Oversight

Senate panel to hear from auditors at troubled Defense agency

Session will focus on allegations that DCAA relies too heavily on arbitrary job performance metrics.

Oversight

Lieberman shunned, oversight panel post in peril

Democrats say they were "disappointed" by the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee chairman's speech at the Republican convention.

Defense

Administration threatens veto of Senate defense measure

White House vows to scrap Defense authorization bill if it includes language prohibiting the use of private security contractors for any 'inherently governmental' security functions in combat zones.

Oversight

Plotting an Endgame

Parties race to find winning strategies in two-month dash to Election Day.

Oversight

From Nextgov.com: Army relies on ‘fully loaded’ SUV in hurricane response

During disasters, emergency response vehicle gives Army North access to Defense’s unclassified and classified networks.

Oversight

Nuclear agency sets pace in hiring

Nuclear Regulatory Commission has become a model for agencies concerned about quickly replacing retiring workers.

Oversight

White House sidesteps question on veto of continuing resolution

Administration urges lawmakers to pass fiscal 2009 appropriations bills instead of relying on a stopgap measure.

Defense

House Democrats press FBI on 2001 anthrax attacks, security guidelines

Lawmakers also questioned whether the agency failed to help prevent the nation's mortgage crisis.

Oversight

Democrats and Republicans voice different views on government

Convention rhetoric draws the usual battle lines between the two parties on government’s role, but both McCain and Obama acknowledge its significant impact on the public.

Oversight

IG questions appearance of bias in selection of DHS projects

Report finds no wrongdoing, but concludes that the science and technology directorate lacks a clear system for documenting why certain projects are chosen.

Oversight

McCain pledges to attack bureaucracy, limit government

Republican nominee says his administration would “set a new standard for transparency and accountability.”

Oversight

From Nextgov.com: IRS finds unauthorized Web servers connected to its networks

Unknown servers are passed over for security patches, leaving agency networks open to attack , IG reports.

Oversight

Lawmakers chop up major contracting reform legislation

Provisions are tacked onto broader measures as stand-alone acquisition bills languish in committee.

Oversight

More turmoil roils OSC as top deputy is fired

Special Counsel Scott Bloch last week removed Jim Mitchell, his spokesman and acting chief of staff.

Oversight

From Nextgov.com: GAO: More work needed to ensure Census handheld computers work

The bureau must develop performance benchmarks to increase the likelihood the devices will operate as planned.

Oversight

Appropriators foresee tough times if McCain wins White House

GOP standard-bearer has pledged to veto bills that include wasteful earmarks.

Oversight

Gustav response highlights Army’s improvement in disaster communications

The service has turned to mobile command vehicles built from the ground up to coordinate better with first responders in the wake of Hurricane Gustav.

Oversight

Trouble, Trouble, Trouble

The new president will face a multitude of problems, but likely will have a hard time accomplishing more than three or four big things in his first term.

Defense

For GOP, a second chance at disaster management

In New Orleans in April, John McCain vowed that the "terrible and disgraceful" response to Katrina "will never, ever again happen."

Oversight

Gustav forces changes to GOP convention

McCain puts focus on federal hurricane response rather than celebration of his nomination.