Features
Whistling in the Dark
Congress expands protections for exposing corporate fraud, but government whistleblowers still wait.
Trends
Labor Fight Renewed
Republican lawmakers balk at deals that require union pay for contract workers.
News
GSA presses ahead in greening of federal buildings
Agency selects 16 emerging energy-efficient technologies to test and evaluate at government facilities.
Oversight
Administration set to order contractors to disclose campaign contributions
Proposed executive order would require contractors to list political spending to agency procurement officials.
News
Relying on continuing resolutions wasted billions, says Pentagon acquisition chief
Ashton Carter suggests Congress’s failure to pass permanent budget for first half of fiscal year proved costly for taxpayers.
Defense
Defense contract audits manager accused of unprofessional behavior
Supervisor in audit agency’s Texas field office is the latest in a string of alleged misconduct cases.
Oversight
Government implements new performance management law
Agencies have two weeks to pick a senior official to serve as chief operating officer.
Oversight
Office of Special Counsel finally has new leader
Senate confirms nomination of Carolyn Lerner to run scandal-tarnished whistleblower office; Borras for DHS.
Defense
Senator questions contractor compliance with Iran sanctions law
McCaskill calls on GAO to investigate whether contractors have business relationships with prohibited Iranian firms.
Oversight
Senate committee votes to streamline confirmation process
Roughly 200 presidential appointees would no longer require Senate confirmation under a bill that passed committee on Wednesday.
News
Recovery Act reporting becoming the norm
Only 366 recipient reports remain to be filed with the Recovery Accountability and Transparency Board.
Oversight
Legislation would reorganize Federal Acquisition Institute
Bipartisan bill has FAI reporting directly to the Office of Federal Procurement Policy.
Defense
Shutdown could spell trouble for contractors
Contracts not related to exempt activities or funded through annual appropriations could be halted.
News
Whistleblower protections get another chance in Senate
Virtually identical measure failed last year when a senator placed an anonymous hold.
News
Exclusive survey: Feds don’t know whether they'll be furloughed
Looming shutdown hits morale at agencies, with half rating it as "low" or "very low."
Pay & Benefits
Agencies told to begin furlough notifications
OMB has instructed agencies to begin notifying employees who would be furloughed if the government shuts down.
Pay & Benefits
No back pay for furloughed feds predicted
Rep. Jim Moran expects nonessential employees won't be reimbursed if agencies shut down.
News