In-Depth 
Top News
- Contractors with security clearances lack path to report problems
- Proposed commission would give teeth to cost-saving ideas but some lawmakers skeptical
- 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
- 29-year-old NASA engineer going where no one has gone before
- USPS reaches energy reduction goal ahead of schedule
- NOAA meteorologist helps save lives one storm at a time
- ICE Director John Morton stepping down
- 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
Monday - Friday, 3-7 p.m.
Francis Rose keeps you updated on all the federal news happening during your workday. Don't leave the office without seeing what's on the show.
Joint Chiefs: Looming cuts would 'hollow' military
The military's top leaders are warning Congress that automatic spending cuts looming in March would force the Pentagon to slash operating budgets, weakening the armed forces and possibly forcing furloughs of 800,000 civilian employees.
In Depth interviews - Jan. 30
On the In Depth show blog, you can listen to the interviews, find more information about the guests on the show each day and links to additional resources.
Employees skeptical of managers' ability to cut deadwood
Federal employees are skeptical their managers are making effective decisions about the federal workforce, according to a new report from the Merit Systems Protection Board. Just 24 percent of the employees agreed that their agencies properly addressed poor performers, while 29 percent of respondents indicated their organizations eliminated unnecessary programs and positions, according to the survey of 42,000 feds from 24 agencies and departments.
NASA CIO Cureton to retire in April
Linda Cureton has decided to leave government service after 30 years, including the last four as the space agency's chief information officer.
White House petitions: Huge response, headache too
As the Obama administration kicks off its second term, it's upping the threshold for responding to Americans' petitions from 25,000 signatures to 100,000, a reminder that government by the people can sometimes have unintended consequences. In this case, a wildly popular transparency initiative has spawned a headache of the administration's own making.
HR shuffle changes how agencies work with OPM
The Office of Personnel Management is revamping its human-resources policy shop to provide more innovative solutions to the White House's workforce priorities. The newly created Center for Strategic Workforce Planning will focus on fostering innovation in federal workforce policies and plotting future HR trends. In addition, OPM's human capital officers (HCOs), which previously acted as OPM ambassadors to individual agencies, will instead serve as "HR strategists" to staff the new center and work on pilot projects in priority areas.
In Depth interviews - Jan. 29
On the In Depth show blog, you can listen to the interviews, find more information about the guests on the show each day and links to additional resources.
DoD's plans to boost cyber workforce could hit hiring, training snags
The Defense Department plans to boost the ranks of cybersecurity professionals, increasing cyber staff at U.S. Cyber Command by more than five times to some 4,900 employees. But DoD's plan is daunting in more ways than one. The job qualifications and skills needed for the kinds of positions the Pentagon wants are rare and often require years of training and hands-on experience. And even if DoD looks outside the confines of the Pentagon to fill these roles, it's not entirely clear where the new cyber pros would come from.
Senate confirms Kerry nomination for State Dept.
The Senate overwhelmingly confirmed President Barack Obama's choice of five-term Sen. John Kerry to be secretary of state, with Republicans and Democrats praising him as the ideal successor to Hillary Rodham Clinton.
LaHood departure leaves another vacancy in Cabinet
Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, who lifted the profile of distracted driving as a national safety concern, is stepping down, presenting President Barack Obama with another Cabinet vacancy at the start of his second term.
In Depth interviews - Jan. 28
On the In Depth show blog, you can listen to the interviews, find more information about the guests on the show each day and links to additional resources.
USDA work-life office promotes telework, other flexible programs
Mika Cross, the work/life and wellness program manager at the Agriculture Department, In Depth with Francis Rose for a far-reaching discussion flexible and supportive workplace programs, such as telework.
Did OPM flub Monday's delayed arrival announcement?
OPM announced federal offices would be open Monday on a "delayed arrival" schedule. It was the first time the agency has used the classification since it revamped its closure policies last year. But it didn't go off without a hitch - OPM updated the operating status language twice and some federal employees said they were confused by OPM's communication.
In Depth interviews - Jan. 25
On the In Depth show blog, you can listen to the interviews, find more information about the guests on the show each day and links to additional resources.
Lawmakers call on President to fill widespread IG vacancies
House and Senate lawmakers have called on President Barack Obama to fill inspector general vacancies at six large agencies, including open spots at the Departments of Homeland Security and State.
FAA's deputy CIO Cooper to leave government
Steve Cooper will head back to the private sector to his former management consulting business.
Inside the Reporter's Notebook: Web analytics tool, reaction to FAS commissioner and FedRAMP
News and buzz in the acquisition and IT communities that you may have missed this week.
DoD details furloughs under sequestration
Deputy Defense Secretary Ashton Carter said employees furloughed because of sequestration would lose one day of work per week for the remainder of the budget year, which ends in September. DoD already is eliminating 46,000 temporary civilian workers in anticipation of budget cuts.
Federal News Countdown: Cybersecurity executive order, sequestration prep
Alan Chvotkin, executive vice president and counsel at the Professional Services Council, and Alan Paller, director of research at the SANS Institute, count down the top federal news stories of the week.
In Depth interviews - Jan. 24
On the In Depth show blog, you can listen to the interviews, find more information about the guests on the show each day and links to additional resources.
