Defense
House panel approves Defense, Labor-HHS spending bills
Full chamber passes $94.5 billion supplemental spending measure for wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, border security, hurricane relief and pandemic flu preparedness.
Tech
Privacy language urged for bill to digitize federal employee health records
Legislation would give 8 million federal workers access to free health records.
Management
Senate bill paves way for pay-for-performance
Legislation introduced by Sen. George Voinovich, R-Ohio, requires beefed-up performance reviews, but stops short of fully linking raises to ratings.
Defense
Chemical industry ready to square off over security bill
Industry says proposed provisions are onerous and duplicative, while environmental and labor groups say they don’t go far enough.
Management
Defense says Safavian made ‘innocent errors’ as trial ends
Prosecution paints defendant as advancing lobbyist Jack Abramoff’s interests over the public’s; former procurement chief will appeal if found guilty on all counts.
Tech
Defense tech agency expands telework program
More than 1,400 of the Defense Information Systems Agency's 5,000 employees now qualify to work away from the office.
Oversight
Presidential Prospects
Recent polls show John McCain as a favorite for the Republican presidential nomination in 2008, and Hillary Clinton as the leading Democrat.
Tech
GAO: FBI case management assets remain missing
Bureau says it has accounted for 800 of 1,200 missing pieces of equipment, but GAO could not verify the claim.
Defense
Legislators want to hear from domestic spying witness
NSA missed a Friday deadline to provide any legal reason subcommittee leaders can’t interview former intelligence officer.
Tech
Panelists question future of cargo-scanning tool
Government needs screening system that can be dialed up or down depending on threat and risk level, former DHS official says.
Defense
Lawmakers to weigh chemical security measures
In addition, House panel will take another look at how the Homeland Security Department is distributing anti-terrorism grants.
Tech
Data breaches raise more questions about computer security law
Recent rash of reported IT security problems at agencies has lawmakers considering changes to the Federal Information Security Management Act.
Pay & Benefits
OPM to reconsider dental, vision contract bids
Move comes after Blue Cross Blue Shield lodges protest; OPM says new benefits still will be ready in time for scheduled debut in November.
Management