Defense

Senate easily approves Negroponte as intelligence chief

Veteran diplomat becomes first national intelligence director.

Defense

Pentagon acquisition nominee faces tough questions

Kenneth Krieg promises to work with Congress to reduce acquisition cycle times, control costs and breathe new life into the defense industry.

Defense

Senate OKs $81 billion supplemental spending bill

Measure is significantly different than House bill and Bush administration request.

Defense

Homeland Security management still 'high risk', GAO says

Challenges remain before DHS becomes efficient and effective, auditors report.

Pay & Benefits

Agencies stepping up use of personnel flexibilities, officials say

OPM touts increased use of early retirement incentives and buyout authority to reshape workforce.

Management

Firefighting air tanker crashes in California

Three experienced pilots die during training flight in a remote area of California national forest.

Management

NASA delays shuttle flight

Officials move date to allow more time to complete safety modifications.

Tech

Watch list of technology projects called ineffective

IT projects that are considered at-risk are not aggregated by OMB.

News

Senate blocks plans to mothball aircraft carrier, cancel cargo plane

Amendments to emergency spending bill keep USS John F. Kennedy in service and stop proposed cancellation of C-130J program.

Defense

Homeland authorization to move before organizational changes

House Homeland Security panel chairman says bill will be "light on organizational changes" in deference to DHS Secretary Michael Chertoff's ongoing review of operations.

Pay & Benefits

Healthy Choices

The Office of Personnel Management will seek carriers for supplemental dental and vision benefits for federal workers and retirees.

News

Misusing Air Mail.

None

Defense

Border concerns bubble up at Senate hearing

Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff plans trip to the Southwest border to see “how we’re doing down there.”

Defense

Audits rap TSA for spending, ethics, performance lapses

Homeland Security IG issues three reports criticizing crisis management center and passenger and baggage screening.

Tech

GSA chief outlines procurement reorganization

Administrator Stephen A. Perry believes agencies should allow GSA to satisfy their procurement needs.

Pay & Benefits

House panel supports addition of TSP real estate fund

Lawmakers were not swayed by the objections of the Thrift board and TSP officials.