Oversight

OMB sets standards for contracting officials

Office of Federal Procurement Policy establishes training and competency requirements for contracting officer technical representatives.

Oversight

IG: Coal safety agency stinting on mine inspections

Report says Mine Safety and Health Administration's inspector force was sharply cut between 2002 and 2006.

Oversight

House Appropriations chair floats cutting earmarks further

Cuts could derail goal of completing work on two bills expected to pass next week.

Oversight

Wikipedia users burnish GSA administrator's image

User-edited page is mostly scrubbed of allegations that Lurita Doan violated the Hatch Act.

Defense

Local leaders tout progress rebuilding New Orleans

Officials cite ‘desperate’ need to rewrite law governing federal role in future disasters.

Oversight

Rule requires contractors to set, follow codes of ethics

Large companies doing business with the government must institute compliance training programs; small firms exempt from rule change.

Defense

Marine Corps continues building Special Operations Command force

Commander says he has roughly 65 percent of his force in place, with plans to fill all 2,600 positions by next year.

Defense

Rights advocates target domestic terrorism bill in Senate

Privacy and civil liberties groups fear the measure could lead to the criminalization of beliefs.

Oversight

GAO cites 'persistent safety problem' at nuclear weapons labs

National Nuclear Security Administration disputes auditors’ characterization of management weaknesses.

Defense

Clinton asks Homeland Security IG to probe contract bonus payments

Several reports show DHS struggling to properly link award fees to performance.

Oversight

Office of Special Counsel chief under fire for erasing computer files

Scott Bloch allegedly used agency funds to pay a computer assistance company to wipe the hard drive of his computer and those of two former aides.

Oversight

Executive diversity legislation gains support

Groups back House and Senate efforts to provide training for women and minorities.

Defense

Defense bill proves lucrative for biggest firms

Top federal contractors received earmarks worth more than $200 million in fiscal 2008 appropriations bill.

Oversight

USDA's chief economist to leave post in January

Keith Collins, a 32-year career federal employee, has served in the position since 1992.

Oversight

FCC agenda in disarray in wake of questions and concerns

Efforts to re-regulate cable industry fall victim to intense lobbying.

Oversight

Tickets Out of Iowa

This may be the year that conventional wisdom about the Iowa caucuses proves wrong.

Defense

Homeland Security to revise Social Security number enforcement plan

Justice Department asks for stay in court case contesting new employment-verification rule.

Defense

Report: Defense made IT purchases without competition

Inspectors general find department did not follow rules when ordering off National Institutes of Health multiple award contracts.

Oversight

In surprise, Sen. Lott announces intent to leave by year's end

Decision likely to set off scramble for Senate GOP leadership positions.

Oversight

Physicians: Senate health IT bill would give unfair ratings

Bill is aimed at jump-starting a nationwide electronic health records program.