Management
Bill would let franchises win small-business contracts
Provision in legislation to reauthorize SBA for another four years would qualify “every McDonalds” as a small firm, opponent argues.
Management
Earmark foe collects a few for his district
Advocate for earmark overhaul secured funds in Transportation-Treasury appropriations bill for at least two local projects.
Tech
E-gov projects again face cuts on Capitol Hill
OMB has enhanced efforts to communicate benefits of projects, but appropriators remain skeptical.
Management
Senator seeks probe into alleged scientific censorship
White House science office pushes new NASA policy as model for other agencies.
Defense
DHS: State disaster response plans lacking
Federal officials still need to improve coordination with state and local governments, review finds.
Defense
Data mining helps uncover fraud in disaster relief
GAO used technique to locate FEMA payments that were based on duplicative registration data.
Tech
Report: Telework could bring financial benefit to agencies
But a lack of support is hampering growth of the work-from-home concept in the government, consultants say.
Defense
FEMA abandons target date for full staffing
New director says he is no longer sure when agency will be near full capacity, cites bureaucracy as a problem.
Defense
Affidavit says Cunningham intervened on limo firm's behalf
Contract was awarded through full and open competition, and alleged letter on company's behalf is nowhere to be found, DHS says.
Defense
Bush signs supplemental spending bill
Measure to provide war, border security, Gulf Coast recovery and avian flu funding also sets discretionary spending cap for fiscal 2007.
Tech
VA weighing steps to protect medical records
Subcontractor in India threatened to release 30,000 of the department’s medical records over the Internet last year.
Management
Smithsonian leader faces scrutiny over salaries, film contract
Institution's board this week reiterated its support for the contract.
Management
SBA seeks comments on proposed women-owned business program
Implementation would satisfy November court order.
Defense
Senate approves change in future war funding
Measure designed to steer Pentagon away from hefty emergency funding requests; would affect the fiscal 2008 budget.
Defense
Panel blasts FEMA over new, higher fraud estimate
Agency typically has held its waste and fraud rate to between 1 percent and 3 percent, but Katrina overwhelmed systems, official says.
Defense
Lawmakers seek more precision in TSA’s terrorist watch list
Failure of program to expedite screening for frequent fliers to move past development stage also frustrates legislators.
Tech
VA security policies lack enforcement teeth, legislator says
Department directive issued last week restricts the transmission of agency data.
Defense
Agencies may not meet goal of speeding security clearances
Industry officials predict December deadline could be tough even for swiftest agencies.
Management
Legislator defends OMB program evaluation tool
Amendment to Labor-HHS spending bill would block use of ratings.
Management