Wednesday Morning Federal Newscast – September 15th

The Morning Federal Newscast is a daily compilation of the stories you hear Federal Drive hosts Tom Temin and Amy Morris discuss throughout the show each day. The Newscast is designed to give FederalNewsRadio.com users more information about the stories you hear on the air.

• Top Pentagon leaders have sharpened the outlines of their hundred billion dollar cost-cutting initiatives. Several hundred Pentagon managers and buyers gathered to hear about 23 specific strategies for reducing runaway program costs. The actions fall under five categories: weapons affordability, incentives for industry, more robust competition, better acquisition, and lower overhead costs. Secretary Robert M. Gates and procurement chief Ashton Carter presented the new marching orders.
• Could money from Iraq ease the pressure on federal agencies here in the U.S.? GAO investigators say that Iraq has has an $11.8 billion surplus that it can use for its own security. But officials from the Pentagon, State Department and Treasury question the estimate. They say that Iraq’s income is subject to the ups and downs of the oil market. And the Baghdad government needs to keep enough money in reserve to cover salaries and other expenses. The administration has asked Congress to approve $2 billion for Iraq security forces in fiscal 2011.
• The Defense Department may receive less money to spend next fiscal year. The Senate Defense Appropriations Subcommittee has approved a Pentagon spending bill that cuts DoD’s base budget request by more than $8 billion. Included in the cuts is the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter jet program next fiscal year. Congress Daily reports the panel decided on 32 planes, instead of 43 that the Pentagon had originally requested.
• NASA has awarded a $1.2 billion contract extension to Boeing. The contractor will continue to provide engineering for the U.S. segment of the International Space Station. The Houston Business Journal reports the extension begins on October first. Boeing says their work, which will take place at Johnson Space Center in Houston, will allow NASA to continue to fly the Space Station to 2015, and set the stage to continue ISS operations to 2020.
• A promising new diet pill has gotten the kibosh from the Food and Drug Administration. FDA scientists say lorcaserin doesn’t produce much weight loss. And, although it seems to have fewer side effects than other weight-loss pills, FDA scientists expressed concern about the possibility of heart damage and psychological problems in users. The pill’s developer, Arena Pharmaceuticals, is in a race with two other companies for FDA approval.
• The Senate prepares to move on a proposal that would end secret holds on political appointees. Majority Leader Harry Reid says a vote could happen next week. Congress Daily reports the proposal, will be added as an amendment to the defense authorization bill. More than 60 senators have signed a letter advocating the idea of ending secret holds.
• An air traffic controller gabbing on the phone and lax FAA procedures are to blame for a fatal mid-air collision last year over the Hudson River. Those are among the main findings from the National Transportation Safety Board. The August 2009 crash involved a small plane and a touring helicopter. Nine people were killed. The NTSB said FAA should more actively separate aircraft in the crowded zone, rather than rely on the ability of pilots to see and avoid.

More news links

2 bodies found in wrong plots at Arlington cemetery (WashingtonPost)

Famed civil rights photographer doubled as FBI informant (TheUpshot)

THIS AFTERNOON ON FEDERAL NEWS RADIO

Coming up today on The DorobekInsider:

** The Obama administration’s performance assessment on performance — it was a call out to senior executives. Are senior executives ready for that call? Insights from Carol Bonasaro of the Senior Executive Association.

** And the Service to America Medals are awarded tonight. We’ll have a preview…

Join Chris this afternoon, after Washington Nationals baseball on 1500 AM or on your computer.

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