Management

GSA names new public buildings chief

Washington lawyer David L. Winstead will take over as commissioner of Public Buildings Service.

Management

Pentagon personnel reforms on the brink of completion

Labor relations rules scheduled to be in place in less than three months.

Management

Senators seek to rein in Katrina purchase card limit

Support building for move to reverse rise in purchase limit from $2,500 to $250,000 on government employee credit cards.

Management

Agency decides pay banding is not the answer

Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight switches from system with seven broad pay bands to more traditional structure with 18 pay grades.

Management

Career employee to lead competitive sourcing efforts

Position that has been vacant for four years will be filled by 15-year OMB veteran.

Management

Congress votes to keep agencies open in new fiscal year

Most departments and agencies will be funded at frozen or reduced levels until Nov. 18.

Management

Top civil servants honored with Service to America Medals

Fourth annual awards ceremony honors high-flying feds.

Management

MSPB: Supervisors don’t fire poor performers in probationary period

A third of new employees are not told about probationary period.

Management

Revised DHS labor relations rules under scrutiny

Judge questions whether revisions go far enough in providing binding contracts.

Defense

Organizational changes on tap for TSA

Shakeup would include eliminating old positions, creating new ones and possibly changing airport checkpoint procedures.

Defense

Senate committee lifts ethics rule for Defense nominees

The rule, unique to the defense panel, required senior Pentagon officials holding pensions from defense contractors to buy an insurance policy to lock away the value of their benefits.

Defense

FEMA’s decline: an agency's slow slide from grace

Once the poster child for transformation and efficiency, the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s gradual deterioration left it weak and ill-prepared for Katrina.

Management

Impossible Goals

Despite the odds against closing the books in 45 days, financial managers hit the mark.

Defense

Officials fear contracting abuses in wake of Hurricane Katrina

Some say flood of funding, lax oversight and quick contracting creates 'perfect storm' for waste.

Management

GAO: Procurement database unreliable despite upgrade

New system is also difficult to use, auditors find.

Management

Postal Service projects $1.8 billion budget shortfall

Rate increase will not offset shortage, officials say.

Defense

Former FEMA director says agency was gutted

Michael Brown initially blames state and local officials for Hurricane Katrina problems, but concedes under questioning that the federal government also failed.

Management

Demonstration projects find success in personnel reform

Opponents argue that small-scale experiments are not applicable governmentwide.

Management

Postal workers' union criticizes reform bill provisions

Long-time supporter of postal overhaul legislation echoes concerns expressed by Postal Service Board of Governors.