Oversight

Report portrays SSA contract security guards as Keystone Kops

Inspector general auditors discovered guards on hourlong telephone calls, watching TV and absent from their posts.

Oversight

Lawmakers propose improvements to intern hiring process

Bill would require agencies to track quality of internship programs and share information about strong candidates.

Oversight

OPM clarifies leave policies for feds

Employees who wish to head home during an emergency before their designated early departure time can ask for unscheduled leave or unscheduled telework.

Oversight

Republicans reject White House offer on funding deal

GOP leaders are dismissing the Obama administration's proposed $6.5 billion in cuts as "status quo" and insufficient.

Oversight

Spending bills face new roadblocks in Senate

Republicans' letter announces intent to block legislation that adds new spending without offsets, program review.

Oversight

'Government activism' holding back recovery, Greenspan Says

The economic crisis may have “cast doubt” on competitive markets, but intervention tends to “hobble markets” rather than fix them, the former Fed chairman wrote in an article.

Defense

Lawmakers criticize military funeral protesters

Senators say the Westboro Baptist Church members are abusing free speech rights.

Oversight

Lawmakers agree on getting rid of overlapping programs

But committee members differ on exactly where to begin responding to detailed report from GAO.

Oversight

Fight over future of Saturday mail delivery continues

Resolution calls on USPS to preserve current schedule as agency faces growing financial crisis.

Oversight

Battles over employee bargaining rights escalate

Wisconsin, it seems, is just the beginning.

Oversight

Postal Service pleads its case to Congress

Cash-strapped agency says it needs immediate relief to avoid defaulting on advance payments to its retiree health fund.

Oversight

Workers protest outside SSA offices nationwide

Employees march against furloughs, other cuts as agency offers early retirement.

Oversight

Press secretary predicts White House-Congress meeting over CR

Jay Carney said the White House would accept up to $8 billion in cuts in a spending bill to keep the government running for a month.

Oversight

GOP leaders surprised by White House entry into budget-cutting talks

Vice President Biden will assume the role of lead Democratic negotiator.

Oversight

Administration seeks help in selling off excess federal buildings

Seven-member panel of experts would examine status of 14,000 vacant facilities and 55,000 underutilized buildings.

Oversight

Senate passes stopgap funding bill, averts shutdown

Two-week continuing resolution keeps government funded through March 18.

Defense

Senior lawmakers wary of nuclear agency budget increase

Obama budget would give agency a 5 percent funding hike to $11.8 billion.

Oversight

Shutdown threat abates -- for now

House, Senate reach agreement on two-week reprieve.

Oversight

Bills target tax-delinquent feds, contractors

Measures would exempt companies and individuals working with the IRS on payment plans.

Defense

Pentagon chief defends tanker decision

Gates says any protest of the lucrative contract award is unlikely to be successful.