Defense
Bush seeks new civilian corps to aid military efforts
In State of the Union address, president also lauds work of public servants in fighting terrorism.
Management
GAO employees move toward vote on union representation
Effort to organize analysts in watchdog agency comes after some were denied pay increases.
Defense
Homeland security panel to focus on potential waste at DHS
Contacting practices will be among the areas addressed; committee will also look into first responder communications.
Management
IG cites problems in GSA small business contract
Two of 10 orders reviewed used subcontracts for more than 90 percent of the work, far in excess of 50 percent limit.
Tech
Managers remain hesitant about telework
Survey finds that supervisors who work away from the office themselves are more likely to embrace the practice.
Defense
Lawmakers decry firewall limiting DHS agency's investigations
Database on employment eligibility does not allow checks for Social Security numbers obtained through identification theft.
Management
GSA aims to raise mileage reimbursement in February
Rate would rise by 4 cents per mile, assuming the Office of Management and Budget OKs proposed hike.
Management
Investigators: FBI not wrong to dismiss complaint about Foley
Justice Department inspector general attributes “misinformation” in press reports to internal misunderstandings.
Tech
Deal to lure Treasury may alter pricing of telecom contracts
Agreement could be good for all agencies involved because a higher volume of users could keep prices lower.
Management
Contracting issues at GSA go beyond administrator's office
A series of problems and missteps has driven customers of the agency's services away in recent years.
Tech
Questions arise over GSA chief and contracting irregularities
House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Henry Waxman, D-Calif., launches an investigation.
Defense
Treasury cancels request for help offloading contracting shop
Agency officials will not say whether divestiture effort has been called off altogether.
Defense
Officials move toward year-long requests for extra war funding
Risk is that the Pentagon may be unable to produce accurate estimates of how much it will need for the longer span.
Defense
House bill would boost power of DHS privacy chief
Language would give top privacy official subpoena power and authority to report directly to Congress.
Management
Senators take new look at Interior royalties blunder
Issue revolves around Minerals Management Service failure to include price thresholds for royalty payments in leases granted in 1998 and 1999.
Management
Commissioner leaves SSA after six years
Jo Anne Barnhart focused on reforming the disability claims process.
Defense
Lawmaker asks overseers to agree on meaning of ‘waste’
Common definition would be precursor to estimating wasteful spending on Iraq reconstruction.
Defense
Auditor faults Defense’s reliance on interagency contracts
Pentagon acquisition officials told inspectors they often made purchases through other agencies in part because it was faster.
Management
Questions remain about measure to fund agencies until October
Democrats plan to give most domestic agencies the amount enacted for last year, leaving about $3 billion to redirect to programs in need.
Management