Management
Diplomatic, intelligence agencies win praise for recruiting
In a speech at the Excellence in Government conference, Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte expresses optimism about the future leadership of security agencies.
Tech
GSA organization, labor unions resolve differences
Union members at new Federal Acquisition Service will be protected in terms of transfers, evaluations and position descriptions; training also included.
Management
Bush sidesteps Congress to appoint labor relations, regulatory nominees
Recess appointment brings a Democrat to three-person board adjudicating disputes between unions and agencies.
Tech
Intelligence chief pushes security clearance reform
Adopting private sector methods could save the government time and money, National Intelligence Director Mike McConnell says at Excellence in Government conference.
Management
OMB readies new guidance on measuring job competition savings
Agency official says public-private competitions in 2006 are expected to generate $800 million in savings over five years.
Tech
Backlog of requests for public information growing
Median response times at agencies range from less than 10 days to more than 100, auditors find.
Management
Senator places hold on nominee to lead Army Corps
Hold was placed to protest mismanagement of New Orleans levee system, rather than question the nominee’s qualifications.
Management
NASA urged to align internal, external workforces
Agency generally rates well on employee satisfaction, despite its heavy reliance on contractors.
Management
Labor, Transportation, VA win kudos for performance reports
Officials discuss possibility of requiring agencies to include more performance information in budget justification documents.
Tech
Senators push for IRS to expand free online tax filing
About 70 percent of taxpayers already can file electronically for free; figure is called too low.
Management
Rule would require contractors to report tax debts
Unpaid taxes would be grounds for suspension or debarment if rule becomes law.
Tech
New telework bill introduced in Senate
Federal employees automatically would be eligible to work away from the office if the measure makes it into law.
Tech
New NASA tech contracts are a boon for small firms
Awards went to 23 small companies, almost a quarter of which are owned by service disabled veterans.
Management
Audit finds few problems with IRS outsourcing program
Lawmakers push to cancel program; updated program revenues might not be available before more contracts are signed.
Management
Experts divided on GSA chief’s potential Hatch Act violations
Determination could hinge on details of what was said at a Jan. 26 meeting and the intent of the meeting.
Defense
Senate panel moves bill creating reconstruction reserve corps
Corps would be made up of 250 active-duty personnel and 2,000 standby personnel, with most employees coming from the State Department and USAID.
Management
Divided House approves $2.9 trillion spending blueprint
Members reject GOP alternative calling for $279 billion in spending cuts over five years and a freeze in nondefense discretionary spending.
Management
Interior seeks to settle Indian trust fund disputes for $7 billion
Litigants say proposal is unacceptable, object to the bundling of a class action suit with tribal cases.
Management