In-Depth 
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
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.
GSA now offering cloud email services to agencies
The General Services Administration announced it's now offering cloud-based email services for federal agencies. GSA issued 20 blanket purchase agreements to 17 companies, which the agency said would help streamline the purchasing of cloud services across the government.
NetApp Federal's Mark Weber on managing big data
Mark Weber, president of NetApp U.S. Public Sector, which includes Federal, SLED and Healthcare, joined Industry Chatter to discuss one of the biggest technology buzzwords of 2012: big data.
GOP platform criticizes administration's defense, cyber strategies
The Republican Party platform criticized President Barack Obama for not doing enough to avert automatic budget cuts set to hit the Defense Department in January. The plan, which was unveiled Tuesday, also called for greater public-private collaboration on cybersecurity and recommended an overhaul of the Veterans Affairs Department.
In Depth interviews - August 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.
Feinstein asks for executive order on cybersecurity
Sen Diane Feinstein (D-Calif.) called on President Obama to issue an executive order on cybersecurity rather than wait for Congress to act on legislation under consideration.
Coming soon to YouTube -- Videos about TSP accounts
Kim Weaver, director of the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board, told In Depth with Francis Rose feds will soon be able to access videos online explaining some of the more complicated aspects of their Thrift Savings Plan accounts.
In Depth interviews - August 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.
GOP platform takes aim at federal workforce
The Republican Party officially unveiled national party platform Tuesday, revealing its plan to downsize the federal workforce, trim federal benefits and privatize airport screeners. The party's platform calls for a reduction in the federal workforce by at least 10 percent through attrition, says federal pay and benefits should be aligned with the private sector and calls for reforms to the U.S. Postal Service.
New electronic records plan brings government into 21st century
A new directive requiring agencies to move to electronic forms of record-keeping by 2020 will push an often two-steps-behind federal government fully into the 21st century, said Paul Wester, the director of modern records program at the National Archives and Records Administration. A key part of the directive is to expand and elevate the role of agency records managers. The guidance directs NARA and the Office of Personnel Management to develop a specific records-management career track institutionalize responsibilities and best practices.
Lawmaker says fed pay, benefits used as 'piggybank' in deficit reduction
Rep. John Sarbanes (D-Md.), whose district in the Washington, D.C., suburbs is home to many federal employees, said he understands the frustration voiced by federal unions about a de facto extension of the federal pay freeze. Sarbanes said too often lawmakers used federal pay and benefits as a "piggybank" in deficit- reduction efforts.
FAA to study use of electronics on planes
In March the FAA raised hopes that it might loosen rules for electronic devices by saying it would "explore ways to bring together all of the key stakeholders involved."
Army keeps traditional physical fitness test - for now
The Army will keep using the Army Physical Fitness Test to gauge readiness until a study into new methods is completed, the service announced. In 2011, the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command introduced a new test to more than 10,000 soldiers to measure Warrior Task and Battle Drill readiness. However, until that study is fully concluded, TRADOC command said "longstanding and proven" systems of physical fitness will continue to be the standard.
NIST seeks comments on securing BIOS
The National Institute of Standards and Technology wants comments on new draft guidelines for securing Basic Input Output System systems. BIOS is the first software activated after turning a computer on and has increasingly become a new target for hackers.
Democrats urge immediate repair of Capitol Dome
Senate Democrats are calling for $61 million to fix the U.S. Capitol Dome, which has fallen into disrepair and has at least 1,300 cracks in it. Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) calls the state of the dome a "national embarrassment."
In Depth interviews - August 27
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.
General admits leading cyber attacks in Afghanistan
Marine Lt. Gen Richard Mills told an audience at a conference in Baltimore last that he led cyber attacks in Afghanistan.
Study: DoD sequestration cuts would slam federal workforce, delay pain to contractors
Most of the Pentagon's contract spending wouldn't take an immediate hit from sequestration. Conversely, civilian employees would likely be laid-off or furloughed in the few days or weeks after the automatic budget cuts kick in, according to a Washington think tank's analysis of the convoluted laws that govern the automatic cuts
ICE chief of staff accused of sexual misconduct
At least three employees at U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement have made serious complaints alleging inappropriate sexual behavior by a senior Obama administration political appointee and longtime aide to Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano.
New roadmap envisions electronic record-keeping by 2020
A new White House directive provides a roadmap for agencies to phase out the use of paper record-keeping by the end of the decade. By Dec. 31, 2019, federal agencies will be required, "to the fullest extent possible," to manage records electronically — including digital forms of communication, such as email — according to a directive from the Office of Management and Budget and the National Archives and Records Administration.
Federal News Countdown: Budget, BYOD and conference spending
Jim Williams, senior vice president of business development at Daon, and Dan Chenok, executive director of the IBM Center for the Business of Government, count down the top federal news story of the week.
