Friday federal headlines – October 3, 2014

The Federal Headlines is a daily compilation of the stories you hear discussed on Federal News Radio each day. It is designed to give FederalNewsRadio.com reade...

The Federal Headlines is a daily compilation of the stories you hear discussed on the Federal Drive and In Depth radio shows each day. Our headlines are updated twice per day — once in the morning and once in the afternoon — with the latest news affecting federal employees and contractors.

  • The U.S. Agency for International Development has its marching orders for combating the spread of Ebola in West Africa. Incoming Chief Innovation Officer Steven VanRoekel starts Monday as the administration’s digital point man in the response to the crisis. NextGov reports VanRokel said he’s interested in pursuing “point-of-care technology.” Devices such as ruggedized tablets, belt-worn printers and a high-tech alternative to the stiflingly hot protective gear health care workers wear when dealing with patients are some of his top priorities. (Nextgov)
  • The Obama Administration getting closer to its goal of ending veteran homelessness by 2015. The Housing and Urban Development Department and Veterans Affairs provide $62 million to help more than 9,000 homeless veterans find permanent housing. It’s all a part of a program that combines rental assistance from HUD with case management and clinical services provided by the VA. Since 2010, the program has seen homelessness among veterans decline 33 percent to about 45,000 homeless veterans. (HUD/Washington Post)
  • The White House says President Barack Obama won’t name a new permanent Secret Service director before Dec. 15, the deadline for completing a probe into the Sept. 19 security breach, when a fence-jumper carrying a knife was able to run deep into the executive mansion. Deputy Director A.T. Smith is in charge until Monday, when Joseph Clancy takes over as acting director. Clancy is a former head of the service’s presidential protective division. Deputy Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas has been tasked with leading the internal Secret Service investigation. He wants to quickly name a permanent director. A source tells the Associated Press that a big question for the administration is who can best lead the Secret Service — an outsider to shake things up or an experienced insider with deep experience? (Federal News Radio)
  • A group of lawmakers is supporting a former Air Marshal’s whistleblower case against the Transportation Security Administration. The Wall Street Journal reports Robert MacLean was fired in 2003 after he told the media about TSA’s decision to use fewer air marshals on long-distance flights despite warnings of possible hijacking threats. Up for debate are two sets of federal laws — one protecting the rights of whistleblowers and the other limiting disclosure of sensitive but unclassified information about transportation security. The group of lawmakers, including Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), says the Obama administration’s legal position would grant agencies unprecedented power to decide when employees may expose misconduct. The Supreme Court is set to hear the case on Nov. 4. (Office of Special Counsel)
  • Susan Taylor, the executive at the center of the latest Veterans Affairs Department scandal, had been offered a high-level job at the Energy Department. She was to become director Office of Procurement Planning at DOE’s Office of Environmental Management. However, Energy did a fast about-face and rescinded the Sept. 12 job offer. A VA spokeswoman said Taylor still is employed there. A VA inspector general report alleged Taylor engaged in procurement fraud, lied to investigators, retaliated against whistleblowers and misused agency resources. (Federal News Radio)
  • The Defense Department Inspector General found more than 1,000 health code violations in Japan base housing. Among the top findings were high levels of radon in multiple buildings throughout Japan, including one at Yokosuka Naval Base that registered nearly six times higher than recommended government limits. Mold is a problem too, along with fire safety issues such as missing smoke detectors, broken alarms and inadequate suppression systems. Now, the IG is calling for Pentagon- level instructions to detect and remedy both excessive mold and radon. The Pentagon has until Oct. 31 to comment. (Defense Department)
  • NASA has awarded spots to 43 technology companies on SEWP V, the the much- anticipated, new version of its governmentwide acquisition contract. The SEWP program office still has to make awards to two groups: service-disabled, veteran- owned and other small businesses. The five-year contracts come with five-year options, with a total ceiling of $20 billion. SEWP IV will remain open for business through the end of the month. The new vehicle opens Nov. 1. SEWP program manager Joanne Woytek said the new contracts have supply chain information from manufacturers, which she said will help agencies avoid counterfeit parts. (Federal News Radio)
  • Today is the first day on the job for the new director of the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency. Federal Times reports Robert Cardillo is taking over for outgoing director Letitia Long after a ceremony at the agency’s Springfield, Virginia, headquarters. Long — the first woman to lead an intelligence agency — retires after a 35-year career in the government. Cardillo steps up after nearly four years as the first deputy director of national intelligence for intelligence integration. Cardillo is expected to continue Long’s work in incorporating technology into intelligence operations. (Federal Times)
  • As military leaders and Congress battle over funding for platforms, one venerable flying machine is retiring this weekend. The Marine Corps retires the last of its CH-46 Sea Knight helicopters. The helicopters are performing at the Marine Corps Air Station Miramar Air Show in California today through Sunday. Then, that’s it for the 50-year-old helos. The Navy retired its CH-46s in 2004. The twin-rotor machines were built by Boeing Vertol. They first entered service in 1964, when Lyndon Johnson was President. The Marines have been steadily replacing the Sea Knights with newer MV-22B Osprey aircraft. (Defense Department)

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