Author Archive

Althea Fung

Oversight

Airlines to gain $1.3 billion in partial shutdown of FAA

Agency could miss out on $1 billion in taxes if shutdown continues until September.

Oversight

LaHood: FAA funding failure has 'enormous' ripple effects

Partial shutdown will hurt construction workers as well as agency employees, Transportation chief says.

Defense

Veterans have long wait times for mental health services, studies find

'Significantly high number' of patients waited for more than a month during 2010, IG says.

News

Treasury Department holds secret talks on debt contingency plan

Top officials have been meeting to hash out a Plan B.

Oversight

Clock ticks on recess-appointed Medicare official

Senate has yet to confirm Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator Donald Berwick.

Oversight

HHS calls off 'mystery shopper' program to investigate doctors

Plan had been criticized by physicians and lawmakers.

Oversight

Third rating company threatens to downgrade U.S. credit

Fitch Ratings says it will put the United States on watch.

Oversight

USDA scraps food pyramid for a plate

New nutrition icon is easier for busy families to digest, first lady and Agriculture chief say.

Oversight

Obama grounding space program, astronauts say

Lovell, Armstrong say president is not giving NASA proper funding.

Oversight

Stimulus recipients owe $750 million in taxes

GAO report says that unpaid corporate taxes make up more than half the total.

Oversight

Senator: Don't blame FDA for company drug-pricing

Senator says companies, not agency approval, are to blame for cost of pregnancy medication.

Defense

Michelle Obama turns to military as part of fitness program

First lady visits Army training facility near Columbia, S.C., to get pointers and observe foods offered in the dining halls and strength training exercises.

Defense

Senate passes bill to manage military cemetery

Measure requires Army to report whether Arlington graves are properly marked and to develop plans to fix errors.

Oversight

FDA's top crime investigator retires following whistleblower's accusations

Complaint alleges Terry Vermillion used company services for personal work and government funds to pay for advanced training for his “office mistress.”

Defense

'Pushy New Yorkers' compel House vote on 9/11 bill

Measure would extend health care aid to Sept. 11 first responders.