Oversight
Obama calls for earmark overhaul but will sign omnibus
President says bill is "necessary for the ongoing functions of government."
Defense
Border agency draws fire for weapons traffic to Mexico
Mexican government says 90 percent of weapons seized from drug cartels come illegally from the United States.
Oversight
Senate OKs bill funding agencies until October
Passage of $410 billion omnibus bill prevents Congress from having to approve another continuing resolution.
Oversight
Obama requests review of Bush guidelines for implementing legislation
President asks senior officials to check with the attorney general before relying on Bush's signing statements.
Oversight
From Nextgov.com: IT receives slight budget increases, some cuts in omnibus bill
Senate would boost funding for food and air safety, but cut Justice's spending on financial management system and security analysis center.
Oversight
Omnibus bill halts competitive sourcing
All government agencies are prohibited from holding public-private job competitions for rest of fiscal 2009.
Defense
Lawmaker urges Navy to allow competition for littoral ship
The program has more than doubled in costs since its inception and has been delayed 18 months.
Oversight
House speaker suggests second stimulus may be needed
Unemployment rose to 8.1 percent in February as the economy lost 651,000 jobs, the Labor Department reported last week.
Oversight
Stevens’ departure opens window to overhaul Alaska native contracting
Lawmakers explore ways to put ANCs on a more level playing field with other small, disadvantaged businesses.
Oversight
Details, Details
President Obama’s approval rates are likely to continue slipping as he wades deeper into the intricacies of governing.
Oversight
IRS to beef up in-house debt collection capabilities
The agency plans to hire more than 1,000 employees by October to assist in recovering delinquent taxes.
Defense
TSA cites progress enrolling port workers in ID card program
A majority of the estimated 1.2 million workers who must be vetted by April 14 have signed up.
Oversight
Obama urged to reconsider pledge to thin management ranks
Agencies still are reeling from cuts during the Clinton administration.
Oversight
Interior chief names 'recovery czar'
Chris Henderson will oversee more than $3 billion the department plans to invest in communities, parks and public lands.
Oversight
From Nextgov.com: Virginia takes a lead role in the stimulus plan's push for health IT
A Q&A with Aneesh Chopra, Virginia's secretary of technology and CIO, on how the commonwealth will use funds to help build a nationwide electronic health records system.
Oversight
Senate to vote Tuesday on catch-all spending bill
Lawmakers pass another stopgap measure to keep agencies running until Wednesday.
Oversight
Business is booming for Alaska native corporations
ANCs raked in more than $5 billion in government contracts in fiscal 2008, nearly 10 times the amount they earned in 2000.
Defense
Coast Guard modernization stalls due to congressional inaction
Without legal authorization, the service is unable to complete critical organizational changes.
Oversight
Analysis: When Government Makes Us Sick
The peanut salmonella outbreak is but one in a string of scary federal failures -- it’s time to address the real cause.
Oversight