Defense
From Nextgov.com: Homeland Security kicks off final strategy dialogue
Comments and suggestions submitted through a Web portal will be incorporated into a report due to Congress by the end of the year.
Oversight
VA to continue work on energy efficiency
Health care facilities prove especially challenging for reducing energy consumption.
Defense
Senators clash over C-17 funding
Administration argues the military does not need more of the cargo planes, but the program employs 30,000 people in 43 states, making cuts politically difficult.
Oversight
Senator urges caution in consolidating contracting databases
Procurement officials must be sure to consider the end user of the streamlined database and build in adequate oversight, panel chairwoman says.
Oversight
Treasury pushes for resolution authority
Obama administration ramps up effort to pass legislation to revamp the nation's financial regulatory system.
Oversight
Watchdog attorney is likely choice to run procurement policy shop
Daniel Gordon, deputy general counsel at GAO, reportedly will be nominated as government’s top acquisition official.
Defense
Senate has full plate with Defense and stopgap spending bills
Continuing resolution would fund most agencies at fiscal 2009 levels, but would include a boost for veterans health and the 2010 census.
Oversight
Lawmaker battles distrust of census
House Republican's efforts aim in part to fight an undercurrent of suspicions about the government's collection of personal data.
Oversight
Groups hail nomination of IP coordinator
Victoria Espinel, who is expected to easily win confirmation, previously served as assistant trade representative for intellectual property.
Oversight
Army advised to improve strategy for transfer of logistics work
Inspector general finds out-of-date planning documents and inconsistent performance work statements.
Oversight
From Nextgov.com: Obama administration unveils Recovery.gov makeover
Redesigned stimulus-tracking site has pictorial representations of spending data, advanced search functions and multimedia tutorials, but no data sets yet.
Oversight
Controversy over policy czars is misplaced, scholars say
Lawmakers are trying to curb White House officials’ influence, but that’s assuming they actually have some.
Oversight
House passes stopgap bill, deal reached
The package is expected to be considered by the Senate on Tuesday, one day before the fiscal year ends.
Defense
White House objects to extra C-17 planes
Administration statement stops short of a veto threat against the Defense spending bill.
Defense
GAO: Defense contractors are complying with ethics rules
Survey finds largest firms have a range of ethics programs as required by the Federal Acquisition Regulation.
Oversight
House lawmakers discourage extension of bank bailout
In letter to Treasury chief, members pan program for poor oversight and use of funds outside their original purpose.
Defense
Senate approves Interior spending bill
Czar amendment is defeated, along with four other Republican proposals.
Oversight
From Nextgov.com: NIST releases more development standards for smart electric grid
Requirements focus on cybersecurity and interoperability issues to improve technical capabilities, energy management and data exchange.
Oversight