Oversight
Union bristles at background checks required under ID mandate
Presidential directive requires that all federal employees be verified as suitable for employment before receiving new, more secure credentials.
Oversight
Speed of FAA outsourcing could jeopardize savings
Auditor says six-month timeline for massive conversion of flight service stations risks slippage and cost overruns.
Oversight
Turning the Tables
Congressional Republicans need to make next year’s elections about Democrats’ record since taking charge, rather than Iraq.
Oversight
House allocations would boost domestic spending 5 percent
Biggest increases allotted to Military Construction-VA programs and the Homeland Security measure.
Defense
Size of contracting workforce holds steady
New data shows that half of all acquisition workers will be retirement-eligible within 10 years, but actual departure rates are much lower.
Oversight
GSA chief disputes report on Hatch Act violations
Investigators’ findings that Lurita Doan engaged in improper political activity were subjective, her lawyer argues.
Defense
Appropriators to take up veterans, homeland security measures
The four bills up for consideration would violate President Bush’s spending requests for individual subcommittees, as well as his overall limit.
Oversight
Senator to try incremental overhaul of food safety laws
A single food safety agency and mandatory recall authority are still goals, but lawmaker is taking a piecemeal approach.
Oversight
GAO to challenge eligibility of employees to unionize
Agency is hiring private legal counsel, plans to contest petitions of more than a third of employees who filed for an election.
Oversight
OMB orders agencies to report on competition for contracts
Procurement chief raises visibility of “competition advocate” in agency acquisition shops.
Defense
GSA announces five Networx telecom awardees
Sprint Solutions makes the smaller Enterprise contract, after disappointment on the large Universal award in March.
Oversight
FAA, union haggle over performance pay
Employee organization argues formula hurts lower-level workers, with raises contingent on factors beyond their control.
Oversight
Lawyers anticipate failures in Indian trust fund accounting plan
Expected exclusions would eliminate “vast majority” of beneficiaries and assets in dispute, plaintiffs in long-running case argue.
Oversight
OSC rejects claim it leaked copies of Hatch Act report
In a letter, Special Counsel Scott Bloch suggests that the General Services Administration was the source of the leak.
Defense
Navy rolls out new workforce strategy
Service hopes to set an example for the federal government in recruiting and retaining talent.
Defense
GAO: Navy needs more contracting discipline
Bad procurement decisions hurt development of new Navy SEAL vessel, reviewers say.
Oversight
Governmentwide Hatch Act probe remains in early stages
Task force created to investigate potential abuses of the law at multiple agencies has yet to interview any subjects.
Oversight
Financial Checkup
Second-quarter fundraising reports will show which of the presidential contenders have been able to expand their contributions base.
Defense
Senate panel moves to scale back Pentagon personnel system
Armed Services Committee votes to repeal portions of the Pentagon's personnel system, amid rigorous lobbying from federal labor unions.
Defense