Oversight

OMB will allow agencies to set their own performance priorities

Move shows administration is learning from the mistakes of its predecessors, one observer says.

Oversight

Animal rights views slow OMB regulatory nominee

Case appears to be an example of individual senators with specific, local concerns using their power to hold up a nominee.

Defense

Republicans to use authorization markup to mount security offensive

GOP lawmakers criticize Democrats for decreasing missile defense funding over fiscal 2009.

Oversight

OMB releases hiring reform, budget guidelines

Agencies must report to the administration within the next six months on efforts to simplify the federal hiring process and reduce spending.

Oversight

Union criticizes prison bureau for understaffing, lack of safety equipment

Agency official says staffing is set to increase and vests are the subject of negotiations.

Defense

Coast Guard facility operates entirely on renewable energy

Using methane gas from a city landfill, officials are generating enough electricity and steam to power a shipyard.

Oversight

Firing of IG followed his probe of Obama friend

White House says the move was "carefully considered."

Defense

House panel reverses cuts in aircraft programs

Measure overrules Pentagon's decision to kill an alternative engine for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.

Oversight

Acquisition reform group warns government not to rush insourcing

Report says agencies could lose contractors’ valuable skills if conversion is not managed properly.

Defense

Seapower chairman to revise cost cap for littoral ships

Mississippi Democrat wants to take government costs out of the $460 million ceiling.

Oversight

Obama fires Bush-appointed IG overseeing AmeriCorps

President tells lawmakers he lost confidence in Gerald Walpin; the White House is not providing further details.

Oversight

GOP lawmakers question stimulus job creation statistics

House members ask Obama to explain the administration’s methods of calculating the number of jobs saved or created under the Recovery Act.

Defense

Panels back larger Army, more funds for special operations

A military pay raise of 3.4 percent, slightly higher than the president's proposal, moves forward.

Defense

War supplemental tops next week’s congressional agenda

Democrats hope to garner enough votes to override possible filibuster of bill.

Defense

Lawmakers criticize management of Kabul embassy security contract

Senators grill State officials on decision to retain guard company, despite repeated complaints about its performance.

Oversight

OPM director calls for more action on gay rights

Along with Attorney General Eric Holder, John Berry pledges president’s support to expand access to federal benefits.

Defense

Negotiators sign off on war supplemental compromise

House Democratic leaders expect the full House to take up the conference report next week.

Oversight

First ombudsman for FOIA named at National Archives

Miriam Nisbet will direct the Archives' new Office of Government Information Services, expected to open in September.

Oversight

Panel finds contracting blunders hinder wartime operations

Government does not have enough capable acquisition officials monitoring contracts on the ground in Iraq and Afghanistan, commission reports.

Defense

Panel agrees not to shift Geological Survey work to DHS office

Lawmakers want to curtail or stop the operations of the National Applications Office, a Homeland Security unit.