Oversight
Many Recovery Act contracts fall into high-risk category
Cost-reimbursement agreements are prevalent, despite OMB’s warning about potential for waste and abuse.
Oversight
Civilian agency contract spending continues to climb
As purchases balloon, the president orders up a procurement overhaul.
Defense
CBP to continue searches of travelers’ laptops
Homeland Security’s new policy does not require reasonable suspicion, to the dismay of civil liberties groups.
Oversight
From Nextgov.com: NASA could outsource flights and insource IT
While budget woes leave future space missions in question, the department’s cloud computing programs could help curb costs.
Defense
White House, scientists discuss biological threats
Meeting could be the first in a series of talks designed to inform the administration's evolving strategy on bioterrorism.
Oversight
From Nextgov.com: Agencies frustrated with unclear guidance on reducing external IT network connections
Technology leaders blame poor communication among OMB and other departments for haphazard efforts to comply with Trusted Internet Connections initiative.
Oversight
Air Force dangles bonuses to keep contracting officers
Frequent deployments and heavy demand for skills prompts annual incentive program.
Oversight
FCC to launch social networking site
Site will allow employees to come together online and discuss how to improve the agency.
Oversight
Technology companies encourage feds to shut down computers
More than 4,500 government employees and contractors have pledged to turn off computers, monitors and printers on Aug. 27.
Oversight
Impact of Kennedy loss on health care debated
Legislators note late senator's work on issue as driving force.
Oversight
Contractor reports of violations flowing into Defense IG’s office
More than 50 disclosures have been filed since self-reporting rule took effect in December.
Defense
From Nextgov.com: Agencies must make high-risk cyber threats top priority, DHS officials say
Departments should focus their limited resources on the most dangerous network attacks , says Homeland Security cyber chief.
Oversight
IG: Energy employees violated purchase card rules at Yucca Mountain
Review of $3.6 million in transactions from 2007 to 2009 showed potential for abuse, but no improper purchases.
Oversight
Thunder on the Right
Health care town halls signal intensity gap between parties reminiscent of 1994.
Defense
From Nextgov.com: OMB requires agencies to submit FISMA reports via online tool
Security specialists doubt the new rule will do much to improve computer network protection.
Oversight
Former top Labor official charged in Abramoff investigation
Horace Cooper, former chief of staff for the Employment Standards Administration, faces a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison.
Oversight
Group finds earmarks drop in fiscal 2010 appropriations
Total amount of earmark funding for the nine bills fell from $2.87 billion to $1.99 billion.
Oversight
Vetting vexes State Department
High-level nominees face burdensome security clearance process. And at the lower levels, it's even worse.
Oversight
From Nextgov.com: Obama’s e-health agenda receives cash infusion
Administration officials this past week have publicly tied the benefits of health IT to the president’s larger, more controversial health care reform effort.
Oversight