Defense

Ex-State officials allege corruption cover up

Critics have suggested the agency has not pushed anticorruption efforts to avoid hurting relations with the Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki.

Oversight

From Nextgov.com: FBI partially blames procurement rules for fake IT products

Pursuit of lowest price and multiple subcontractors makes it easier for counterfeit hardware to end up on agency systems, increasing security threats.

Oversight

FCC chairman pushes reform agenda amid congressional inquiry

Kevin Martin, under pressure from a House committee, makes the agency more transparent.

Oversight

Management score card showing more top grades

Half of agencies’ ratings are green on latest traffic light-style assessment.

Oversight

Agencies need better welcome wagon for new employees, report says

Government should embrace long-term orientation process to increase retention and performance.

Oversight

GSA’s draft acquisition system guidelines aim for standardization

Agency hopes the new rules will promote financial system compatibility and further automation of the contracting process.

Oversight

From NextGov.com: NAPA launches collaboration Web site

The Collaboration Project aims to attract leaders to use interactive social tools "to solve government's complex problems."

Defense

GAO: Homeland Security lacks adequate workforce for performance-based acquisitions

Half of the major service contracts studied experienced cost overruns, schedule delays or did not meet expectations.

Oversight

OPM employee pitches winning idea in federal contest

A member of Gen ‘Y’ devises an online career quiz to match job seekers with the right government gig.

Defense

Defense to review 'unnecessary duplication' among services

Critics have complained that vast sums of money are wasted due to the military operating four air forces, two land armies and overlapping intelligence and space programs.

Oversight

House Oversight Committee clears measure to sell excess federal properties

Bill would increase incentives for the federal government to unload an estimated $18 billion worth of unneeded property.

Defense

Panel sinks Navy's $2.5B request for DDG-1000 destroyer

The move essentially puts an indefinite hold on one of the Navy's biggest modernization programs.

Oversight

Contractors' offshore tax havens under more scrutiny

House Dems urge Treasury secretary to back legislation requiring overseas subsidiaries of U.S. contractors to be treated as American employers for the purpose of payroll taxes.

Oversight

FBI search, leaked documents lead to renewed calls for ousting of Scott Bloch

Investigation into the head of the Office of Special Counsel appears to be focused on potential obstruction of justice charges against him and the possibility he lied to Congress last year.

Defense

Panelists press Congress to rewrite law governing federal disaster response

FEMA needs more flexibility and special provisions to handle catastrophic events, say forum participants.

Oversight

FBI seizes Doan, Rice case files in raid of OSC chief's office

Raid is latest step in long investigation of Special Counsel Scott Bloch, who heads the independent office that enforces workplace laws at federal agencies.

Oversight

From Nextgov.com: GSA panel calls for clarity, transparency in contract pricing

Group, formed after IT companies dropped off supply schedules because of IG oversight, voices frustration over practices and policies .

Defense

Army officers warn of atrophy in critical skills

Internal report says service could face exodus of artillery officers.

Oversight

FBI seizes Office of Special Counsel computers

Raid targets Scott Bloch, head of agency responsible for protecting federal whistleblowers, in probe of potential obstruction of justice.

Defense

Authorization bill attracts contracting reform amendments

The annual Pentagon policy bill may offer the best chance for several contracting-related measures to become law.