Management

GAO seeks personnel flexibility, name change

General Accounting Office chief David Walker has proposed legislation that would give the congressional watchdog agency freedom from key personnel restrictions contained in Title 5 of the U.S. Code, and would change the name of the agency to the Government Accountability Office.

Tech

Homeland Security has not consolidated terrorist watch lists

More than 100 days after its creation, the Homeland Security Department has failed to meet one of the key goals agency leaders outlined last year.

Defense

Bottom up

The Marine Corps got good press during the war in Iraq because lower-ranking men and women—not the top brass—were so impressive.

News

Administration officials say Amtrak needs major overhaul

Bush administration officials Tuesday called for a sweeping overhaul of the money-losing Amtrak passenger rail system to cure what an official says is a deteriorating operation.

Management

Army Corps to launch reorganization in fall

In October, the Army Corps of Engineers will unveil plans for a major reorganization that would centralize management in Washington, the agency’s chief told employees on Tuesday.

Defense

Senator seeks flexibility for first responders

The "one-size-fits-all" approach to awarding homeland security grants to state and local governments is not working and needs to be changed, according to the chairwoman of the Senate Governmental Affairs Committee.

Defense

Homeland security funds may shrink in 2004, key aide says

The top Senate aide for appropriations on Monday said federal funding for homeland security activities may be lower in fiscal 2004 than they are in the current year since Congress passed an emergency supplemental that boosted homeland security funding.