Oversight

Negotiators agree on plan to fund agencies through mid-December

Stopgap spending measure will be attached to the Interior-Environment appropriations bill and will keep money flowing at fiscal 2009 levels until Dec. 18.

Oversight

Unions express concern over new draft of labor-management order

Proposal backs away from requiring agencies to bargain over broader set of work rules.

Oversight

OMB calls for 5 percent growth in civilian acquisition workforce

Administration also addresses ways to reduce risky contract types and increase competition.

Defense

FEMA is unable to measure funding benefits

Agency official says billions spent on homeland security since 2002 have made country safer, but admits FEMA has no way to definitively assess the improvement.

Defense

Official: Hill was not informed of other intelligence activities

Senior administration official does not disclose specific instances, but agrees that the process for congressional notification needs to be improved.

Defense

West Point privatization plan expected to be canceled

Move follows GAO ruling citing flaws in how the Army reached a decision to outsource public works jobs.

Oversight

Intensity Matters

In a midterm election in which turnout is inherently lower than in presidential years, the most-motivated voters carry a disproportionate advantage.

Defense

Administration replaces beleaguered director of Defense agency

April Stephenson, head of the Defense Contract Audit Agency, has been reassigned to the Pentagon comptroller’s office.

Oversight

OMB contracting guidance expected to be released this week

Memo will cover acquisition workforce and outsourcing, among other procurement issues.

Oversight

Draft climate change bill puts USDA in lead on emissions

Proposal would require the Agriculture secretary and EPA administrator to develop a carbon credit program within one year of enactment.

Oversight

Congress in no rush to cut mail delivery

One of the stumbling blocks is disagreement over how much money the Postal Service would save by stopping Saturday service.

Defense

NSPS repeal could lead to new performance management system, observers say

Defense authorization legislation calls on Pentagon and OPM to work together on developing an alternative personnel system.

Oversight

Group asks administration to measure results of stimulus projects

Report argues for metrics to evaluate the Recovery Act’s effect in areas such as public safety and road repair.

Oversight

Stopgap measure might hitch a ride on Interior spending bill

Continuing resolution would keep the federal government running through Dec. 15.

Oversight

House panel OKs consumer protection agency

Move is a victory for the Obama administration in its push to revamp the financial regulatory system and a defeat for the banking lobby.

Oversight

Lawmakers eye new spending extension

A senior House Republican aide said the new resolution is likely to fund the government until Dec. 15.

Oversight

GAO gives thumbs down to West Point outsourcing

Watchdog finds the process for awarding nearly 400 positions to a Georgia company was severely flawed and recommends canceling the decision.

Oversight

USDA restructures management offices

None of the 2,800 employees affected will face layoffs, but some could be offered incentives to leave.

Defense

Senators bemoan H1N1 vaccine shortages

Government will have about 30 million doses of vaccine by the end of October, which is about 10 million fewer than had been projected.

Oversight

Half of stimulus contract spending falls into risky categories

Within the next week, Recovery.gov will list detailed summaries of noncompetitive, nonfixed price contracts.