Management
New Smithsonian inspector general to report to board
Previous IG resigned earlier this month in the midst of an investigation into Smithsonian salaries, expenses and business ventures.
Management
Defense IG to release reports on interagency contracting problems
Reports also will detail Anti-Deficiency Act violations; acquisition panel calls regulatory framework sufficient to handle “bad apples.”
Tech
VA info security chief says he had impossible task
Pedro Cadenas, who abruptly resigned his post, says in more than three years on job, he lacked authority to make substantive changes.
Defense
Bid to keep FEMA within DHS gains momentum
White House has opposed the idea of FEMA’s removal from the department.
Management
Panel finds performance-based contracts implemented poorly
Forty percent were wrongly counted toward OMB quota.
Management
Senate approves Wall Street executive as new Treasury chief
Henry Paulson has pledged to trim the budget deficit and push China to reform its currency policy.
Defense
Coast Guard authorization bill sails through House panel
Bill would allow service to be on a path to modernization in 15, rather than 25, years.
Defense
Program to verify workers’ immigration status shows promise
Lawmaker concerned that the program could provide inaccurate results once it is expanded to more employers.
Management
NTEU claims victory in large DHS union election
AFGE files a dispute claiming favoritism by management to skew the election.
Defense
Navy contractor arrested for alleged computer system sabotage
Contractor admits malicious program was motivated by anger at losing a bid.
Defense
DHS collective bargaining loss likely to affect Pentagon’s similar plan
Congressmen from both sides of the aisle ask DHS to return to the table with the unions.
Tech
House member weighing legislation in response to VA data breach
Possibilities include changes to information security law and linking compliance with IT policies to performance reviews.
Defense
Army chief says tardiness passing spending bills is costly
Funding delays and reductions have required cuts in travel and other programs to cover urgent needs, Schoomaker says.
Defense
Senators face trade offs to fund border security plan
Appropriators cut funding for some major homeland security programs, including first responder grants, to boost border efforts.
Management
Senate subcommittee approves Interior-EPA spending bill
The $26.1 billion approved for fiscal 2007 exceeds President Bush’s request and the amount allotted by the House last month.
Management
Bush urges Senate to give him line-item veto
Administration frames issue as a bipartisan imperative, highlighting Democratic support.
Tech
VA to issue new directive on employees’ responsibility for data
Class action lawsuit results in order blocking another security directive, including requirement to review agency laptops.
Defense