Management
Growth in earmarks limits agencies’ flexibility
Increase has been driven by the budget-neutral practice of directing agencies where to spend money, without boosting funding.
Management
Panel backs enhanced oversight of interagency contracting
Preliminary recommendations direct OMB to provide oversight, but leave authority over the contracts with agencies.
Defense
Intelligence CIO seeks product certification overhaul
Process for validating new technologies should be standardized across agencies, Dale Meyerrose says.
Management
GSA launches review of acquisition rules
Goals include streamlining internal regulations, eliminating duplication with governmentwide rules and reducing burden on small firms.
Management
The Trust Factor
Employees who are kept out of the loop feel betrayed and become less productive.
Management
Investigators close complaint about EPA communications project
Research office director hails IG’s findings, and calls attempt to discredit the effort “anti-science” and “anti-government.”
Tech
Survey: Employees with dependent care duties are better off teleworking
Freedom to work from home improves the job performance and morale of employees with such responsibilities, study finds.
Defense
Overhaul of emergency management system urged
Democrats call for removal of FEMA from Homeland Security, but DHS secretary resists calls for restructuring.
Defense
Senators grill Homeland Security chief over Katrina response
Chertoff admits preparations before the storm were inadequate and says he got conflicting information about damage from the hurricane.
Management
OPM employees defeat contractors in latest job competition
Employee proposal would save $700,000 over current operations.
Defense
Report: DHS slow to enact border security recommendations
Implementation of security plans and privacy impact assessments are among neglected suggestions, GAO says.
Management
Food inspectors’ union rights reaffirmed
In first case of its kind, FLRA lets stand a decision to reinstate union representation stripped for national security reasons.
Management
Pentagon shifts focus to results in pay-for-performance system
After a self-imposed delay, department marginalizes initial “benchmarks” concept.
Defense
Investigators detail fraud, waste in FEMA disaster assistance
Agency is no better prepared today for a large-scale disaster than it was last summer, DHS inspector general says.
Management
Better training needed for emergency purchases, procurement chief says
Interagency contracts and procurement data will receive close scrutiny this year.
Defense
Pentagon shares some lessons learned from Hurricane Katrina
Faster damage assessments, unified command and control structure to coordinate multiple agencies’ efforts, are needed, Defense officials say.
Management
VA medical system earns high customer satisfaction ratings
Survey fails, however, to capture large number of veterans without access to care.
Management
Panel supports recommendations to fine-tune small business contracting policies
Advisory group will recommend against cascading procurements.
Management