Oversight
SEC official sees 'logic and efficiency' with merger
Market watchdog would work together well with Commodity Futures Trading Commission even without merger, chair says.
Defense
House, Senate Dems tentatively agree on supplemental
Senate majority leader says moving some appropriations bills separately rather than bundling them together will be a priority this year.
Oversight
Dress Rehearsal
Conservatives appear to be using Sonia Sotomayor to sharpen their attack strategies for future nominees who would change the balance of the Supreme Court.
Oversight
Unions react positively to OPM call for pay reform
But employee advocates do not want a pay-for-performance system modeled on Bush-era initiatives.
Oversight
Homeland Security reviews contractor-federal employee balance
Service contracts worth more than $1 million will be examined to ensure the private sector isn’t performing work best left to civil servants.
Defense
House to consider ban on airport body scans
Amendment to the TSA authorization bill would bar machines that provide a three-dimensional image of passengers naked from primary checkpoints.
Defense
Foward Observer: Non-exit strategy
Obama and Congress could be unwittingly setting up the American military for another Vietnam-type failure in Afghanistan.
Defense
Army to pursue several modernization programs
Pentagon acquisition chief is expected to sign a memo formally killing the vehicle portion of the Future Combat Systems program and separating the project into discrete pieces.
Oversight
Obama’s performance agenda a mix of old and new
Observers applaud administration’s pragmatic and collaborative governance tactics.
Oversight
Unions say recession is sparking federal sector organizing
Heavy workloads and economic uncertainty are prompting increased interest.
Oversight
From Nextgov.com: Obama raises stakes for cybersecurity
Unveiling results of 60-day review, president says he’ll appoint a cybersecurity czar at the White House.
Oversight
Recession is exacerbating Social Security claims backlog, panelists say
Attorneys and judges blame regulations and a lack of funding for difficulties tackling the growing caseload.
Defense
Navy shipbuilding plans run into fiscal reality
The service can't build the 313-vessel fleet it wants unless it substantially increases its procurement budget, or dramatically cuts the cost of building new ships.
Oversight
Senators prepare for battle over Alaska native contracting
The Alaska delegation is ready to defend rules that allow ANCs to win no-bid contracts of unlimited value under a small business program.
Oversight
Report paints agencies as deadbeat travel card holders
Delinquency rates for centrally billed card accounts are at nearly 20 percent, costing the government valuable rebates.
Defense
GAO: Despite efforts, gaps remain in data on contractors
Many reforms to improve information-gathering on past performance remain unimplemented, says watchdog agency.
Oversight
Group calls for overhaul of privacy regulations
NIST board recommends heightened government leadership on the issue and suggests hiring a full-time chief privacy officer at OMB.
Oversight
House Democrats unveil food safety draft
Draft version sets $1,000 annual registration fees for food companies to help pay for increased FDA inspections.
Oversight
National Business Center launches electronic onboarding tool
HR management suite is designed to streamline processing and coordinate information across multiple systems.
Oversight