Defense
Immigration bill awaits deal from Senate leaders
Legislation won’t be debated on the Senate floor until an agreement can be reached on amendments, GOP leader says.
Defense
Immigration enforcement agency seeks funding, staff boost
Plan is short on details about staffing levels and funding requirements necessary for specific enforcement initiatives.
Defense
Infantry transformed by new tools, training
The average infantryman now carries 65 to 90 pounds of equipment into combat.
Defense
Congress eyes next avian flu payment
HHS plans to put first found of funding toward contracts for making vaccines and rapid diagnostic tests.
Defense
Homeland Security to expedite port security regulations
Department will pursue rulemaking for areas not covered in bills moving through Congress.
News
Confrontation looms in House over earmark proposal
Lobbying measure’s curbs on earmarks are drawing fire from Rep. Jerry Lewis, R-Calif., chairman of the House Appropriations Committee.
Management
Reliance on supplemental funding draws bipartisan attack
Lawmakers say administration’s method of paying for wars and other emergency needs makes it difficult to account for the true costs.
Defense
FEMA acquisitions chief pushes recruiting program
Deidre Lee also backs calls for more contingency contracts to prepare in advance for disasters.
Management
Judge sets date to review Safavian, Abramoff e-mails
Lawyers will argue next week on admissibility of messages on a range of personal and business topics, from racquetball to contracting.
Management
Swank reception honors notable federal executives
Winners of Presidential Rank Award recognized for career achievements.
Tech
Agriculture Department makes progress on IT consolidation
Agency also supports governmentwide shared services initiative, technology executives say.
Pay & Benefits
Medicare ABCs
The first in a two-part series on the relationship between Medicare and FEHBP.
Defense
Senate to debate war funding next week
Fiscal conservatives have objected to bill’s $106.5 billion price tag.
News
Medicare surpassing goals for prescription drug benefit enrollment
Officials say they still plan to press for millions more to sign up in the 25 days remaining.
News
Political climate unfriendly to ID devices, backers say
Advocates argue that radio-frequency identification technology would dramatically benefit the nation’s security infrastructure.
Defense
Immigration enforcers want to mine databases
Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff wants Congress to pass legislation letting ICE investigators access Social Security data.
Management
Number of federal jobs opened to contractors to jump this year
Agencies plan to announce public-private competitions for more than 25,000 positions in fiscal 2006, OMB says.
Management
Mixed personnel systems can help uphold merit principles
Managers say having employees under traditional civil service rules blended with those in more flexible systems embeds a culture of merit.
Pay & Benefits
Impasse continues in FAA-union negotiations
Sen. Olympia Snowe, R-Maine, calls for the two sides to return to the negotiating table.
Pay & Benefits