Oversight

America's Summer of Discontent

Voters nationwide are disillusioned, regardless of their political party.

Defense

Government’s post-9/11 reorganization called ‘worth the effort’

Four lessons offered by Partnership for Public Service include winning senior executive buy-in and respecting legacy cultures.

Oversight

Pentagon contracting policy faulted in two reports

Billions wasted while no-bid awards rose, congressionally chartered commission and nonprofit group find.

Oversight

Postal Service pays less for employees to sit around

Cost of downtime decreased from $31 million in fiscal 2009 to $22 million in fiscal 2010.

Oversight

Where is Congress with appropriations?

With the new congressional super committee scheduled to meet, budget issues may be more urgent.

Defense

Ron Paul: Abolish FEMA

The Republican presidential candidate stops short of criticizing the disaster management agency’s response to Irene.

Oversight

White House, Boehner face off on cost of regulations

House speaker demands cost estimates for high-impact rules as OIRA chief decries ‘inaccurate information.’

Defense

TSA seeks authority to offer early outs to employees

Agency would provide the incentive from October 2011 through September 2013.

Oversight

Congressional Budget Office predicts $1.3 trillion deficit in 2011

Figure is the third-highest level in 65 years.

Oversight

Agencies to release plans for streamlined regulations

Partly a response to criticism that Obama hasn't focused on business concerns, the plans don't go far enough for some.

Oversight

Memo to GOP

Independent voters are required to win the general election.

Oversight

OMB seeks to clarify 2013 budget guidance

Director Jack Lew says not all agencies necessarily will see cuts between 5 percent and 10 percent.

Defense

Pentagon personnel chief investigated for 'tyrannical' leadership

Complaints allege Clifford Stanley is vindictive, wasteful, and unfit for service.

Oversight

OMB details agency obligations under Government Performance Act

Priority goals must be delivered by Sept. 12, as operating officers are urged to cut waste.

Oversight

Obama orders agencies to develop plans to increase workforce diversity

Executive order also mandates creation of governmentwide plan.

Oversight

Backpack-wearing ambassador causes a stir in China

Photo of Gary Locke at the airport goes viral in the Chinese blogosphere.

Oversight

Agency slow in applying technology to protect federal buildings, GAO says

Two reports say Federal Protective Services is behind on risk assessment and transfer of programs within Homeland Security Department.

Defense

Military faces stark choices in coming budget battles

Rising personnel and health care costs are forcing painful management decisions, leaders say.

Oversight

Common Sense

There are some interesting takeaways from the Ames, Iowa, straw vote, some of which feel a little Shakespearean.

Oversight

Deficit-cutting panel has a fallback option

The super committee could come up with a not-so-grand bargain that doesn’t completely avoid across-the-board cuts but makes a dent in the size of those reductions.