Defense
Coast Guard may scrap plans for customized patrol boats
The acquisition of new boats is a key piece of a $24 billion modernization project known as Deepwater.
Management
Progress cutting improper payments may be overstated
Medicare program drove reported reductions for 2005, but improvement may be mostly on paper, GAO official says.
Defense
Navy works to stall submarine deal with Taiwan
Agency supports deal publicly, but said to have set up barriers to make the submarines economically unattractive to Taiwan.
Defense
Pentagon business systems acquisition overhaul due shortly
Revamp, designed to encourage speedier purchases of such systems, will be announced within the next month.
Defense
Key legislator decries Pentagon budget crunch
House member suggests another base-closure round as one way of remedying the problem.
Pay & Benefits
Faking It
A coalition of managers’ groups wants to end sick leave abuse by compensating workers for unused days.
News
Push for new travel IDs continues despite concerns
Starting two years from now U.S. citizens, Canadians and Mexicans will need passports or alternate documents to cross land borders.
Pay & Benefits
FAA-union negotiations over labor contract stall
The agency's last offer will become final if Congress doesn't intervene within 60 days.
Management
Feds see drop in jobs defended against contractors in 2005
Last year’s public-private competitions will save $3.1 billion over five to 10 years, OMB says.
Defense
Legislators concerned by potential shortfalls in base closure funding
The Army and the Air Force could come up short billions of dollars by the 2011 cutoff for carrying out BRAC recommendations.
Defense
Investigators call cargo security program unreliable
Customs and Border Protection bureau lacks evidence that program targeting high-risk containers is effective, GAO says.
News
Supplemental funding package keeps growing
Senate panel adds money at a rate of $80 million per minute in a two-hour session; exceeds Bush’s request by $15 billion.
Defense
Navy secretary says shipbuilders need long-term focus
Agency plans to build its fleet by more than 30 ships over the next three decades.
Management