Oversight
Bill to target waste in contracting moves to Senate floor
Measure encourages maximum competition and limits length of non-competitive contracts awarded under exceptional circumstances.
Defense
House lawmaker joins bid to end TSA contracting exemption
Senators are making a similar effort; witnesses at hearing say changes would bring greater transparency, more competition.
Oversight
Lawmakers probe claims of improper influence over science
Interior inspector general questioned about interactions between scientists and policy-makers.
Oversight
GSA lets 29 firms in on massive tech services contract
Winners aren’t guaranteed work; agencies can still shop around among the awardees or look outside the list of pre-selected vendors.
Oversight
Treasury chief calls on Congress to boost debt ceiling
In the past when lawmakers have failed to act fast enough, Treasury has been forced to borrow from government retirement funds.
Oversight
Watch for Retirements
Large numbers of House member retirements concentrated in one party would be telling.
Oversight
Agencies struggle to meet goals on opening work to contractors
Democratic control of Congress and ensuing legislative resistance partly to blame for lack of progress, OMB says.
Oversight
White House says Dems are trying to 'destroy' Gonzales
Press official says lawmakers put the attorney general in an impossible situation by asking questions about a classified program.
Oversight
Senate backs holding TSA to standard contracting rules
Chamber approves spending bill amendment that would repeal the agency’s exemption from governmentwide regulations.
Oversight
Caution urged on border, immigration contracts
Demands could cause jump in spending, requiring care to avoid waste and abuse, congressional staff member says.
Oversight
Crash probe raises issue of air traffic controller staffing
National Transportation Safety Board unsure second controller would have prevented crash of Comair Flight 5191.
Oversight
House approves Commerce-Justice-Science spending bill
Measure exceeds Bush’s request by $2.3 billion, and did not pass by enough votes to sustain a veto.
Oversight
Lawmakers seek disciplinary action against FDA official
House members upset by officewide e-mail in which assistant commissioner criticized testimony of fellow FDA employees at a congressional hearing.
Oversight
House panel probes charges of human trafficking in Iraq embassy project
Whistleblowers allege Kuwaiti company mistreated employees, but IG finds no evidence to back claims.
Oversight
Bush invites congressional leaders to talk about spending, other issues
Democrats and Bush are separated by about $23 billion on fiscal 2008 spending.
Oversight
Senators seek to hold TSA to standard acquisition rules
Amendment to spending bill would repeal the agency’s exemption from governmentwide regulations.
Oversight
Safety board criticizes FAA response to Kentucky crash
Agency should have issued new safety requirements, rather than nonbinding recommendations, panel members say.
Oversight
VA could save billions using e-commerce technique, officials say
"Expressive commerce” system already generating savings for large private firms, senators told.
Oversight
Other countries share U.S. government’s workforce challenges
Officials from five major countries cite two common barriers to improving their workforces: compensation and talent shortages.
Oversight