Department of Transportation News 
Top News
- 5 percent of federal workers to be furloughed Friday
- Congress pressures agencies to speed up office consolidations
- Katherine Archuleta chosen as next OPM director
- Data breach puts DHS workers at risk of identity theft
- DoD chooses interoperability over integration for new e-health record system
- House GOP panel moves on deep budget cuts
- OMB fuels synergy between mobile, open data
- IRS official Lerner: 'I did nothing wrong'
- Accountability breakdown leading factor in DoD sexual assaults
- OMB reworking financial system requirements
- Federal retirement funds temporarily tapped
- VanRoekel to lead OMB management team
- Meet the 2013 Service to America Medal finalists
- Thursday federal headlines - May 23, 2013
White House offers states $470M for roads, bridges
The Obama administration is making nearly half a billion dollars in unspent highway funds available to states that promise to use the money to create jobs and improve transportation.
FAA cuts could trigger $20 billion blow to national economy
The Federal Aviation Administration is slated to lose $1 billion from its budget if Congress does not act to prevent sequestration, according to a study released by the Aerospace Industries Association. But the cuts would ripple throughout the nation's economy. About 100,000 jobs throughout the economy would be lost.
FAA suspends operation that led to near-collision
The Federal Aviation Administration will bar airports nationwide from using a traffic-reversing operation that led to a close call last week at an airport near the nation's capital.
VA, GSA each pushes major IT acquisitions to next steps
The Veterans Affairs Department will award a $5 billion IT hardware contract in the next two months. GSA will release a request for information for cybersecurity tools in the coming days. Both are examples of a healthy and busy fourth quarter for acquisition.
Sammies finalist investigates transportation accidents
James Cash of the National Transportation Safety Board's Office of Research and Engineering uses his technical expertise to uncover the causes of transportation accidents.
OMB to expand vendor offices after initial successful tests
The Veterans Affairs Department said it saved $40 million by using this centralized approach to managing contractors. vendor management organizations also help agencies buy more strategically. OFPP plans to expand strategic sourcing and sets a $2 billion savings goal by 2015.
Obama signs highway, student loan deal with phased retirement
President Barack Obama signed legislation Friday maintaining jobs on transportation projects and preventing interest rate increases on new loans to millions of college students, saying it would "make a real difference" for millions of Americans.
DoT grants to simplify how veterans find transportation options
The Veterans Transportation and Community Living Initiative provided $29 million to increase access to information about public transportation options for veterans and their families. The Federal Transit Administration awarded grants covering 64 projects in 33 states and one territory Monday.
Congress passes student loans, highway jobs bill
The bill sent for President Barack Obama's signature enables just over $100 billion to be spent on highway, mass transit and other transportation programs over the next two years, projects that would have expired Saturday without congressional action.
Mass-transit subsidy not in highway bill, but not dead yet
A tax break for mass-transit riders is not part of the transportation reauthorization bill Congress passed Friday.
Fed benefits spared in highway, student loan deal
Congress passed a bill Friday to overhaul federal highway programs and extend student loan interest rates. Federal employees' retirement benefits appear to be spared in the deal. The legislation also allows the Department of Transportation to avoid furloughing 3,500 employees and halting hundreds of thousands of constructions projects.
Lawmakers reach tentative deal on highway bill
Congressional leaders have tentatively agreed on a two-year bill to overhaul federal highway programs that drops a requirement that the government approve the Keystone XL oil pipeline.
FAA promises to do more homework for future realignment decisions
Agency aims for better metrics to guide future facility closings, consolidations. The FAA has about two weeks to submit a report to Congress with recommendations to close facilities.
DoT seeks help in assessing vulnerability to cyber attacks
The Transportation Department is looking for help to test the strength of its air and ground transportation systems against cybersecurity threats.
Judge dismisses DWI charges against ex-FAA chief
A judge on Thursday tossed out drunken driving charges against the former head of the Federal Aviation Administration after seeing video of the traffic stop and ruling that the officer had no legitimate reason to stop the driver.
Lerner: FAA failed to respond promptly to whistleblowers' concerns
Earlier this week, Special Counsel Carolyn Lerner notified the president and Congress that the Department of Transportation had not acted promptly or sufficiently to complaints made by FAA whistleblowers.
Special counsel letter details air safety concerns
Special Counsel Carolyn Lerner sent a letter to President Barack Obama Tuesday, calling attention to reports of safety lapses at some U.S. commercial aviation facilities. She also criticized the Federal Aviation Administration for delays in responding to whistleblower disclosures.
Agency heads finding light at end of fed-bashing tunnel
Some departments are improving personnel practices around recruitment and knowledge management even in the face of pay freezes and criticisms of public servants. DHS created a higher education engagement group to bring in college students. GSA finds quality of applicants still strong. Senior leaders highlight successes during Public Service Recognition Week.
Highway bill enters legislative homestretch
Defying expectations, Congress has reached the homestretch on a major overhaul of federal transportation programs that is critical if the nation is to avoid steep cutbacks in highway and transit aid.
Political pressure influenced FHA contract decision, court says
Virgin Island Paving Co. successfully sued the Federal Highway Administration, which had rejected the company's low bid for a road contract. The court found that FHA may have been under political pressure not to choose the company.
