DoD News 
Top News
- Sequestration, budget cuts taking its toll on DoD
- Small companies won't feel effect of lowered contractor pay cap
- GSA trying innovative approaches to disposing of real property
- IRS draws new criticism over $70M employee bonuses
- VA identifying project managers, then improving their skills
- OMB sets new deadlines to improve data on USASpending.gov
- As VA works to eliminate one backlog, one more might emerge
- BRAC-like commission proposed to hunt down government cost savings
- Sequestration claims another conference: DHS' GFirst cyber event
- Postal Service closing Capitol Hill post offices in 'symbolic' move
- Senators seek cost cuts for F-35 fighter jet
- Fed pens new furlough song
- Web guru Dorris brings new life to government websites
- EPA CIO Jackson returning to private sector
- Navy strikes enterprise licensing deal with Oracle
- Contractors with security clearances lack path to report problems
- NSA leak case gives vendors reason to reevaluate personnel
- 8 contract executives guilty of 8(a) contracting fraud
- Whistleblower suit leads to $12M false claims settlement by SAIC
Gen. Sinclair concerned about legal team
Brig. Gen. Jeffrey Sinclair, charged with sexual misconduct, wants to add civilian lawyers to his legal team. He says his military lawyers are concerned their careers would be harmed by defending him. In court Thursday at Fort Bragg for a hearing on pre- trial motions, Sinclair faces court martial in June on charges that include forcible sodomy, indecent acts, violating orders and adultery. He has thus far deferred entering a plea.
In Army, sequestration will force about-face on acquisition reforms
Army says its implementation of DoD's Better Buying Power directives saved hundreds of millions of dollars last year, but this year's budget chaos will undo much of the progress.
Navy mulls extending NMCI contract, increasing contract ceiling
The Department of the Navy has announced it may spend up to $1.2 billion more for support of its Navy Marine Corps Intranet (NMCI). In a Feb. 20 FedBizOpps posting, the Navy issued sole-source justification, detailing a notice of intent to increase the price of Hewlett-Packard's continuity-of-service contract (CoSC). The notice also allows the Navy to extend the CoSC services from April 2014 through September 2014 to ensure the department can complete the transition to its Next Generation Enterprise Network (NGEN). However, that contract option would only be exercised if the NGEN transition is further delayed.
Pentagon notifies Congress of likely furloughs
Pentagon tells Congress that worker furloughs are likely if no budget deal reached by March 1
Pentagon investigating another member of Seal Team Six
The Pentagon is reviewing an Esquire magazine article on a Navy SEAL's account of his role in the May 2011 raid that killed Osama bin Laden. They're looking to determine whether the account disclosed any classified information. Pentagon spokesman, Lt. Col. Steve Warren, says officials are trying to determine whether the SEAL, whose identity is not revealed in the piece, broke any secrecy rules. The article was published online Feb. 11.
Pentagon starts 45-day countdown to civilian furloughs
The Pentagon says furloughs for nearly all of its 780,000 civilian employees would begin in April if sequestration goes into effect. DoD would grant limited exceptions for civilians in combat zones or those who are critical to preserving life and safety. Political appointees would also be exempt. The Pentagon also released a list of states where furloughs would have the most effect.
DoD details states hit hardest by sequestration
The Pentagon's budget chief, Robert Hale, told reporters that the economic impact of sequestration would be felt nationwide. The biggest potential losses, in term of total civilian payroll dollars, would be in Virginia, California, Maryland, Texas and Georgia, he said. Hale said the unpaid leaves for civilian workers would begin in late April and would save $4 billion to $5 billion if extended through the end of the budget year, Sept. 30.
Allen retires
Marine Gen. John Allen will not become commander of NATO forces in Europe. President Barack Obama has accepted Allen's request to retire. Allen this month completed a 19-month stint as the top commander of U.S. and allied forces in Afghanistan. Allen told the Washington Post, he wanted to focus on helping his wife cope with chronic health issues that include an autoimmune disorder.
Allen retirement opens Europe command slot
Former Afghan war commander to quit, re-opening Obama's search for new US commander in Europe
Federal Drive Interviews -- Feb. 20, 2013
Retired Air Force Gen. Chuck Walks talks about what the next Secretary of Defense's first hurdles will be. Bernie Becker, staff writer at The Hill newspaper, discusses a possible Simpson-Bowles sequel.
Navy's ship IT modernization program faces budget-related delays
The fledgling effort to replace IT systems aboard 193 Navy ships, called CANES, will take longer than expected. With or without sequestration, the Navy expects eight installations scheduled for 2013 to be interrupted.
Sequestration no longer unthinkable, former Pentagon insider says
With sequestration set to go into effect in fewer than two weeks, many in the Defense Department are concerned the looming cuts are likely and will have a devastating effect on military readiness. Former Deputy Defense Secretary Bill Lynn, now the CEO of DRS Technologies, told Pentagon Solutions with Francis Rose the cuts will have a long-lasting impact on Pentagon planning.
Younger vets still struggle as jobs scene improves
For younger vets, getting home often trumps job considerations
Hagel's GOP foes signal vote should go on
Hagel's GOP opponents say vote on his Pentagon nomination should go ahead despite concerns
Federal Drive Interviews -- Feb. 19, 2013
GAO's Mark Gaffigan talks about how the federal government will experience increased fiscal exposure due to climate change. Gary Somerset discusses the GPO's new Pinterest page. On Legal Loop, procurement attorney Joe Petrillo discusses a change in status for the Alaska Native Corporations. John Plaguta of the Partnership for Public Service discusses the critical skills gaps in the federal workplace. Former SEC Chairman Harvey Pitt talks about rule writing in the wake of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act.
Federal Drive Interviews -- Feb. 18, 2013
Gordon Heddel of Booz Allen Hamilton talks about the challenges of creating a smarter but not bigger government. Aaron Miller of the Wilson Center discusses the hurdles awaiting new Secretary of State John Kerry. Bloomberg Government's Rob Barnett talks about President Obama's environmental policy. John Mahoney of Tully Rinckey says furloughed feds won't lose their rights.
Navy finds billions of dollars in under-the-radar IT expenses
As the Navy scours its IT systems to determine exactly what it owns, it's discovered it operates double the data centers and tens of thousands of servers and applications more than it previously thought. The findings come more than a decade after the Navy implemented its Navy-Marine Corps Intranet, which was supposed to reduce the number of disparate systems run by the agency and eliminate stovepipes. All told, Navy's IT budget could be as much as $4 billion more than it initially thought.
Budget cut impact: Smaller Navy, fired teachers
A glance at how administration says automatic budget cuts would diminish government services
Hagel stalled, but confirmation still expected
Republicans stall Hagel vote, drawing White House ire, but confirmation still likely
Women go into battle in Afghanistan
The Afghan army is breaking new ground. It's training female special forces to take part in night raids against insurgents. Night raids have long been a divisive issue between Afghan President Hamid Karzai, who doesn't want foreign troops entering Afghan homes, and the U.S.-led coalition that says the raids are essential to capturing Taliban commanders.
