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Top News
- IRS to pay $70M in bonuses, Grassley says
- Small companies won't feel effect of lowered contractor pay cap
- Senators push Tangherlini for assurances GSA is improving
- As VA works to eliminate one backlog, one more might emerge
- BRAC-like commission proposed to hunt down government cost savings
- Sequestration claims another conference: DHS's GFirst cyber event
- Postal Service closing Capitol Hill post offices in 'symbolic' move
- Senators seek cost cuts for F-35 fighter jet
- Fed pens new furlough song
- Web guru Dorris brings new life to government websites
- EPA CIO Jackson returning to private sector
- Navy strikes enterprise licensing deal with Oracle
- Contractors with security clearances lack path to report problems
- NSA leak case gives vendors reason to reevaluate personnel
- 8 contract executives guilty of 8(a) contracting fraud
- Whistleblower suit leads to $12M false claims settlement by SAIC
Tuesday Federal Newscast - July 5, 2011
The latest news affecting federal workers and government contractors. Find out what you need to know to start your day.
GAO: How to better implement new projects
Lisa Shames is director of natural resources and environment at the Government Accountability Office and shares tips for your agency.
House cuts FDA budget by 12 percent
The House voted on a spending bill that will slash the Food and Drug Administration's budget by nearly 12 percent.
Rural smart grid is a big bucket
With funding from USDA Rural Development's Rural Utilities Service (RUS), rural electric cooperatives are leading the way in smart grid deployments. We get details from USDA's Jessica Zufolo.
OMB teeing up financial, HR systems for the cloud
Federal CIO Vivek Kundra said there are more than 1,000 of these back-office systems and moving them to private cloud providers could save billions. Several agencies, including Labor and EEOC, already have moved their financial systems to a private cloud. Kundra envisions an interagency effort similar to the one for email where agencies commit to using a governmentwide contract for these services.
Considering a buyout? Think before you act
Bill Bransford is a partner at the law firm, Shaw, Bransford & Roth. He joins the Federal Drive with information on the legal rights of employees who may feel targeted to accept buyouts.
USDA grows quick wins in records management
USDA's Rodger Matthews discusses records management of social media, balancing open access with security requirements, and quick wins that federal agencies can do to improve their programs.
95 percent of all new contracts must be green
FAR Council issues an interim rule to change the acquisition regulations. Agencies and contractors must start meeting new requirements for goods and services.
USDA announces first cabinet-level buyouts
The Agriculture Department is the first cabinet-level operation to offer early retirement and buyouts to employees. And it won't be the last. So what are your odds of getting an offer? Senior Correspondent Mike Causey has the exclusive.
Improper payment oversight improves
Obama administration officials told Congress agencies are taking a more aggressive stance than ever in their efforts to cut improper payments. The White House has set a goal of reducing such payments by $50 billion by next fiscal year.
Acquisition feds recalled from retirement
Agencies asked 125 annuitants for help last year with Army leading the way, bringing 44 retired federal workers back to help with acquisition processes.
Study: USDA still plagued by civil rights problems
Despite acknowledging a legacy of discrimination, the Agriculture Department is still plagued by civil rights problems that have in the past led to unequal treatment of minorities seeking loans and other help, according to a government-commissioned report Wednesday.
DoD, USDA partner to help military families
Brent Elrod, the national program leader of military and veterans programs at USDA, talked to Federal News Radio about some of the programs that will be offered through the initiative.
GSA to boost cloud computing with new RFP
Federal CIO Vivek Kundra expects GSA to issue a solicitation by May 10 for a $2.5 billion contract for email-as-a-service. It's part of how the administration wants agencies to move to cloud computing. Kundra said five of seven short-term IT reforms efforts are on track.
GPO names new CIO
The Government Printing Office has named Charles Riddle as the new chief information officer. Riddle brings a background in information technology and most recently worked at the Agriculture Department.
CBP stopping bugs at the border
Moths, snails, longhorn beetles, leafhoppers, miner flies and mites have been stopped at the border - before they could do damage. We get details from the CBP's Linda Cullen.
Cloud-first policy, cloud security top of mind for feds
Federal News Radio covered two big stories this week on cloud computing. Check them out! Cloud computing e-discovery risks a concern Federal lawyers and record managers are watching closely how the General Services Administration, the Agriculture Department and others move their email and collaboration services to private sector cloud computing providers. Federal News Radio’s Jason [...]
Kundra: Agencies on path for transition to cloud
Federal Chief Information Officer Vivek Kundra says agencies are on track to move to the cloud and framed his ideas for where he wants government to go in the future.
USDA telework apps allow farmers to be out standing in their field
One federal agency is working on apps so stakeholders can telework along side employees.
USDA working to fight stink bug infestation
Last year: stinky. This year: even stinkier in terms of stink bug infestations. They USDA's Tracy Leskey tells us about the latest research, and hope for beating the bugs.
