Management

Budget cuts may prove difficult in election year

Lawmakers praise effort to slow entitlement growth, warn that stringent cuts in discretionary spending may be hard to swallow.

Management

Bush makes new push for Patent Office to keep fees

Agency's proposed budget includes incentives to retain "highly qualified and productive workforce."

Tech

More R&D spending proposed, earmarks criticized

Overall science funding request is flat, but non-defense R&D nevertheless would be boosted 1.9 percent.

Management

President's budget seeks to rein in discretionary spending

Fiscal 2007 proposal promises continued focus on results and recommends significant cuts to 141 programs.

Defense

DHS budget emphasizes immigration reform, border security

Fiscal 2007 request also includes increases for efforts to detect weapons of mass destruction.

Management

Bush calls for 2.2 percent pay raise in 2007

In break with previous proposals, president seeks same increase for military service members and civilian employees.

Management

More requests to cut programs enacted, but some remain a tough sell

Congress is still reluctant to let some programs go, even if they are unable to show results.

Management

Report: VA uses faulty methods for savings calculations

Auditors find that savings projections and reports of actual savings cannot be substantiated.

Management

Unions devise ‘Plan B’ in Defense personnel challenge

Coalition of labor groups hires former FLRA general counsel to help develop alternative plan in case legal challenge to National Security Personnel System fails.

Management

White House to seek supplemental funding for war efforts, hurricane relief

Congress expecting requests for $70 billion more for wars, and $18 billion for hurricane relief.

Management

Federal program performance up slightly, OMB reports

More than 70 percent of programs rated for the 2007 budget are deemed “adequate” or better.

Tech

Agencies show modest gains on management score card

Greatest improvements come in e-government initiatives.

Management

Budget-cutting bill passes House again by narrow margin

Measure would trim the deficit by $39 billion over five years, largely through changes to student loan and entitlement programs.

Defense

Homeland Security, GAO trade barbs on Katrina investigation

Congressional auditors cite leadership vacuum in response effort; DHS official calls their report “premature and unprofessional.”

Management

Senators dig into mining safety and OSHA nominees

Mine agency nominee criticized for reluctance to commit to adoption of technologies and practices that have worked in other countries.

Tech

Patent office managers to receive telework training

Under $47,500 contract, managers will get training in operating under a program designed to increase work away from the office.

Defense

Bush pledges to eliminate 140 poor-performing programs

But president seeks expansion of Defense, Energy programs in State of Union address.

Management

Systems Doctor

The VA chief information officer has more power than ever, but will it get IT back on track?

Management

Investigative agency earns fewer victories for employees

Critics say Office of Special Counsel has focused more on cutting case backlog than securing corrective action for improper personnel practices.

Management

Industry opposes acquisition changes recommended by advisory group

Federal contractors would be subject to confusing terms, hurting competition, coalition says.