Monday federal headlines – January 19, 2015

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 General Services Administration is looking for the right people to run its Common Acquisition Platform. It wants to hire an industry expert to be the assistant commissioner for the Intergrated Acqusition Environment office. It’s also looking for category management subject matter experts who have experience with commodity products and services acquisition in 10 different areas. (Federal News Radio)
• The Postal Service should do whatever it can to keep six-day mail delivery. That’s according to a bill from Reps. Gerry Connolly (D-Va.) and Sam Graves (R-Mo.). They’re reintroducing a similar bill both congressmen brought before the 113th Congress. (Connolly)
• The State Department is giving agencies two weeks to comment on the hotly debated Keystone XL pipeline. The Environmental Protection Agency and the Commerce and Interior departments are a few of the agencies that State invited to comment. State’s request for comments comes as the Senate considers a bill to authorize construction of the pipeline. The House already passed the measure. State will make a recommendation based on agencies’ comments. The White House said it will wait for State’s recommendation before making its own opinion known. President Barack Obama has promised to veto legislation as long as State is still conducting its review. (Federal News Radio )
• Up to 1,000 U.S. troops will be sent to Syria to train that country’s opposition forces to take on the Islamic State militants. Pentagon spokesman Rear Adm. John Kirby said training could start this spring and run through the end of the year. Trainers and support personnel will come from a range of forces, including special operations and conventional brigades. The Pentagon hasn’t issued orders yet. Kirby said those could come as early as next week. He said the U.S. troops will use a multi- layered vetting process to make sure the Syrians they train are trustworthy. (DoD)
• The federal government will no longer be able to accept assets seized by state and local law enforcement agencies. Civil liberties groups and lawmakers have criticized the asset forfeiture program because it lets local law enforcement agencies seize property without an indictment or evidence of a crime. Attorney General Eric Holder called the change the “first step in a comprehensive review.” The new policy doesn’t apply to local seizures of materials concerning public safety, including firearms, explosives and child pornography. It also doesn’t affect asset seizures made under joint state and federal operations. (Federal News Radio)
• The Air Force approved a plan to expand a bomber training area over the northern Plains. The plan includes nine low-altitude flights a year and supersonic flights on 10 days of the year. The Air Force said the plan would save the Ellsworth Air Force base in South Dakota $23 million a year in fuel costs. Expanding the air space also could stop the base from being shut down through Base Realignment and Closure. But opening the air space raises concerns about loud and low-flying aircraft. Critics said the expansion could disrupt civilian flights and damage rural economies. An Air Force study from November shows low-altitude flights and loud sonic booms can startle livestock and residents. (Federal News Radio)
• Marilyn Tavenner, the administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, said she’s leaving. She’ll depart the agency at the end of February. She became acting administrator in 2011, and was confirmed as head of the agency in May 2013. Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia Burwell said principal deputy Andy Slavitt will become acting administrator. Tavenner gets credit for helping revamp the HealthCare.gov website and the machinery behind it after the botched launch she oversaw in October 2013. Tavenner is the second highest-level operative in a week to announce their departure. GSA Administator Dan Tangherlini also announced he is stepping down. (Federal News Radio)
• The General Services Administration has a new job opening. It’s looking for someone to become assistant commissioner for its Integrated Acquisition Environment office. That’s the group pulling together governmentwide purchases under a common acquisition platform. The search is led by Tom Shape, the federal acquisition commissioner, and Anne Rung, the administrator of the Office of Federal Procurement Policy. Under the new assistant commissioner, GSA hopes to bring in an expert for each of 10 purchase categories. Those 10 include information technology, professional services and construction. Sharpe and Rung said, together, the 10 account for two thirds of federal contract spending. (Federal News Radio)
• The White House and 10 Downing St. plan to increase cooperation between the United States and the United Kingdom on digital government. In a blog post, Office of Management and Budget Director Shaun Donovan said the collaboration will focus on three areas — digital services for citizens, leadership in open government and boosting the nation’s technology capabilities. Mickey Dickerson is the head of U.S. Digital Services. He and his staff will be traveling to the U.K. to spend time with their counterparts there. (White House)
• The Cannon House Office Building is getting an $800 million renovation. The building across the street from the Capitol is 107 years old. USA Today reports stone is falling from exterior columns and plaster is dropping from the ceiling. Pipes are corroded and bursting and the Cannon Caucus Room floods when it rains. The renovation work will restore stone, plaster and other materials in the building. It will also replace Cannon’s heating, air conditioning, electrical and water systems. The renovation is expected to take 10 years. House members will still be able to work in the building during the restoration. (Architect of the Capitol)

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