Defense

Forward Observer: Dear President Obama

Even the Pentagon will need to cut back in the face of the economic crisis.

Oversight

Obama appoints new acting OPM director

Move is part of broader effort to replace acting agency heads; GSA also gets new temporary chief .

Defense

Veterans bounced by bank error

GSA contract bank refuses to honor checks issued to 465 veterans, who were subsequently hit with penalties and fees.

Defense

General says Marines can pull out of Iraq within months

Marine Corps Commandant James Conway says equipment can be removed in six to eight months.

Oversight

Obama fills out Justice roster

President announces several sub-Cabinet appointees to support attorney general nominee Eric Holder.

Oversight

Overturning 'midnight' regulations presents challenges

Many steps taken by Bush were specifically designed to make last-minute rule changes difficult to reverse.

Oversight

Solis becomes latest nominee slowed by GOP roadblocks

Pick to lead the Labor Department is up against an anonymous hold, placed partly in response to her support for card-check legislation and a pay-discrimination measure.

Oversight

House Democrats prepare bill to overhaul FDA

Agency scientists say they were "ordered, intimidated and coerced" by managers to modify unfavorable determinations during Bush administration.

Oversight

GAO adds three items to high-risk list, removes air traffic control project

Defense continues to dominate the biennial catalog of management challenges, which now contains 30 entries.

Oversight

Agency review team member recounts collaborative process

Cooperation between Bush and Obama transition officials was at the “high end” of the scale, participant tells Government Executive .

Oversight

Speculation swirls around candidates for USDA posts

Agriculture chief says he will take his time in filling the positions.

Oversight

Obama's FOIA directive brings praise, bit of skepticism

Memo calls for openness and transparency from federal agencies.

Defense

Air Force announces possible locations for nuclear and cyber organizations

Officials plan to make final selections by the end of June, after considering criteria such as resident nuclear expertise and bandwidth capacity.

Oversight

Obama issues sweeping ethics orders

White House staff subject to strict rules on gifts, interaction with lobbyists; civil servants face more scrutiny as well.

Oversight

Senate Republicans to block vote on Holder

Texas lawmaker says Obama pick for attorney general is "ambigious" on whether he will prosecute Bush officials for conducting torture.

Defense

Army says larger Afghan mission hinges on support units

Gen. Peter Chiarelli expressed concern over the service's ability to deploy more troops to Afghanistan.

Oversight

Obama gets down to business of governing

Among early agenda items is a directive dealing with the ethics of his appointees.

Defense

Obama inherits a much-improved FEMA

Outgoing administrator wasn’t sure the agency could be salvaged when he took over after Hurricane Katrina.

Oversight

More OMB, White House picks announced

Obama unveils nominees for a handful of key positions on the eve of the inauguration.

Oversight

Senate confirms seven Cabinet-level nominees

Those approved after inauguration ceremony include heads of Energy, Education, Homeland Security, Veterans Affairs, Interior and Agriculture.