Defense
Most countries meet e-passport deadline
New passports with biometric chips will help DHS officials detect fraudulent documents.
Management
Officials share strategies for complying with new financial management rules
Difficulties in meeting new requirements in an Office of Management and Budget circular may continue another two years.
Defense
TSA faces staffing disparities at airports
Initial administrative staffing plans "lacked coherency," leading to inconsistencies across airports, inspector general says.
Tech
Income limits spur drop in use of free tax filing software
Auditors say cap conflicts with e-government initiative's goal of boosting overall electronic filing.
Defense
Overhead reached 55 percent in some Iraq contracts
Review finds long idle periods racked up charges in construction projects.
Defense
Intelligence, homeland security agencies sharpen surveillance methods
Techniques under development include gait recognition and keystroke analyses of typing rhythms.
Management
Corps Reform
The Army Corps of Engineers is trying to rebuild confidence in the agency after Katrina's devastating blow.
Management
Report urges consolidation of financial management regulations
CFO job would be simpler if 25 separate laws and circulars were combined, the National Academy of Public Administration says.
Tech
More FOIA funds, staff needed, group says
National Security Archive says recent Justice Department report on reforming Freedom of Information Act procedures fails to address resource constraints.
Defense
Iraq reconstruction oversight office to expand, then disband
Senators condemn provision in recently signed authorization law to terminate oversight group in late 2007.
Management
Aviation groups take different routes to reauthorization
Central issue is whether to restructure how much each aviation sector pays the federal government.
Defense
Report cites delays in clearance appeals process at State
Inspectors find no evidence to support allegations that the department revoked clearances for nonsecurity reasons, however.
Management
Personnel agency offers advice on developing better managers
Survey revealing federal employees’ poor view of supervisors prompts new guidelines.
Defense
Defense punts on Iraq contractor census
Researcher says that overall, contractors and grantees working for agencies outnumber civil servants by more than 5 to 1.
Management
GAO to recommend oversight priorities for next Congress
Comptroller General expects more congressional hearings if Democrats take control of at least one chamber.
Defense
Airlines rap DHS proposal on passenger lists
Requirement to submit passenger manifests an hour, rather than 15 minutes, before departure is unreasonable, they say.
Management
Intelligence agencies to follow Defense in personnel reform
Employees at 16 agencies will work under first cross-agency system outside General Schedule.
Management
OMB official discusses possibility of reinvesting IT savings
Official also says agencies are on target to meet deadline next week for new high-tech ID cards.
Management
Treasury secretary staying on campaign sidelines
With the exception of the secretaries of State and Defense, Henry Paulson is the Cabinet's most high-profile member.
Defense