Monday - Friday, 6-10 a.m.

Hosts Tom Temin and Emily Kopp bring you the latest news affecting the federal community each weekday morning. Be up-to-date before you step in the office.

Obama says he'll sign $50.5B Sandy aid bill soon

President Barack Obama said he'll sign a $50.5 billion emergency relief measure for Superstorm Sandy victims as soon as it lands on his desk.

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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.

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Federal Drive Interviews -- Jan. 28, 2013

Eric Green of NIH talks about his agency's search for a top data scientist. Dr. Elizabeth Stanley of Georgetown University discusses a new meditation program she helped develop for the Marine Corps. David Capozzi of the Access Board discusses new access standards for agencies. William Pretzer of the National Museum of African American History and Culture talks about trolling the inauguration for presidential memorabilia.

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Monday morning federal headlines - Jan. 28, 2013

The Morning Federal Newscast is a daily compilation of the stories you hear Federal Drive hosts Tom Temin and Emily Kopp discuss throughout the show each day. The Newscast is designed to give FederalNewsRadio.com users more information about the stories you hear on the air. In today's news, China conducted a successful test flight of a new military transport plane and a senator is trying to get the Veterans Affairs Department to provide costly fertility treatments.

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Sequestration effects becoming clear for DoD

DoD's operations and maintenance accounts will likely be hit first if sequestration goes into effect. Unlike its procurement and research and development activities, which can continue to function on funds obligated in prior years, O&M dollars generally get spent right away. In preparation for sequestration, the Pentagon has already let go of tens of thousands of temporary hires and is drawing up a contingency plan for one-day-a-week furloughs. Deputy Secretary Ashton Carter says the unpaid furloughs would begin in April and continue through the remainder of the fiscal year if sequestration is not avoided.

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Delayed arrival in effect for federal employees

Due to expected inclement weather in the Washington, D.C., area Monday morning, the Office of Personnel Management announced a delayed arrival schedule for federal employees. According to OPM Director John Berry, federal employees are being asked to stay off the roads until 10 a.m. Their offices will be open for them when they arrive. Feds can also take unscheduled leave and unscheduled telework.

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Hackers take over sentencing commission website

The hacker-activist group Anonymous says it hijacked the website of the U.S. Sentencing Commission to avenge the death of Aaron Swartz, an Internet activist who committed suicide. The FBI is investigating.

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Wife of female Army officer can join spouses club

A woman who is married to a female Army officer at Fort Bragg and who was recently denied membership in its officers' spouses club said late Friday that she has been invited to become a full member.

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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.

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FAA's deputy CIO Cooper to leave government

Steve Cooper will head back to the private sector to his former management consulting business.

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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.

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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.

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Obama picks foreign policy aide as chief of staff

President Barack Obama announced Friday that his new chief of staff is longtime trusted aide Denis McDonough, whom the president described as a close friend unafraid to deliver straight talk.

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Ex-CIA man Kiriakou gets 2 1/2 years for leaks

A 14-year CIA veteran was sentenced to more than two years in prison Friday for leaking a covert officer's identity to a reporter.

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Federal Drive Interviews -- Jan. 25, 2013

Bob Dacey, chief accountant at the GAO, talks about the latest audit report. Melissa Emrey-Arras, GAO's acting director for strategic issues, discusses how some agencies are cloaking their rule-making processes. Ed Zurndorfer, registered employee benefit consultant, offers advice on how to prepare for your April 15 tax filing.

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Friday morning federal headlines - Jan. 25, 2013

The Morning Federal Newscast is a daily compilation of the stories you hear Federal Drive hosts Tom Temin and Emily Kopp discuss throughout the show each day. The Newscast is designed to give FederalNewsRadio.com users more information about the stories you hear on the air. In today's news, HHS is weeding out improper payments and lawmakers are calling for President Obama to fill inspector general vacancies at six big agencies.

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Possible USAID bid rigging probed

The Justice Department is conducting an investigation into possible contract rigging by the general counsel at the government agency that distributes foreign aid.

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Experimental website aims to overhaul RFP process

The Presidential Innovation Fellows Program and SBA launch RFP-EZ to make finding and bidding on Web and digital services contracts worth $150,000 or less easier. The team of three found the six-month project also could test out tools for contracting officers to write better RFPs.

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Pentagon tears down final barrier for women in combat

On Thursday, DoD eliminated its Clinton-era policy that excluded women from serving in many front-line jobs. But full implementation will not happen immediately.

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DC federal offices open Friday with unscheduled leave, telework in effect

For the second day in a row, federal offices in the D.C. area will be open with unscheduled leave and telework available for eligible employees.

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