Oversight
FDA affirms cloned animal safety but objections raised
Agency will not require labeling of clone-derived milk and meat because the agency determined safety concerns are no different than traditional food.
Oversight
EPA's move to 'modernize' libraries spurs concerns
Congress has ordered agency to restore network of libraries that had been closed or consolidated.
Oversight
A Strange Game of Hearts
Each party's primary contest has political analysts scratching their heads.
Oversight
Democrats call EPA unresponsive to fuel emissions probe
Senator threatens subpoena to compel agency to provide information on denial of a waiver that would have let California impose tougher auto emissions standards.
Defense
ACLU wants changed focus in pandemic containment planning
Government efforts too focused on treating health emergencies as a law enforcement or national security problem, organization says.
Oversight
NASA contract employees win injunction against background checks
Federal judge says allowing investigations to continue forces workers to choose their between rights and their jobs.
Oversight
Royalty oil shipments vulnerable to fraud, IG finds
Energy Department can't account for discrepancies between shipments and actual deliveries to the Strategic Petroleum Reserve.
Defense
Government urged to standardize data encryption standards
GAO repeatedly has criticized federal entities for not following their own rules that require sensitive data to be encrypted.
Defense
Lawmaker predicts U.S.-China space race
Report details mutual mistrust, partly because of a surprise anti-satellite weapons test that China conducted last January.
Oversight
HHS report reignites fight over profit margins in Medicare
Report indicated that dispensing costs appear to wipe out any profits made by local pharmacies.
Defense
Pentagon expected to offer few changes in fiscal 2009 budget plan
Officials say programs falling under the umbrella of military transformation will continue to dominate the procurement budget.
Oversight
Administration faces big challenge in records preservation
As deadline looms, White House and National Archives gauge progress.
Oversight
Taxpayer advocate renews concerns about private debt collection
Calls again for an end to program, deeming it a financial failure and a danger to taxpayers’ rights.
Oversight
Registration fees eyed as funding source for food safety
Consumer groups generally oppose FDA user fees because they create the appearance of a conflict of interest.
Defense
Panel urges DHS to prepare for presidential transition
Task force believes the most vulnerable time for the United States is 30 days before the change in administrations.
Pay & Benefits
Honest Evaluations
The key to pay for performance is providing meaningful reviews of employees' work -- and giving them the opportunity to improve.
Oversight
IRS incorrectly claimed security issues had been corrected
GAO finds several information security weaknesses reported as mitigated actually weren’t.
Defense
Nebraska Senator to continue push for troop withdrawal
Ben Nelson, D-Neb., says "mission transition" proposal has bipartisan support.
Oversight
Pentagon takes another hit for interagency contracting practices
Defense inspector general reports that contracts arranged though Veterans Affairs failed to follow proper regulations.
Defense