Oversight
Senator seeks review of 'cash for clunkers' effort
Grassley says program's fast turnaround created an “environment ripe for waste, fraud and abuse.”
Oversight
Industry resists proposal for single banking regulator
Senator wants to combine the duties of four agencies into one oversight body.
Oversight
Lawmakers pan plan to skip conference on health bill
Republicans favor open negotiations that members of the public could watch on television.
Oversight
Dissension, poor communications found at federal nuclear site
Energy inspector general says problems at Savannah River Site could undermine public confidence.
Oversight
OPM announces reorganization
Observers say focus on SES, veterans and oversight could increase.
Defense
Major defense contractor moves headquarters to DC region
Northrop Grumman will open its new corporate office in the capital area by summer 2011.
Defense
From Nextgov.com: Web application gives air travelers chance to rate airport security procedures
The Transportation Security Administration, which has not endorsed the real-time survey , has not responded to an offer to receive the polling results.
Oversight
Deputy director begins work at OPM
Christine Griffin was confirmed five months ago, but starts this week; former EEOC commissioner to lead diversity efforts.
Oversight
Panels set hearings, key Homeland Security posts still vacant
Bombing plot hearings to begin Jan. 20; Senate still needs to consider nominees for three top DHS jobs.
Oversight
Informal negotiations on health bill are likely instead of conference
Aide cites threat of procedural obstacles in leadership's decision to bypass formal conference committee to hammer legislative differences.
Defense
Iraqi government plans to file suit against Blackwater guards
U.S. judge dismissed charges last week against five private security contractors involved in a deadly 2007 shooting in Baghdad.
Oversight
In final action of year, Senate OKs debt ceiling hike
The short-term $290 billion increase will allow the government to do business past Jan. 1, according to the Treasury Department.
Defense
Federal role in transit rail safety debated
Under current law, the Federal Transit Administration is prohibited from directly regulating the nation's public transit systems.
Oversight
Administration alters stimulus job counting formula
OMB instructs recipients to count any position funded with Recovery Act dollars as a job saved.
Oversight
From Nextgov: Education, IRS try to make filing student aid form less daunting
The Education Department plans to allow certain students applying for aid to instantly transfer their tax data from an IRS database to the Web version of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid.
Oversight
Head of Foreign Agricultural Service reassigned
Michael Michener had come under fire for focusing on Afghanistan projects at the expense of the agency’s traditional roles.
Oversight
EEOC proposes changes to federal discrimination complaint process
Rules include new requirements for agencies, authorize pilot programs.
Oversight
Senate language eases employee fears about OPM and health reform
Groups had recommended that federal employee plan be administered separately.
Oversight