Oversight

Senate could vote soon on budget resolution

Vote could come as early as Wednesday, says Senate Budget Committee Chairman Kent Conrad, D-N.D.

Defense

State Department taps Foreign Service veteran to be acting IG

Harold Geisel served as acting IG in 1994 and also has held other senior management jobs at the department.

Oversight

Gearing Up

Democrats must be prepared to trot out Plan B, which hinges on the distinct possibility that Florida will slip out of reach again.

Oversight

Research group predicts moderate growth in IT spending during next five years

Uncertain economy, new administration may temper technology spending.

Defense

Forward Observer: Our Pricey Military

The country's small, high-paid, all-volunteer force just does not have the staying power to wage long wars.

Defense

Coast Guard reaches milestone in massive equipment modernization project

Commandant Thad Allen talks about the troubled "Deepwater" program now that the service has received its first new long-range cutter in 36 years.

Oversight

OPM suspension of electronic retirement calculator blamed on contractor shortcomings

In a recent round of testing, agency says, only five of 61 functions passed.

Oversight

From Nextgov.com: IRS reports slight increase in e-filing rate

Agency has four years to hike the percentage of electronically filed tax returns it receives to meet a congressional requirement.

Oversight

Nonprofit group helps contractors navigate new ethics rules

A 134-page document provides guidance to firms that need assistance complying with federal regulations.

Defense

Newly appointed Afghanistan IG lacks necessary funding

The office exists only on paper, until Congress resolves issues with supplemental war funding requests.

Defense

Marine general lays groundwork for unprecedented change

Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff James Cartwright has a record of conceptualizing vast bureaucratic reforms -- and actually accomplishing them.

Oversight

Congress pursues dual paths on contracting oversight

House pushes aggressive strategy while Senate appears ready to take a step back.

Oversight

OPM suspends portion of contract for electronic retirement system

Agency orders contractor to stop work on electronic retirement calculator.

Oversight

Survey shows airport screening, delays hurting economy

Nearly one third of travelers avoided at least one flight during the last year due to problems with the air travel process, including government screening.

Defense

House-passed bill would ramp up IED office oversight

A separate but related provision in the bill would place more emphasis on irregular warfare by creating an assistant secretary of Defense post.

Oversight

Aviation groups push agenda as FAA reauthorization stalls

Collective bargaining for air traffic controllers is among legislative priorities.

Defense

Defense seeks to reprogram funds to cover Army shortfalls

Without supplemental funding, Gates predicts furloughs and suspension of pay.

Oversight

Contract spending could drop more than 10 percent in 2009

Sluggish economy, growing deficit, a lack of procurement expertise contribute to downward trend, research firm predicts.

Oversight

Acting GSA chief says relationship with inspector general is on the mend

Procurement observers predict aggressive oversight from inspectors general, Congress will continue during the next year.

Oversight

FDA won't meet deadline for food safety registry

Agency expects to implement electronic portal tracking tainted food incidents around spring 2009 at the earliest.