Oversight
Postal Service health is still a concern
Lawmakers worry about potential disruption to communities resulting from a switch to five-day delivery and post office closures.
Oversight
Senate clears Energy and Water bill, Agriculture up next
Lawmakers approve amendment that requires competitive bidding on projects funded by the Energy bill, with some exceptions.
Defense
Prospects for homeland security policy bill look better next year
Since its creation in 2003, DHS has never operated under authorization legislation.
Oversight
Analysis: Does Obama's visibility mean greater transparency?
Open government advocates say new media efforts come closer than prime time television appearances to meeting transparency goals.
Oversight
Panel approves hiring reform, expands whistleblower protections
Legislation to streamline employment process and protect whistleblowers sails through Senate committee markup.
Defense
From Nextgov.com: Software company won earmarked funds for work on military health records
Defense employee has alleged that Adara Networks received software code in advance of winning sole-source contract.
Oversight
OMB instructs agencies to save $40 billion annually by streamlining acquisitions
Memos include requirements for building in-house capabilities and tracking contractor past performance.
Oversight
McCaskill will wait on Alaska native contracting reform
Democratic senator withdraws amendment to Defense spending bill that would have required ANCs to operate under sole-source caps.
Oversight
Cost of Senate health care bill pegged at $900 billion
Tax on insurance companies would help cover the costs.
Defense
General: Air National Guard needs new fighter jets
Air National Guard's requirements are especially urgent because planes are older and there is no plan to address their early "age-out," official says.
Oversight
Senate subcommittee approves Labor-HHS spending bill
The legislation, scheduled for a full committee markup on Thursday, includes $30.8 billion for the National Institutes of Health.
Defense
Effort to salvage helicopter program draws veto threat
White House "strongly objects" to any funding in the Defense authorization bill that would continue the troubled presidential helicopter program.
Oversight
Lawmakers fight policies limiting conferences in resort destinations
Nevada and Florida senators say such policies unfairly discriminate against locations that may be convenient and cost-effective.
Defense
From Nextgov.com: Employee charges Military Health Systems was unethical in awarding IT contract
Internal e-mails allege top officials provided a technology company with software code and documents for the military's massive electronic health record system and awarded it a contract without competition.
Oversight
Watchdog adds Postal Service to high-risk list
Declining mail volume has created financial burden for USPS, according to GAO report.
Defense
FEMA’s fuzzy chain of command impedes its mission, observers say
Witnesses testifying before House panel call on Congress to designate an administrator for recovery efforts.
Defense
Defense review sees no growth in budgets, troops
Top official says there is a "desire to keep something like a multiple engagement capability in the force."
Oversight
OMB releases cost-savings proposals across government
Agencies exceed Obama’s request for $100 million in cuts.
Oversight
OPM takes strategic planning process public
Director sets Oct. 1 deadline for new plan, and suggests agency reorganization could follow.
Oversight