Defense
Veterans Affairs’ acquisition practices come under fire
Inefficiencies and fraud in contracting programs lead lawmakers to weigh legislation updating the department’s business practices.
Defense
House passes Defense spending bill, riders
Chamber also approves five-day continuing resolution to keep the Pentagon running until the Senate passes and the president signs the appropriations measure.
Defense
Senate leader's Christmas wish list is growing
Sen. Harry Reid wants the chamber to pass a continuing resolution, short-term debt limit increase, Defense spending bill and health care overhaul before the holiday.
Oversight
Senator asks IRS to report on contractors’ unpaid taxes
Top Republican on Finance Committee wants figures on delinquent Medicare and Medicaid health care providers.
Oversight
IG will investigate whether department misused funds
Lawmaker wants probe into whether administration misused federal money when Education officials pushed schools to change how they make student loans.
Defense
Senators: Army needs better info about soldiers
After Pentagon briefing on Fort Hood shootings, chairman and ranking member of Homeland Security panel conclude Army needs to upgrade its personnel policies.
Oversight
Watchdog urges Postal Service managers to support cost-cutting initiative
Without better leadership, USPS won’t reap the full benefits of a program to avoid giving injured employees busy work, GAO says.
Defense
Fight over tanker pact puts two nominations in limbo
Alabama senator is blocking the nominations of Erin Conaton as the Air Force's No. 2 civilian leader and Frank Kendall as Defense acquisition and technology chief.
Oversight
Real Slippage
The president’s approval ratings have moved down a notch or two in recent weeks.
Oversight
Groups claim data on federal employees’ salaries is misleading
News analysis indicates that the number of government workers earning more than six figures has spiked during the last two years.
Defense
From Nextgov.com: Obama administration proposes metrics for testing FISMA performance
Recommended measures “encourage agencies to take concrete steps to improve their security,” announcement states.
Oversight
Democrat proposes raising net worth cap for minority small business program
Bill would increase the ceiling for participation in the 8(a) program from $750,000 to $978,722.
Defense
GAO upholds protests of Army truck pact
Watchdog says the service should re-evaluate three proposals for the five-year deal, whose price tag could reach $3 billion.
Oversight
Senate sends omnibus spending measure to Obama's desk
Package contains six appropriations bills that Congress ran out of time to pass individually.
Defense
Appropriators give lifeline to helicopter program
Additional funding could keep the VH-71 alive and its workforce largely intact as the Pentagon reviews plans for fielding a new presidential helicopter.
Oversight
House passes massive financial regulatory overhaul
The legislation creates a new consumer protection agency to guard against abusive and unfair home mortgages, credit cards and auto loans.
Oversight
House leaders insist on statutory pay/go
Dems want to add to the fiscal 2010 spending package legislation that requires offsets for any tax and mandatory spending bills that increase the deficit.
Oversight
Veterans to receive priority in VA contract awards
Final rule creates set-aside program for veteran-owned and service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses.
Oversight
Fund proposed for female farmers in USDA bias cases
Bill creating a $4.6 billion compensation fund may mark beginning of multibillion-dollar congressional effort to settle discrimination suits.
Oversight