Defense

White House: TSA nominee to avoid conflicts of interest

Harding plans to steer clear of matters involving former consulting clients.

Defense

McCain: Hill won't threaten tanker deal

Lawmakers will keep a close eye on the contract, but won't intervene, according to the Arizona Republican.

Oversight

House leader 'hopeful' budget blueprint will pass by Easter

Hoyer stresses lawmakers are not tied to that timeline.

Oversight

OMB staffer to be disciplined for threats to IG

Program examiner said his office would 'make life miserable' for OPM inspector general if he took budget complaints to Congress.

Oversight

Turning around negative view of government will take time, Obama official says

Strides in IT and human capital seen as key to improving program performance and gaining public trust.

Oversight

Proposals to ban earmarks continue to pick up steam

Potential amendment to jobs bill would throw up roadblocks to fiscal 2010 and fiscal 2011 measures that include directed spending.

Oversight

Eye on 2012

The quest for the GOP presidential nomination will begin in earnest next month in New Orleans.

Oversight

Court puts HUBZone firms at top of small business pecking order

U.S. Court of Federal Claims finds that Historically Underutilized Business Zone companies have priority over 8(a) and veteran-owned firms.

Oversight

Obama taps former intelligence officer to lead TSA

Labor unions take a wait-and-see approach to nomination of retired Army Maj. Gen. Robert Harding.

Oversight

Moderate Democrats pitch bailout repayment bill

Six Blue Dog leaders advocate legislation to recoup the cost of the $700 billion Troubled Asset Relief Program and pay down the growing deficit.

Defense

Forward Observer: QDR is a Quite Disappointing Report

Goal of the strategy document seems to be to avoid ruffling feathers.

Oversight

Look-alike Census mailings targeted by House measure

Bill takes aim at bogus fliers that could discourage people from returning the authentic forms.

Oversight

IG: Homeland Security isn’t awarding noncompetitive contracts by the book

Lack of market research and acquisition planning could mean DHS isn’t receiving the best value for taxpayers, watchdog says.

Oversight

Delays plague Energy’s Recovery Act spending

Staffing shortages, confusion over labor rules and environmental assessments have contributed to problems.

Defense

Senate confirms Defense nominees stalled by GOP holds

Republicans cave in after being pressed to explain wartime holds that weren't based on the merits of the candidates for Air Force and acquisition jobs.

Defense

Screening of all U.S.-bound air cargo still years away

Biggest challenge is getting cooperation from the governments of 20 countries where nearly 85 percent of cargo originates, senior official says.

Oversight

Senator: Contracting provisions will be passed in next jobs bill

Landrieu says bipartisanship helped advance a measure to resolve long-standing small business contracting problems.

Defense

From Nextgov.com: Wiki in the works for sharing safest travel routes in Afghanistan

Network would replace ad hoc Internet communications among nonmilitary personnel with missions in war zone.

Oversight

Provision to fire tax-delinquent federal employees pulled

Republicans claim the majority is protecting federal employees; Democrats urge patience as details are ironed out.

Oversight

OPM aims to release revised retirement statements by mid-April

Agency is testing new system to fix a glitch in the annuity calculator that affected thousands of retirees.