Senate News 
Top News
- Contractors with security clearances lack path to report problems
- Feds outside the Beltway react to furloughs
- Contracting executives guilty of 8(a) program fraud
- EPA CIO Jackson returning to private sector
- Navy strikes enterprise licensing deal with Oracle
- USPS reaches energy reduction goal ahead of schedule
- NOAA meteorologist helps save lives one storm at a time
- 29-year-old NASA engineer going where no one has gone before
- NASA picks 8 new astronauts, 4 of them women
- House passes sweeping $638 billion defense bill
- NIH tops list of best companies for baby boomers
- Latest postal reform proposal OKs 5-day delivery
- IRS official contradicts claims about reviews
- House presses VA for more details after cyber attacks
- DoD maintains BRAC fight, despite opposition
- GSA to review all internal contracting practices after latest IG report
- GAO: Agencies should expand TechStat reviews
- Tuesday federal headlines - June 18, 2013
Congress News
- Proposed commission would give teeth to cost-saving ideas but some lawmakers skeptical
- House passes sweeping $638 billion defense bill
- FBI director gets another House grilling
- DoD maintains BRAC fight, despite opposition from Congress
- Lawmakers, industry press OFPP not to make strategic sourcing mandatory
Senate bill tries to break cyber overhaul impasse
The new bill from Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) and Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.) change the Department of Homeland Security's control over cybersecurity standards in the private sector.
Correction: Intelligence Leaks story
A story that moved June 7, 2012, about members of Congress discussing leaks of classified information misstated what Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Mich., said. Rogers said that parts of the Justice Department had recused themselves from one of the investigations to avoid the appearance of a potential conflict, not that the department had refused to cooperate. A Justice Department official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive issues, said other parts of the department were participating in the investigation, and a decision to recuse certain officials was routine.
Agencies sitting on $70B in unspent funds, report finds
A congressional report released today outlines $70 billion of unspent federal dollars that could have helped disaster victims, spurred highway construction and fund education programs.
Senator asks HUD for public housing pay details
Sen. Charles Grassley is asking the Obama administration to post the compensation of top officials at public housing agencies across the country.
GSA employees under IG investigation received $1.1M in bonuses
A congressional investigation has revealed that $1.1 million in bonuses were awarded to 84 employees of the General Services Administration — while the inspector general was probing these individuals for wrongdoing or misconduct.
Senator questions delay in reporting TSP cyber breach
One senator is questioning why it took nine months for the Thrift Savings Plan board to find out about a sophisticated cyber attack that compromised 123,000 TSP participants' accounts. Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) also wants to know why Congress wasn't informed of the breach until more than a month after it was reported to the board.
White House, DHS, Commerce release cyber 'code of conduct'
The Industry Botnet Group — coordinated by the White House Cybersecurity Office and the Departments of Commerce and Homeland Security — has posted nine principles, including coordination of cyber responsibilities across sectors and reporting lessons learned.
Senate confirms wave of DoD nominees, new OFPP administrator
The Senate confirmed the nomination of Joe Jordan as administrator for the Office of Federal Procurement Policy, as well as nominations for seven key Defense Department positions.
Senators cancel reductions to Air National Guard, cut DoD civilians
Senate panel rejects Air Force's proposed decreases to National Guard aircraft and personnel, orders cutbacks in DoD civilian and contractor personnel and imposes contractor salary caps.
Senate panel approves $631 billion defense bill
A Senate panel on Thursday rejected the Pentagon's proposed cuts in personnel and equipment for the Air National Guard as it completed a far-reaching, $631 billion defense budget for next year.
Inquiry hears of wider Secret Service misbehavior
The lawmaker leading an inquiry into the Secret Service prostitution scandal reported dozens of "troubling" episodes of past misbehavior Wednesday and appealed to insiders to come forward with what they know as investigators try to determine whether a culture of misconduct took root in the storied agency.
Lieberman warns of 'electronic jihad' in call for cyber bill's passage
An Al Qaeda video calling for "electronic jihad" against western government and infrastructure is "the clearest evidence we've seen" that Al Qaeda wants to attack according to Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.)
Senators call for GSA chief to look at PBS structure
In a letter to Acting Administrator Dan Tangherlini, a bipartisan group of senators called for an evaluation of the structure of GSA's Public Buildings Service, tying it to the wasteful spending of the Las Vegas scandal.
Military diversity bill codifies commission's findings
Retired Air Force Gen. Lester Lyles said new legislation calling for diversity benchmarks in the military would codify the recommendations of the commission he led in 2011 and would make for a better armed forces.
Navy official calls cyber greatest, long-term threat
The Navy's top man in Europe said cyber is the threat that keeps him up at night.
Senators digging into GSA conferences in all regions
Two high-ranking senators requested information about conference travel and spending in all GSA regions in a detailed letter on Friday.
New bill would push diversity in military leadership
Two senators have introduced a bill that they said addresses concerns raised by a recent Defense report.
Senate Democrats reject House GOP budget plan
Democrats controlling the Senate rejected for the second year in a row Wednesday a budget plan passed by House Republicans.
Senate committee approves OFPP nominee, four other bills
The Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee moves the Domestic Partnership Benefits and Obligations, the Keeping Politics Out of Federal Contracting and two other pieces of legislation to the floor for a full vote.
Congress votes to reauthorize Export-Import Bank
The government's vehicle for promoting U.S. export sales survived a challenge from conservatives Tuesday with a Senate vote to renew the charter of the Export-Import Bank for three years. The vote, coming after the Senate rejected amendments to weaken or kill the bank, sends the measure to President Barack Obama for his signature.
