition of ‘terrorism’

Recent IG analysis finds questionable accounting methods for variety of terrorism-related statistics.

Defense

Union seeks to halt funding for DHS personnel system

Agency spokesman argues that cutting human capital funding would be detrimental to employees.

Tech

New telework bill introduced in Senate

Federal employees automatically would be eligible to work away from the office if the measure makes it into law.

Pay & Benefits

March a solid month for TSP returns

In a reversal from February, the three riskiest funds in the Thrift Savings Plan post the strongest gains.

Features

Vast Expanse

Concern mounts about the latest effort to control U.S. borders.