Oversight

TARP oversight agencies ask Treasury, Fed for answers

Watchdogs want more authority to monitor and examine the finances of the bailout effort.

Defense

Senator says Defense chief will reveal budget cuts ahead of Obama

Gates canceled plans to attend the NATO 60th anniversary summit in France so he could stay in Washington to wrap up work on the fiscal 2010 budget.

Defense

GAO: Staggering cost overruns dwarf modest improvements in Defense acquisition

A shortage of government engineers and contract managers contributes to problems, says report.

Oversight

Senators unveil bill to streamline hiring process

Legislation would eliminate knowledge, skills and abilities essays, and require plain-language job postings.

Defense

Defense secretary weighs fate of Future Combat Systems

The most expensive and far-reaching technological endeavor in the Army's history faces budget cuts, possible cancellation.

Oversight

Tipping Point

Escalating drug-related violence in Mexico could trigger demagoguery in U.S. politics.

Oversight

Census officials launch bid to win trust of immigrants

Leaders of the 2010 public relations effort stressed the need to demystify the census among hard-to-reach populations.

Oversight

Watchdog agency establishes stimulus fraud hot line

Government Accountability Office encourages people to send allegations of waste and abuse to FraudNet.

Oversight

FAA nominee draws praise for union and management experience

Former pilot Randy Babbitt served on the agency’s management advisory panel during the Bush administration.

Defense

Forward Observer: Missile Guidance

Former chairman of the Joint Chiefs believes spending so much on an unproved missile defense is a rush to failure given the recession and money needs of the military.

Oversight

Budget bill stands in way of congressional recess

House and Senate will take up the fiscal 2010 budget blueprint this week.

Oversight

Small firms worry Alaska native corporations will crowd them out

Some businesses have given up on competing against ANCs for government work.

Oversight

USDA secretary favors strong link between performance measures and goals

Tom Vilsack cites technology and personnel as critical to good government management.

Defense

Obama plan targeting Taliban, al-Qaida draws praise

President says infusion of 4,000 troops will bolster Afghan army.

Defense

National intelligence chief: Scope of intel activities continues to expand

Two key GOP lawmakers are warning that the intelligence community is being overtaxed under Obama administration.

Defense

Lawmaker says future combat systems not affordable

Congressman pledges to work with the Army to come up with a more disciplined approach to its modernization program.

Oversight

Panels' budget resolutions heading to floor

Senate Democrats spent the better part of two days fending off Republican attempts to trim spending before passing the plan.

Defense

From Nextgov.com: White House to coordinate cybersecurity efforts

Obama's senior cyber official tells a House caucus that OMB could expand its staff to conduct more oversight of agencies' security initiatives.

Defense

DHS watchdog recommends steps to improve immigration benefits processing

Homeland Security and State Department have joint responsibility for timeliness of immigration benefits.

Oversight

IG report finds holes in food-tracing system

For four of 40 retail products, investigators could not even identify facilities likely to have handled the food.