Senate News 
Top News
- OMB reworking financial systems to focus on outcomes, not inputs
- Lew taps government retiree pension fund to avoid default
- OMB taps VanRoekel to lead management team
- PHOTOS: Meet the 2013 Service to America Medal Finalists
- Hagel: Accountability breakdown was leading factor in sexual assaults
- Former IRS commissioner faces questions about Tea Party
- SBA starting new lending program for veterans
- New Apple devices cleared to join DoD IT networks
- Army prioritizes access to data in fight over intelligence IT system
- DoD upends slow approval process for mobile devices
- Senior execs' bonuses under fire at agencies
- Gould moves the needle on many of VA's toughest challenges
- Tuesday federal headlines - May 21, 2013
Democrats to unveil bill to replace budget cuts
Senate Democrats to unveil bill to replace automatic budget cuts
OMB to Congress: Sequestration impact 'real,' but furloughs not immediate
Obama administration officials are painting a bleak picture of how federal agencies would fare under sequestration, the automatic budget cuts slated to go into effect in two weeks. The Senate Appropriations Committee heard testimony from several Obama administration officials about the consequences of the cuts, which are set to take effect March 1. However, Danny Werfel, controller of the Office of Management and Budget, emphasized to the committee that employee furloughs would not be immediate.
USPS makes case for ending Saturday delivery as postal reform push continues
The U.S. Postal Service's worsening financial situation led Postmaster General Pat Donahoe to announce last week the agency would end Saturday mail delivery beginning in August. But lawmakers on the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee were divided over Donahoe's announcement. The postmaster general told the committee during a hearing Wednesday the decision was necessary to save $2 billion a year and to begin shoring up the service's funding shortfalls.
Federal Drive Interviews -- Feb. 13, 2013
Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.) talks about his plans as the new chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. Greg Kutz of TIGTA discusses new progress being made by the IRS in recruitment and hiring. Jennifer Martinez, staff writer at The Hill newspaper, discusses the new Executive Order on cybersecurity. Don Kettl of the University of Maryland's School of Public Policy offers insight on the State of the Union speech.
Military issues dire warnings of readiness crisis, decries political gridlock
Among the warnings the military's top uniformed officers delivered to the Senate Tuesday: Half of Marine Corps units will fall below readiness standards by the end of the year, the Army will have to curtail training for 80 percent of its ground forces and shipyards are already becoming short-staffed because of DoD's hiring freeze.
Top officers issue urgent warning over budget cuts
US military's top leaders says looming spending cuts may leave troops unprepared for combat
Senate Democrats craft bill to avert budget cuts
Senate Democrats craft bill to avert automatic budget cuts to Pentagon, domestic programs
Senate panel to vote Tuesday on Hagel nomination
Senate committee to vote Tuesday on Hagel nomination as Dem chairman rejects GOP demands
Brennan defends drone strikes, even on Americans
CIA nominee Brennan defends drone strikes, says he doesn't know if waterboarding is effective
Panetta says US at risk of being second-rate power
Defense secretary warns military readiness crisis coming if automatic budget cuts are allowed
Senate panel postpones vote on Hagel nomination
Senate panel postpones vote on Hagel nomination amid Republican calls for more information
GOP sequestration plan calls for reducing federal workforce
Republicans on the House and Senate Armed Services Committees have proposed an alternative to the automatic budget cuts set to go into effect next month that includes reducing the size of the federal workforce by 10 percent through attrition.
Obama to visit Israel in first visit as president
President Barack Obama plans to visit Israel in the spring, marking his first visit to the nation since becoming president.
Senate passes bill to improve embassy security
By voice vote, the Senate passed the bipartisan measure that would give the department the authority to use surplus funds that are no longer needed in Iraq, where the United States has scaled back operations. The bill now goes to the House.
Obama to campaign for gun proposals in Minnesota
The fate of his gun proposals on Capitol Hill uncertain, President Barack Obama is seeking to rally support from the public and law enforcement community for his calls to ban assault weapons and install universal background checks for gun buyers.
Panetta says politics at play in Hagel questioning
Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said "the political knives" came out when Chuck Hagel faced fellow Republicans on the Senate Armed Services Committee during his confirmation hearing to be Pentagon chief.
Another GOP senator backs Hagel for defense post
A second Republican senator says he will back former Sen. Chuck Hagel as the next Pentagon chief.
Term limits, now
Thanks to congressional redistricting, many members of the House of Representatives have jobs for life if they choose to keep running for reelection. Senior Correspondent Mike Causey wonders: Is it maybe time for term limits for everybody?
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.
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.
