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.
Defense
President's Homeland Security picks get guarded reception
Secret Service, Customs and Border Protection nominees win praise from labor organizations--and some expressions of concern about building sound relationships with employees.
Tech
Lawmaker urges review of patent approval and re-examination processes
Faster action could have helped resolve the BlackBerry patent dispute before it threatened to disrupt service, House committee leader says.
Management
Report details errors in Agriculture financial disclosures
In restating audit results, departments risk eroding public trust, GAO report says.
Defense
DHS asks industry to help secure borders
Homeland Security officials announce an acquisition strategy for first phase of the Secure Border Initiative.
Management
Feds in marine program compensated better than nonfederal counterparts
Differences in salary, annual leave and other benefits cause divisions within Commerce program’s multisector workforce.
Management
Ethics office seeks to extend post-employment ‘cooling off’ period to all of SES
Move would would widen pool of top officials subject to limits on contacts with their former agencies.
Tech
Defense tech agency boosts telework to prevent exodus
The Defense Information Systems Agency is giving certain employees more chances to work from home, in anticipation of headquarters relocation.
Management
Union asks IRS to bring contracted work back in-house
Agency says it has no plans to exercise authority to weigh shifting certain projects from contractors back to federal employees.
Defense
Senate budget adviser sees DHS funding increase
Senior staffer says it's the "only budget in town that is going to continue to see growth."
Management
Postal Service lobbies against reform bill
Agency says Senate legislation likely to burden Postal Service with employees' military pension costs, limit managerial flexibility.
Management