Defense
House approves agreement on Pentagon pay-for-performance, sick leave benefit
Senate now will consider conference report on fiscal 2010 Defense authorization.
Oversight
McCain rebuffed on PBS construction funds
Amendment would have cut $20 million in funding for the Public Telecommunications Facilities Planning and Construction program.
Oversight
Panel debates future of Fannie, Freddie
Disagreement swirls over whether the home financing giants' role of stabilizing and stimulating the mortgage market can be privatized.
Oversight
Deficit triples in fiscal 2009, reaches 10 percent of GDP
Congressional Budget Office says figure is the highest shortfall, relative to the size of the economy, since 1945.
Oversight
Cost of 2010 census remains elusive, officials tell panel
Most recent cost estimate is $14.7 billion.
Defense
Congress moves to repeal Pentagon pay-for-performance system
Conference agreement also gives Defense secretary ability to propose new personnel flexibilities.
Oversight
From Nextgov.com: Intelligence e-mail shut down prompts concerns about other collaboration tools
Intelligence office assures users that it will replace the system with a more secure one, and other social networking tools will continue to operate.
Defense
Authorizers agree to end F-22 program
The $680 billion Defense authorization bill is expected to pass both chambers and move to President Obama's desk in the next several days.
Oversight
Obama administration launches program evaluation effort
Office of Management and Budget lays out new assessment principles and offers financial incentives for agencies that go the extra mile.
Defense
Senate again rejects C-17 cut, approves spending bill
House and Senate appropriators already have been working quietly for weeks to resolve differences in the two chambers' versions of the defense bill.
Oversight
Experts say policy 'czars' fall within presidential authority
Analysts agree Obama's use of White House czars does not represent an abuse of power as long as they do not attempt to give orders to agency heads or issue regulations.
Defense
DHS announces immigration detention reforms
Immigration and Customs Enforcement will centralize and review all detention contracts.
Oversight
Agencies surpass Recovery Act small business contracting goals
More than 25 percent of all stimulus contract dollars has gone to small firms, but agencies are making uneven contributions.
Oversight
Agencies avoid flexibilities in firing poor performers
Managers put off by technicalities and paperwork under personnel reforms, MSPB survey says.
Defense
Key authorizers back second F-35 engine
House-Senate agreement on the fighter jet engine could provoke the Obama administration to follow through on a veto threat.
Oversight
Obama is unlikely to trim his aggressive agenda
The president's trip to Denmark to lobby for the Olympics raised the question again of whether he is trying to do too much.
Oversight
Process of Elimination
It’s easier to figure out what voters do not want than it is to decipher what they do want.
Oversight
Performance chief promises to help managers overcome challenges
Jeffrey Zients also vows to change the role of OMB to one that is more collaborative.
Oversight
Procurement nominee earns high marks from acquisition community
Career civil servant Daniel Gordon is said to be fair, straightforward and extremely knowledgeable.
Oversight