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
Report: War-related costs will exceed $500 billion next year
Monthly "burn rate" in Iraq and Afghanistan is expected to average $9.7 billion in fiscal 2006, an 18 percent jump from last year.
Defense
Federal agencies still recovering from flooding
Several Washington area buildings remain closed as cleanup continues.
Management
Procurement spending up $175 billion since 2000
Democratic lawmakers’ report highlights 118 “problem contracts” collectively worth $745.5 billion.
Defense
Flooding closes several Washington-area agencies
Thousands of federal employees told to go, or stay, home Monday as downpours hit the capital region.
Tech
GAO, Navy add to growing list of federal data breaches
Rash of breaches prompts OMB to release new checklist of information security safeguards.
Defense
FEMA bulks up on supplies, systems for tracking them
Despite improvements, strategy emphasizing federal decision-making may continue to hinder disaster response, skeptics say.
Defense
Senate excludes intelligence employees from whistleblower bill
Move prompts call for independent agency to handle intelligence-related disclosures.
Management
House votes to block Walter Reed outsourcing; Army moves forward
If Senate follows suit, transition to private base operations contractor could be in jeopardy.
Management
EEOC, OPM should work together on diversity, auditors say
GAO survey finds agency roles redundant, ineffective.
Defense
Transportation secretary to depart next month
Norman Mineta, lone Democrat in Bush Cabinet, has served since the beginning of the administration.
Tech
VA official defends memos restricting IT centralization
Department’s general counsel says he was limited to interpreting the current law and could not make a policy decision.
Management
Army Corps employees win public-private competition for IT work
Award could still result in job loss, as the in-house proposal involves teaming with a contractor.
Management
House committees probe Alaska Native contracting program
"Laziness" among contracting officers cited as problem, along with program design.
Defense
GAO advises against spending on F-22 fighter jets
Report says Air Force hasn’t met several conditions for a multiyear procurement, including an expectation of significant savings.
Defense