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.

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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Democratic support for Hagel grows

Democratic support for Chuck Hagel's nomination for defense secretary grew on Thursday as the former Republican senator allayed concerns about his past statements on Israel and Iran.

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Kerry tackles questions on Iran, Syria, Hagel

Sen. John Kerry, President Barack Obama's nominee for secretary of state, collected pledges of support Thursday and testified at his confirmation hearing that U.S. foreign policy should be defined by a helping hand as well as military strength.

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Women in combat: Good to go if they meet standards

Women in the military must have the same opportunities as men to take on grueling and dangerous combat jobs, whether loading 50-pound artillery shells or joining commando raids to take out terrorists, defense leaders declared Thursday as they ordered a quarter-million positions open to service members regardless of gender.

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NASA readies draft RFP for SEWP V

NASA announced earlier this week it would release the draft request for proposals on or about Feb. 8, with a final solicitation scheduled for early summer.

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DFAS halts hiring ahead of possible sequestration

The Defense Finance and Accounting Service will implement significant cost-cutting measures next week to prepare for the possibility of automatic spending cuts due to hit government in March. DFAS plans to freeze most hiring, reduce travel and overtime, and temporarily halt new employee performance awards, according to DFAS Director Terri McKay.

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Top white-collar crime prosecutor to lead SEC

President Barack Obama on Thursday nominated Mary Jo White, a former U.S. attorney who built a reputation prosecuting white-collar criminals, terrorists and mobsters, to lead the Securities and Exchange Commission. The agency has a lead role in implementing changes on Wall Street.

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